Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 4


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.8 stars; 16 reviews)

Institutes of the Christian Religion is John Calvin's seminal work on Protestant systematic theology. Highly influential in the Western world and still widely read by theological students today, it was published in Latin in 1536 and in his native French in 1541, with the definitive editions appearing in 1559 (Latin) and in 1560 (French).

The book was written as an introductory textbook on the Protestant faith for those with some learning already and covered a broad range of theological topics from the doctrines of church and sacraments to justification by faith alone and Christian liberty, and it vigorously attacked the teachings of those Calvin considered unorthodox, particularly Roman Catholicism to which Calvin says he had been "strongly devoted" before his conversion to Protestantism. The over-arching theme of the book – and Calvin's greatest theological legacy – is the idea of God's total sovereignty, particularly in salvation and election.

The Institutes are a primary reference for the system of doctrine adopted by the Reformed churches, usually called Calvinism.

Book Four of the Institutes discusses "the Church and the Communion of Saints, or of the external means or helps by which God invites us to fellowship with Christ, and keeps us in it." This includes Church government, with scathing denunciations of the Papacy and Catholic Church. (Summary from Wikipedia & TriciaG) (25 hr 53 min)

Chapters

01 - Argument 2:47 Read by Ricky St. Claire
02 - Of the True Church, pt 1 36:23 Read by Brian Dole
03 - Of the True Church, pt 2 29:31 Read by Brian Dole
04 - Of the True Church, pt 3 36:52 Read by Brian Dole
05 - Comparison Between the False Church and the True 40:40 Read by Brian Dole
06 - Of the Teachers and Ministers of the Church 44:05 Read by TriciaG
07 - Of the State of the Primitive Church...Before Papacy 37:10 Read by MaryAnn
08 - The Ancient Form of Govt Utterly Corrupted, pt 1 32:10 Read by Bill Mosley
09 - The Ancient Form of Govt Utterly Corrupted, pt 2 30:49 Read by Bill Mosley
10 - Of the Primacy of the Romish See 53:03 Read by Bill Mosley
11 - Of the Beginning and Rise of the Romish Papacy, pt 1 27:00 Read by TriciaG
12 - Of the Beginning and Rise of the Romish Papacy, pt 2 26:53 Read by TriciaG
13 - Of the Beginning and Rise of the Romish Papacy, pt 3 29:59 Read by TriciaG
14 - Of the Powers of the Church in Articles of Faith, pt 1 23:02 Read by Parrot17
15 - Of the Powers of the Church in Articles of Faith, pt 2 27:13 Read by Brian Dole
16 - Of Councils and Their Authority 36:42 Read by TriciaG
17 - Of the Power of Making Laws, pt 1 35:16 Read by Brian Dole
18 - Of the Power of Making Laws, pt 2 33:26 Read by Brian Dole
19 - Of the Power of Making Laws, pt 3 34:48 Read by Brian Dole
20 - Of the Jurisdiction of the Church, pt 1 29:56 Read by CurtisLMattson
21 - Of the Jurisdiction of the Church, pt 2 31:13 Read by CurtisLMattson
22 - Of the Discipline of the Church, pt 1 38:52 Read by DrBeccaAnne
23 - Of the Discipline of the Church, pt 2 36:14 Read by DrBeccaAnne
24 - Of Vows, pt 1 31:33 Read by J.S. Kenney
25 - Of Vows, pt 2 33:04 Read by J.S. Kenney
26 - Of the Sacraments, pt 1 47:18 Read by Brian Dole
27 - Of the Sacraments, pt 2 47:08 Read by Brian Dole
28 - Of Baptism, pt 1 33:48 Read by Guero
29 - Of Baptism, pt 2 25:13 Read by Guero
30 - Of Paedobaptism, pt 1 36:43 Read by CurtisLMattson
31 - Of Paedobaptism, pt 2 34:12 Read by Brian Dole
32 - Of Paedobaptism, pt 3 38:20 Read by Brian Dole
33 - Of the Lord's Supper, pt 1 29:58 Read by J L Raimundo
34 - Of the Lord's Supper, pt 2 29:50 Read by Andrew Bowles
35 - Of the Lord's Supper, pt 3 32:19 Read by Parrot17
36 - Of the Lord's Supper, pt 4 39:13 Read by Michael Packard
37 - Of the Lord's Supper, pt 5 32:51 Read by Brian Dole
38 - Of the Lord's Supper, pt 6 29:28 Read by Brian Dole
39 - Of the Popish Mass, pt 1 36:58 Read by Bill Mosley
40 - Of the Popish Mass, pt 2 35:16 Read by Bill Mosley
41 - Of the Five Sacraments, Falsely So Called, pt 1 34:37 Read by TriciaG
42 - Of the Five Sacraments, Falsely So Called, pt 2 32:00 Read by TriciaG
43 - Of the Five Sacraments, Falsely So Called, pt 3 29:26 Read by TriciaG
44 - Of Civil Government, pt 1 41:32 Read by Brian Dole
45 - Of Civil Government, pt 2 35:10 Read by Brian Dole
46 - Of Civil Government, pt 3 33:47 Read by Brian Dole

Reviews

I thank Librivox and TriciaG


(5 stars)

I believe in the Doctrines of Grace, or Calvinism, and I like very much to listen to the reader TriciaG because her voice is clear and articulate and she reads slowly and intelligibly while is very helpful to me whose native language is not English. George Kwayfaty of Lebanon.