Institutes of the Christian Religion, Books 1-4 (Allen Translation)
Gelesen von InTheDesert
John Calvin
(5 Sterne; 2 Bewertungen)
At the head of the list of Calvin’s writings stands his great dogmatic treatise — the Institutes of the Christian Religion. In a very literal sense this book may indeed be called his life-work. It was the first book he published after he had "devoted himself to God," and thus introduces the series of his works consecrated to the propagation of religion. But from its first appearance in the spring of 1536 to the issue of its definitive edition in 1559 — throughout nearly a quarter of a century — Calvin was continually busy with it, revising, expanding, readjusting it, until from a simple little handbook, innocent of constructive principle, it had grown into a bulky but compact and thoroughly organized textbook in theology.
The importance to the Protestant cause of the publication of this book can hardly be overstated. It is inadequate praise to describe it, as the Roman Catholic historian, Kampschulte, describes it, as "without doubt the most outstanding and the most influential production in the sphere of dogmatics which the Reformation literature of the sixteenth century presents." This goes without saying. What demands recognition is that the publication of the Institutes was not merely a literary incident but an historical event, big with issues, which have not lost their importance to the present day. By it was given to perplexed, hard-bestead Protestantism an adequate positive programme for its Reformation. What they needed, and what the Institutes did was the disengagement of a principle "from this vortex of ideas," and the development of its consequences. "Such a book," continues M. Buisson, "is equally removed from a pamphlet of Ulrich von Hutten, from the satire of Erasmus, from the popular preaching, mystical and violent, of Luther: it is a work of a theologian in the most learned sense of the term, a religious work undoubtedly, penetrated with an ethical inspiration, but before all, a work of organization and concentration, a code of doctrine for the minister, an arsenal of arguments for simple believers: it is the Summa of Reformed Christianity."
"The author's concernment is far more to bring out the logical force and the moral power of his own doctrine than to descant on the weak points of the opposing doctrine. What holds his attention is not the past but the future, — it is the reconstruction of the Church." What wonder, then, that it has retained its influence through all succeeding time? As the first adequate statement of the positive programme of the Reformation movement, the Institutes lies at the foundation of the whole development of Protestant theology and has left an impress on evangelical thought which is ineffaceable. After three centuries and a half, it retains its unquestioned preeminence as the greatest and most influential of all dogmatic treatises. - Summary by Benjamin B Warfield (56 hr 22 min)
Chapters
Bewertungen
What a Treasure!
Odditor
(5 Sterne)
Little need be said of John Calvin’s Institutes. Its reputation as one of the greatest presentations of the Christian faith ever to be set forth is well deserved. Whoever dedicates time to the study of this work, and meditates on its substance, will be richly rewarded. What should really be pointed out in this context is the splendid quality of the reading. In the official audiobook version of the Institutes, read by Bob Souer, the flow of the work is bogged down by the reading of a point by point outline at the beginning of each chapter. These outlines are helpful for reference purposes when reading the physical copy of the book, but do not make for an enjoyable listening experience. This LibriVox version, read by inthedesert, is superior in that we receive the uninterrupted flow of John Calvin’s thought. It really is delightful to listen to. The reader’s voice is clear, well-paced, and it is evident that he has an understanding of what he is reading. You don’t always get that in theological audiobooks. Plus he’s Australian, which is exciting for a plain old American like me lol. My sincere thanks to you, inthedesert, for devoting your time and talents to serve the church through your readings. May God bless you, and establish the work of your hands.