by John Calvin
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
Translation Henry Beveridge, Esq
Edinburgh: Printed for The Calvin Translation Society, 1845, 2067 pages
John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, translated by Henry Beveridge, is widely regarded as one of the most profound and influential works in the history of Christian theology. Written as a systematic exposition of Reformed theology, the Institutes stands as a cornerstone of Protestant thought, offering an in-depth explanation of key doctrines that continue to shape Christian theology today. First published in 1536 and later expanded by Calvin, this monumental work serves not only as a theological textbook but also as a devotional guide, aimed at instructing believers in the knowledge of God and the Christian life.
This masterwork is divided into four main books, each dealing with essential theological themes. Book One addresses the knowledge of God as Creator and the nature of mankind, emphasizing how true knowledge of God and self are interconnected. Calvin opens by asserting that a true understanding of God leads us to a clearer understanding of our own frailty and need for divine grace. The discussions of God’s sovereignty, the authority of Scripture, and the revelation of God in creation serve as the foundation for all subsequent teachings.
Book Two explores the knowledge of God as Redeemer, particularly through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Calvin carefully outlines the doctrine of human sin, original sin inherited from Adam, and the fall of mankind. He expounds on the need for salvation and the role of Jesus Christ as the Mediator. This book contains rich expositions on the moral law, the purpose of the Old Testament, and how the coming of Christ fulfills the promises of redemption.
In Book Three, Calvin examines how we receive the grace of Christ, with particular focus on faith, justification, and sanctification. This section has greatly influenced Protestant teachings on salvation, particularly with Calvin’s articulation of sola fide (justification by faith alone). Here, Calvin also provides in-depth discussions on the role of the Holy Spirit, prayer, and Christian freedom. His powerful treatment of predestination, one of the most debated sections of the Institutes, highlights the sovereign grace of God in salvation.
Book Four is devoted to the external means through which God invites believers into the society of Christ and preserves them within it, focusing on the church and sacraments. Calvin presents a robust doctrine of the church, emphasizing its role as the mother of all believers and the necessity of unity with the true church. He critiques the errors of Roman Catholicism, particularly with regard to the sacraments, and offers a clear Reformed perspective on baptism and the Lord’s Supper. This book also includes Calvin’s thoughts on church governance and the authority of civil government.
Calvin’s writing is clear, passionate, and pastoral, aiming not only to instruct but to deepen the reader’s faith and love for God. The Institutes is a theological treasure trove for scholars and laypeople alike, offering profound insights into Christian doctrines such as the nature of God, salvation, and the Christian life. The careful balance of doctrine and devotion in Calvin’s writing has made this work one of the most enduring and influential pieces of Christian literature ever written. Its blend of theological rigor, biblical exegesis, and pastoral application ensures its relevance to believers in every generation.
For those drawn to theology, history, and a deeper understanding of their faith, Calvin’s Institutes is an indispensable resource. It is a work that has shaped the Protestant Reformation and continues to influence Christian thought today. With its comprehensive treatment of key theological issues, it is no surprise that the Institutes remains one of the best pieces of Christian literature ever written.
Short Bio of the Author:
John Calvin (1509–1564) was a French theologian, pastor, and reformer whose writings and teachings became foundational for Reformed theology. A key figure in the Protestant Reformation, Calvin’s influence extended far beyond his home in Geneva, shaping the development of Reformed churches throughout Europe. His Institutes of the Christian Religion and numerous biblical commentaries remain essential reading for those studying Christian theology. Calvin’s emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture, and the doctrine of predestination have left an indelible mark on Christian thought. His legacy continues to be felt in Reformed churches worldwide.
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Table of Contents
Introductory Notice
Original Translator's Preface
Prefatory Address to King Francis I of France.
Epistle to the Reader
Method and Arrangement. By Gaspar Olevian.
BOOK I. THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE CREATOR.
1. The Knowledge of God and That of Ourselves Are Connected. How They are Interrelated.
2. What it is to Know God, and to What Purpose the Knowledge of Him Tends.
3. The Knowledge of God Has Been Naturally Implanted in the Minds of Men.
4. This Knowledge is Either Smothered of Corrupted, Partly by Ignorance, Partly by Malice.
5. The Knowledge of God Shines Forth in the Fashioning of the Universe and the Continuing Government of It.
6. Scripture is Needed as Guide and Teacher for Anyone Who Would Come to God the Creator.
7. Scripture Must Be Confirmed by the Witness of the Spirit. Thus May Its Authority Be Established as Certain; and It is a Wicked Falsehood that Its Credibility Depends on the Judgment of the Church.
8. So Far as Human Reason Goes, Sufficiently Firm Proofs Are At Hand to Establish the Credibility of Scripture.
9. Fanatics, Abandoning Scripture and Flying Over to Revelation, Cast Down All the Principles of Godliness.
10. Scripture, to Correct All Superstition, Has Set the True God Alone Over Against All the Gods of the Heathen.
11. It is Unlawful to Attribute a Visible Form to God, and Generally Whoever Sets Up Idols Revolts Against the True God.
12. How God Is to Be So Distinguished from Idols that Perfect Honor May Be Given to Him Alone.
13. In Scripture, from the Creation Onward, We Are Taught One Essence of God, Which Contains Three Persons.
14. Even in the Creation of the Universe and of All Things, Scripture by Unmistakable Marks Distinguishes the True God from False Gods.
15. Discussion of Human Nature as Created, of the Faculties of the Soul, of the Image of God, of Free Will, and of the Original Integrity of Man's Nature.
16. God by His Power Nourishes and Maintains the World Created by Him, and Rules Its Several Parts by His Providence.
17. How We May Apply This Doctrine to Our Greatest Benefit.
18. God So Uses the Works of the Ungodly, and So Bends Their Minds to Carry Out His Judgments, that He Remains Pure from Every Stain.
BOOK II. THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE REDEEMER IN CHRIST, FIRST DISCLOSED TO THE FATHERS UNDER THE LAW, AND THEN TO US IN THE GOSPEL. 1. By the Fall and Revolt of Adam the Whole Human Race Was Delivered to the Curse, and Degenerated from Its Original Condition; the Doctrine of Original Sin.
2. Man Has Now Been Deprived of Freedom of Choice and Bound Over to Miserable Servitude.
3. Only Damnable Things Come Forth from Man's Corrupt Nature.
4. How God Works in Men's Hearts.
5. Refutation of the Objections Commonly Put Forward in Defense of Free Will.
6. Fallen Man Ought to Seek Redemption in Christ.
7. The Law Was Given, Not to Restrain the Folk of the Old Covenant Under Itself, but to Foster Hope of Salvation in Christ Until His Coming.
8. Explanation of the Moral Law (the Ten Commandments).
9. Christ, Although He Was Known to the Jews Under the Law, Was at Length Clearly Revealed Only in the Gospel.
10. The Similarity of the Old and New Testaments.
11. The Difference Between the Two Testaments.
12. Christ Had to Become Man in Order to Fulfill the Office of Mediator.
13. Christ Assumed the True Substance of Human Flesh.
14. How the Two Natures of the Mediator Make One Person.
15. To Know the Purpose for Which Christ Was Sent by the Father, and What He Conferred Upon Us, We Must Look Above All at Three Things in Him: the Prophetic Office, Kingship, and Priesthood.
16. How Christ Has Fulfilled the Function of Redeemer to Acquire Salvation for Us. Here, Also, His Death and Resurrection Are Discussed, as Well as His Ascent Into Heaven.
17. Christ Rightly and Properly Said to Have Merited God's Grace and Salvation for Us.
BOOK III. THE WAY IN WHICH WE RECEIVE THE GRACE OF CHRIST: WHAT BENEFITS COME TO US FROM IT, AND WHAT EFFECTS FOLLOW. 1. The Things Spoken Concerning Christ Profit Us by the Secret Working of the Spirit.
2. Faith: Its Definition Set Forth, and Its Properties Explained.
3 Our Regeneration by Faith: Repentance.
4. How Far from the Purity of the Gospel Is All That the Sophists in Their Schools Prate About Repentance; Discussion of Confession and Satisfaction.
5. The Supplements That They Add to Satisfactions, Namely, Indulgences and Purgatory.
6. The Life of the Christian Man; and First, by What Arguments Scripture Urges Us to It.
7. The Sum of the Christian Life: The Denial of Ourselves.
8. Bearing the Cross, a Part of Self-denial.
9. Meditation on the Future Life.
10. How We Must Use the Present Life and Its Helps.
11. Justification by Faith: First the Definition of the Word and of the Matter.
12. We Must Lift Up Our Minds to God's Judgment Seat that We May Be Firmly Convinced of His Free Justification.
13. Two Things to Be Noted in Free Justification.
14. The Beginning of Justification and Its Continual Progress.
15. Boasting About the Merits of Works Destroys Our Praise of God for Having Bestowed Righteousness, as Well as Our Assurance of Salvation.
16. Refutation of the False Accusations by Which the Papists Try to Cast Odium Upon This Doctrine.
17. The Agreement of the Promises of the Law and of the Gospel.
18. Works Righteousness Is Wrongly Inferred from Reward.
19. Christian Freedom.
20. Prayer, Which is the Chief Exercise of Faith, and by Which We Daily Receive God's Benefits.
21. Eternal Election, by Which God Has Predestined Some to Salvation, Others to Destruction.
22. Confirmation of This Doctrine from Scriptural Testimonies.
23. Refutation of the False Accusations with Which This Doctrine Has Always Been Unjustly Burdened.
24. Election Is Confirmed by God's Call; Moreover, the Wicked Bring Upon Themselves the Just Destruction to Which They Are Destined.
25. The Final Resurrection.
BOOK IV. THE EXTERNAL MEANS OR AIDS BY WHICH GOD INVITES US INTO THE SOCIETY OF CHRIST AND HOLDS US THEREIN.
1. Of the true Church. Duty of cultivating unity with her, as the mother of all the godly.
2. Comparison between the false church and the true.
3. Of the teachers and ministers of the Church. Their election and office.
4. Of the state of the primitive Church, and the mode of government in use before the papacy.
5. The ancient form of government utterly corrupted by the tyranny of the papacy.
6. Of the primacy of the Romish see.
7. Of the beginning and rise of the Romish papacy till it attained a height by which the liberty of the church was destroyed, and all true rule overthrown.
8. Of the power of the church in articles of faith. The unbridled license of the papal church in destroying purity of doctrine.
9. Of councils and their authority.
10. Of the power of making laws. The cruelty of the pope and his adherents, in this respect, in tyrannically oppressing and destroying souls.
11. Of the jurisdiction of the church and the abuses of it, as exemplified in the papacy.
12. Of the discipline of the Church, and its principal use in censures and excommunication.
13. Of vows. The miserable entanglements caused by vowing rashly.
14. Of the sacraments.
15. Of Baptism.
16. Paedobaptism. Its accordance with the institution of Christ, and the nature of the sign.
17.Of the Lord's Supper, and the benefits conferred by it.
18. Of the Popish mass. How it not only profanes, but annihilates the Lord's Supper.
19. Of the five sacraments, falsely so called. Their spuriousness proved, and their true character explained.
20. Of civil government.