by John Calvin
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
Translated by Arthur Golding
43 Sermons
John Calvin's "Sermons upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Galatians" is a theological masterpiece that explores the intricacies of faith, law, and grace. Calvin, a central figure in the Reformation, brings his acute exegetical skills and pastoral concern to bear on Paul's letter to the Galatians, a community struggling with false teachings that sought to undermine the gospel of grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
At the heart of Calvin's sermons is the defense of the gospel against the Judaizers, who argued that Gentile Christians needed to adopt Jewish ceremonial laws, particularly circumcision, to be fully accepted by God. Calvin sees this not merely as a theological dispute over customs but as a pivotal battle for the essence of the Christian faith. For him, the issue at stake is the sufficiency of Christ's work on the cross and the true nature of Christian freedom.
Calvin begins by situating the Galatians historically and geographically, providing insight into their background and the challenges they faced. This context is crucial for understanding the specific errors that Paul, and subsequently Calvin, addresses. Calvin emphasizes that the Galatians' susceptibility to false teachings was not due to intellectual deficiency but rather to spiritual weakness and the cunning of false apostles. These false teachers not only sought to bind the Galatians back to the yoke of the law but also attempted to undermine Paul's apostolic authority and, by extension, the gospel he preached.
Central to Calvin's exposition is the doctrine of justification by faith, which he regards as the "chief article of the Christian faith." He meticulously argues against the notion that human works, including adherence to the ceremonial law, can contribute to one's justification before God. Calvin underscores that such teachings not only obscure the gospel but also enslave believers to impossible standards, robbing them of the freedom Christ won.
In defending the true gospel, Calvin also seeks to uphold the authority and integrity of Paul's apostleship. He argues that Paul's apostolic authority is directly tied to the authenticity of the gospel message. Any diminishment of Paul's authority would, therefore, undermine the gospel itself. Calvin's defense is not born out of personal loyalty to Paul but out of a deep concern for the preservation of the true gospel.
Calvin's sermons are not merely academic exercises; they are pastoral in nature, aiming to guide, correct, and encourage his listeners. He navigates the delicate balance between freedom and responsibility in the Christian life, warning against the misuse of Christian liberty as an excuse for licentiousness. Furthermore, Calvin emphasizes the continuity and discontinuity between the Old and New Testaments, showing how Christ fulfills the law and the prophets.
In conclusion, Calvin's "Sermons upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Galatians" is a theological treasure that offers rich insights into the heart of the gospel. Calvin's rigorous defense of justification by faith alone, his exposition of Christian freedom, and his pastoral concern for the spiritual well-being of the believers make this work a vital resource for understanding the core of Reformed theology. Through these sermons, Calvin invites believers to stand firm in the freedom Christ has secured, rejecting any return to the bondage of the law and living in the light of the grace that transforms all aspects of life.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE Sir William Cecil
The Argument of Saint Paul's Epistle to the Galatians
The first Sermon upon the first Chapter - Galatians 1:1-5
The Second Sermon upon the First Chapter - Galatians 1:3-5
The Third Sermon upon the First Chapter - Galatians 1:6-8
The Fourth Sermon upon the First Chapter - Galatians 1:8-9
The Fifth Sermon upon the first Chapter - Galatians 1:11-12
The Sixth Sermon upon the first Chapter - Galatians 1:15-18
The Seventh Sermon upon the first Chapter, which is also the first upon the second Chapter - Galatians 1:22-24, 2:1-2
The Eighth Sermon, which is the second upon the second Chapter - Galatians 2:3-5
The Ninth Sermon, which is the third upon the second Chapter - Galatians 2:1-3
The Tenth Sermon, which is the fourth upon the second Chapter - Galatians 2:11-13
The Eleventh Sermon, which is the fifth upon the second Chapter.- Galatians 2: 14-16
The Twelfth Sermon which is the sixth upon the second Chapter - Galatians 2:15-16
The Thirteenth Sermon, which is the seventh upon the second Chapter - Galatians 2:17-18
The Fourteenth sermon, which is the eighth upon the second chapter - Galatians 2:20-21
The Fifteenth Sermon, which is the first upon the third Chapter - Galatians 3:1-3
The Sixteenth Sermon, which is the second upon the third Chapter -Galatians 3:3-5
The Seventeenth Sermon, which is the third upon the third Chapter - Galatians 3:7-9
The Eighteenth Sermon, which is the fourth upon the third Chapter - Galatians 3:11-14
The Nineteenth Sermon,which is the fifth upon the third Chapter - Galatians 3:13-14 The Twentieth Sermon, which is the sixth upon the third Chapter - Galatians 3:15-18
The Twenty-First Sermon, which is the seventh upon the third Chapter - Galatians 3:19-20
The Twenty-Second Sermon,which is the eighth upon the third Chapter - Galatians 3:21-25 The Twenty-Third Sermon, which is the ninth upon the third Chapter - Galatians 3:26-29
The Twenty-Fourth Sermon, which is the first upon the fourth Chapter - Galatians 4:1-4
The Twenty-Fifth Sermon, which is the second upon the fourth Chapter - Galatians 4:4-7
The Twenty-Sixth Sermon,which is the third upon the fourth Chapter - Galatians 4:8-11 The Twenty-Seventh Sermon, which is the fourth upon the fourth Chapter - Galatians 4:11-14
The Twenty-Eighth Sermon, which is the fifth upon the fourth Chapter - Galatians 4:15-20
The Twenty-Ninth Sermon, which is the sixth upon the fourth Chapter - Galatians 4:21-25
The Thirtieth Sermon, which is the seventh upon the fourth Chapter - Galatians 4:26-31
The Thirty-First Sermon, which is the first upon the fifth Chapter - Galatians 5:1-3
The Thirty-Second Sermon, which is the second upon the fifth Chapter - Galatians 5:4-6
The Thirty-Third Sermon,which is the third upon the fifth Chapter - Galatians 5:7-10
The Thirty-Fourth Sermon,which is the fourth upon the fifth Chapter - Galatians 5:11-14
The Thirty Fifth Sermon, which is the fifth upon the fifth Chapter - Galatians 5:14-18
The Thirty-Sixth Sermon,which is the sixth upon the fifth Chapter - Galatians 5:19-23 The Thirty-Seventh Sermon, which is the seventh upon the fifth Chapter - Galatians 5:22-26
The Thirty-Eighth Sermon,which is the first upon the sixth Chapter - Galatians 6:1-2 The Thirty-Ninth Sermon, which is the second upon the sixth Chapter - Galatians 6:2-5
The Fortieth Sermon, which is the third upon the sixth Chapter - Galatians 6::6-8
The Forty-First Sermon, which is the fourth upon the sixth Chapter - Galatians 6:9-11
The Forty-Second Sermon, which is the fifth upon the sixth Chapter - Galatians 6:12-13
The Forty-Third Sermon, which is the sixth and last upon the sixth and last Chapter - Galatians 6:14-18
The prayer which M. John Calvin made ordinarily before the beginning of his Sermons.