I grew up in a church culture in which when the central charismatic figure spoke everyone dutifully nodded their heads, scribbled his wisdom in their Bible's margins, and then proceeded to begin all subsequent conversations with, "Well, Pastor C- says…." Of course, that culture isn't unique to that particular fellowship of churches. It's part and […]
According to many Protestants-including some evangelical leaders-the Reformation may be over. In an age of rampant secularism, the threat of militant Islam, and moral relativism, surely the issues that unite us are greater than our differences. It seems that a lot of today's heirs of the Reformation are weary of fighting age-old battles and most […]
Myths about Calvin survive in high school history textbooks, collegiate lectures on "Intro to Western Civilization," and, even worse, untold areas of divinity school curricula. Even with careful, reproving scholarship rolling off the presses, Marilynne Robinson has sarcastically written, Many of us know that Calvinism was a very important tradition among us. Yet all we […]
When I was preparing for ministry as a Catholic priest in the late 1970s, one of the professors in our theology program announced that he would be teaching a course in "Calvin's Sacramental Theology." At the time I remember thinking, "What could Calvin possibly have to say to Catholics about the Sacraments?" Needless to say, […]
Among the many ways that people, institutions, and publications are commemorating the 500th anniversary of John Calvin's birth, a Calvin tour can be one of the more illuminating. But for those cutting back on vacation spending, or who have already committed those dollars for a trip to Hawaii, the following imaginary tour of some of […]
Philip Benedict's fairly recent book has not received anywhere near the attention or accolades it deserves from Reformed Christians. This may say something about Benedict's tome, which in the form of almost 550 pages of fine print (plus another hundred of notes) almost works as a doorstop. But just as likely, it says more about […]
Luther threw inkwells at the devil. Calvin dictated books to his secretary during bouts of insomnia. Young Theodore Beza gave up his legal studies to write poetry full time in Paris. Such historical anecdotes have resonated for some five centuries now. Have you ever wondered whence they came? Occasionally, we get them from the horse's […]
This book is the second edition of a work that has already established itself as something of a basic resource and reference tool for anyone engaging with John Calvin, whether at the level of a layperson or a more advanced scholar. It is exactly what it says it is: an introduction to the life and […]
In recognition of the 500th anniversary of John Calvin's birth, Modern Reformation editors have solicited essays from a number of authorities on Calvin's life and work. Not all of our writers are "Calvinists" (that is, they would not all necessarily agree with him or follow in his theological footsteps), but each has identified a particular […]
In recognition of the 500th anniversary of John Calvin's birth, Modern Reformation editors have solicited essays from a number of authorities on Calvin's life and work. Not all of our writers are "Calvinists" (that is, they would not all necessarily agree with him or follow in his theological footsteps), but each has identified a particular […]
In recognition of the 500th anniversary of John Calvin's birth, Modern Reformation editors have solicited essays from a number of authorities on Calvin's life and work. Not all of our writers are "Calvinists" (that is, they would not all necessarily agree with him or follow in his theological footsteps), but each has identified a particular […]
In recognition of the 500th anniversary of John Calvin's birth, Modern Reformation editors have solicited essays from a number of authorities on Calvin's life and work. Not all of our writers are "Calvinists" (that is, they would not all necessarily agree with him or follow in his theological footsteps), but each has identified a particular […]
