Well I’m now into Book 4 and there is not long to go. As I reflect on the depth and breadth of the book so far I can now see why Calvin had such a profound impact on his day. Below are the hyperlinks to each post I’ve done so far, alternatively you can click on the category links on the right hand side to see posts on a particular theme:
Book 1 – The Knowledge of God and Ourselves
- Piety and the Knowledge of God (1 – 5)
Chapter 1: God knows you better than you know yourself
Chapter 2: Knowledge of God as Creator
Chapter 3: Can man live without God?
Chapter 4: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing
Chapter 5: Every contact leaves a trace & The mystery of providence
- Scripture (6 – 10)
Chapter 6: Knowledge of God through obedience to the Word
Chapter 7: The secret testimony of the Spirit
Chapter 8: An argument for the credibility of scripture
Chapter 9: Word and Spirit in harmony
Chapter 10: The relational God
- Recognising the true God (11 & 12)
Chapter 11: Images of the invisible God
Chapter 12: You gotta serve somebody
- The Triune God revealed in creation & Scripture (13 & 14)
Chapter 13: The Triune God, part 1 and The Triune God, part 2
Chapter 14: No one believes in me anymore
- Human nature before the fall (15)
Chapter 15: Look at what you could’ve been
- God’s Providence (16-18)
Chapter 16: The secret impulse of God
Chapter 17: A truth for all seasons
Chapter 18: A straight line with a crooked stick
Book 2 – The Knowledge of God as Redeemer
- Sin (1 – 5)
Chapter 1: The day we all died
Chapter 2: Free to do what you love
Chapter 3: Nothing in my hand I bring
Chapter 4: The law of unintended consequences
Chapter 5: Faith acquires what the law requires
- Gospel & law (6 – 11)
Chapter 6: One man to reverse the curse
Chapter 7: Don’t stop buying the flowers
Chapter 8: “I am not a liar“
Chapter 9: The shadow and the substance
Chapter 10: One faith; Two testaments; No prosperity gospel
Chapter 11: From fading glory to surpassing glory
- Christology (12-17)
Chapter 12: What if God was one of us?
Chapter 13: And the Word became flesh
Chapter 14: Two natures, distinct but united
Chapter 15: The heavenly King and the earthly Church
Chapter 16: The curse of the cross
Chapter 17: The merit of Christ’s death
Book 3 – The way in which we receive the Grace of Christ, what benefits come to us from it and what effects follow
Chapter 1: Drink me!
Chapter 2: Faith – the final frontier
Chapter 3: Sorry, is all that you can’t say
Chapter 4: Real forgiveness, no strings attached
Chapter 5: A tariff on forgiveness
Chapter 6: No ordinary life
Chapter 7: No other will
Chapter 8: Our willful, joyful, costly submission
Chapter 9: A couple of billion heartbeats later
Chapter 10: Because you’re worth it
Chapter 11: Under the robe
Chapter 12: “We must have complete transparency“
Chapter 13: There is no “we” in glory
Chapter 14: Taking the red pill
Chapter 15: 10/10 for effort
Chapter 16: There is no such thing as safe grace
Chapter 17: Don’t forget to count your laps
Chapter 18: The whispered promises of a betrothed groom
Chapter 19: When dad lets go of the bike
Chapter 20: Read less, pray more
Chapter 21: How to adore the silence of God
Chapter 22: The Good, the Bad and the Elect
Chapter 23: Where angels fear to tread
Chapter 24: He loves me, he loves me not…
Chapter 25: Away beyond the blue
Book 4 – Of the Holy Catholic Church
Chapter 1: A diamond in the dust
Chapter 2: Rage against the machine
Chapter 3: What a piece of work is a man
Chapter 4: The Wonder Years
I am using a daily reading plan provided by J R Harris. I’m also using the Beveridge edition, I know there are a number of translations but this is the one I have had on my shelf for 10+ years! An online edition can be accessed here.
The fire has caught and the idea of blogging the Institutes during 2009 is spreading. Check out the following sites for other people reading and commenting on Calvin in 2009:
Reformation 21 – Blogging the Institutes
Princeton Theological Seminary – Calvin 2009
Princeton are also producing audio recordings of the Institutes, available via iTunes
In order to help me keep up with the blogging I’m following a simple structure for the posts along the lines of: summary of main teaching from that day’s reading; my response (with application); an appropriate verse or hymn and a prayer to close.
If you want to be kept in the loop you can subscribe using RSS, or if you want other feeds let me know and I’ll try and set it up.
Its never too late to start and if you want to read it, just use the plan from whenever you begin and join in the discussions. If you have read it in the past please leave a comment to encourage us as we continue our journey.
Martyn,
Thank you for your visit to tangiblethoughts and your response to my post about John Calvin and the study of the Institutes of Christian Religion this year. It’s exciting to hear from someone who is reading and praying through this work as well.
I look forward to visiting your blog on a regular basis as we pray, read and study through Calvin’s Institutes.
May the Lord receive all the glory.
Scott
Texas, USA