Institutes of the Christian Religion: 1541 Edition

Institutes of the Christian Religion is Calvin’s single most important work and one of the key texts to emerge from the Reformation of the sixteenth century. The book accompanied the Reformer throughout his life, growing in size from what was essentially an expanded catechism in 1536 to a full-scale work of biblical theology in 1559-60.

Among the intermediate editions of the Institutes, none deserves to be better known than the first French edition of 1541.

Avoiding the technical details and much of the polemics of the final work, the Institutes of 1541 offers a clear and comprehensive account of the work of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in creation, revelation, and redemption in the life of the individual Christian and in the worship and witness of the church.

Not doctrine only but its practical use is Calvin’s abiding concern. The author of the Institutes invites us both to know and to live the truth, and thus allow God’s Spirit to transform us.

The present translation is newly made from the French of 1541. It has been designed and annotated with the needs of a wide readership in mind.

Contents

Translator’s Introduction
Outline of the Present Book
Prefatory Letter to Francis I
Institutes of the Christian Religion (1541 Edition)

Chapter 1: The Knowledge of God
Chapter 2: The Knowledge of Man and Free Will
Chapter 3: The Law
Chapter 4: Faith, with an Explanation of the Apostles’ Creed
Chapter 5: Repentance
Chapter 6: Justification by Faith and the Merits of Works
Chapter 7: The Similarity and Difference between the Old and New Testaments
Chapter 8: The Predestination and Providence of God
Chapter 9: Prayer, with an Explanation of Our Lord’s Prayer
Chapter 10: The Sacraments
Chapter 11: Baptism
Chapter 12: The Lord’s Supper
Chapter 13: The Five Ceremonies Falsely Called Sacraments
Chapter 14: Christian Freedom
Chapter 15: The Power of the Church
Chapter 16: Civil Government
Chapter 17: The Christian Life

Appendix: Comparative Table of the 1541 and 1560 Institutes
Index of Scripture References
Index of Names
Index of Principal Subjects