Rating: 
Summary: Classic theology - Classic literature
Review: John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion is a monumental work that stands among the greatest works of Christian theology and Western literature. It ranks with works such as St. Augustine's Confessions and City of God in value, insight and significance. The Institutes have molded the church's understanding of Christian doctrine for generations and has had untold influence in the development of Western thought in both the religious and civil arenas.
Calvin's Institutes represent his life work in teaching theology. They first appeared in 1536 and went through three significant revisions - each expanding and building upon the previous. This particular edition represents the final form and of which Calvin was very pleased.
Originally written to give basic understanding of Christian doctrine, they became one of the earliest systematic theologies of the Reformed tradition. Calvin's stated desire is to give the reader the necessary background to read and accurately handle the great doctrines and promises of the Bible.
Calvin sent a copy to the King Francis I to encourage him to stop persecuting the Christians who were embracing the gospel as taught by the Reformers. His basic argument was that if the king understood what these people believed he would stop killing as heretics but rather see them as faithful adherents of historical Christianity. Calvin was no lover of novelty and throughout the Institutes copiously sights from the early church fathers and the long history of the Churches understanding of doctrine.
This one-volume work is broken down into four books that loosely follow the outline of the Apostle's Creed. Book 1 concerns knowledge of God. Book 2 is about Jesus Christ as redeemer. Book 3 is about the Holy Spirit's role in applying Christ's redeeming graces. Book 4 is about the church and practice.
This particular edition, translated by Beverage is not as good as the one by Battles and edited by McNeil. While the church is indebted to Beverage for his labor of love getting many works by Calvin translated into English, his command of both French and Latin were not as strong as Battles. In fact, Beverage does not even deal with Calvin's Latin version of the Institutes. They were originally produced in both Latin and French and Battles' work demonstrates his competency in dealing with both languages. Also, Battles' mastery of Calvin's other writings is reflected in his voluminous footnotes, many of them very helpful to the reader for clarifying, further reading and cross-referencing. In addition, the indexes in the Battles' edition are invaluable not only for searching the Institutes for topics but for gleaming Calvin's understanding of the church fathers. If the cost of the Battles translation is prohibative, then you won't go wrong with this Beverage edition. But for difference between the two editions, the Battles work with worth every extra dollar you pay.
Agree or disagree with Calvin, these are a necessary read for anyone who desires an understanding of the development of Western thought, literature and theology. They are not only great theology; they represent excellent writing and development of an argument. They are also highly pastoral and devotional. They are not like reading a modern systematic theology. Calvin understood doctrine to be more than theory, but something to mold our understanding of God, ourselves and the world in which we live. Carefully working through the Institutes is a journey worth taking!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Rating: 
Summary: Heretical Sophistry
Review: Like all Reformers, Calvin relied on his own understanding, rejecting the Tradition of the Church (both Catholic and Orthodox), substituting human philosophy for Christian Teaching. Rather than relying on the whole of scripture, he equates the truly Pauline doctrine of Salvation by Grace with Salvation by Faith, which, with Luther, leads him to reject the truth expressed by James that salvation is by faith and works (i.e. Grace results in faith and works). Rather than adhering to the consistent biblical injunction to follow scripture and tradition, he follows the Lutheran heresy, adhering to scripture alone. This book will be good if you want to learn human philosophy with a quasi-christian slant. If you want to learn Christianity, read "The Catechism of the Catholic Church", or "The Orthodox Church" by Timothy Ware, or one of Scott Hahn's books, or just about anything from St. Vladimir's Seminary Press or Ignatius Press
Rating:
Summary: A great buy
Review: No doubt this book was the most influential source of theological influence in the protestant movement, and needless to say essential for any student of religion to read and own a copy of. I take issue with anyone that rates this book down due to dislike for the doctrine of predestination, despite Calvin's perspective still being the most coherent and comprehensive theological analysis ever written (compare it in length to Aquinas' Summa and you'll see what I mean). The price is incredibly convenient although it probably will not last twenty years as binded. Especially good for students.
Rating:
Summary: Superb Theology
Review: This book has shattered all theological error that has penetrated the Christian religion and continues to help its readers in our day to "contend earnestly for the faith" and to fight folly. The book is not meant for entertainment but for education. If you are cursed with the attention span of modern readers, then please do not bother with this book.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent translation with few shortcomings
Review: This concise one-volume version of Calvin's "Institutes" is an indispensible reference that should be on the shelves of every student of theology or recent history. The translation is superlative and is as unambiguous in its gramatical choice as possible. This particular volume is excellent because it brings the "Institutes" into one compact volume. I see only two problems with this version: a 2,000 page paperback book is going to have its binding creased eventually. It would have been nice to see a hardcover version of this. Secondly, this volume lacks a concise index and concordance. If you purchase this volume, I would recommend also purchasing a concordance to the "Institutes." Overall an excellent version of a wonderful theological document.
Rating:
Summary: Calvin was right
Review: Those who deny Calvin and Predestination simply show their lack of historical knowledge. Not only did Aquinas, Augustine, St. Paul, and Jesus Christ himself teach Predestination... but throughout history it has always held the moral high ground of theology. Predestination is clearly taught in the Bible. Various attempts have been made to water down this dogma. For example, it has become official doctrine in the Eastern Orthodox church that God chooses according to his foreknowledge of what free wills would have chosen if they were given a chance. That is, God picks those people to be saved, whom He knows will respond in a positive manner, if given the opportunity. Although this sounds good at first glance, it is actually unsound. Why? Because it implies that those who are chosen for salvation DESERVE that salvation more than those who are NOT chosen. If somebody DESERVES salvation, that means they are better than the ones who do NOT deserve to be saved. This is the height of arrogance... and thus this doctrine leads to the sin of pride. So it turns out that God must randomly pick certain people to be saved. Otherwise, it would be based upon merit... which means that the "meritorious" people have a good reason to be arrogant... hardly a fitting attitude when they get to heaven! Calvin's Institutes are chock full of solid doctrine. The most important thing is that HUMILITY, not ARROGANCE, is the heart and soul of Predestination PROPERLY UNDERSTOOD. Read it and you will undergo something like a Copernican Revolution. Copernicus changed Astronomy forever by proving that the Sun, not the earth, was the center of the physical universe. Similarly, Calvin changes Theology forever by proving that God, not mankind, is the center of the spiritual universe.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book, OK Binding
Review: What can I say about this book that hasn't been said already? Calvin certainly evokes strong emotions from both sides of the theological spectrum, and this is his masterwork. This book is hard going, but it's because Calvin eschews flowery rhetoric for straightforward, guns-blazing argument. That is, this entire book is substance, and it's about as stylish as a legal brief (which, given that Calvin was a lawyer, is to be expected). If you're interested in the issues of Christian doctrine, this book and Calvin's "The Bondage and Liberation of the Will" present the Calvinist side of the debate pretty cogently.
My only negative comment about this book is this: buy a hardcover version if you can afford it and durability is a concern. I have this one (the paperback), and I'm not sure how much paperback binding is intended to hold books of this size. I'm fairly fastidious about not breaking a book's spine, storing it properly, etc; and I'm planning on buying the hardcover version soon simply because this one won't last too many years no matter how careful you are with it.
| 
