John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor

John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor
by W. Robert Godfrey

I will get straight to the point:  I think reading John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor is worth your time, especially if you don’t know Calvin’s life or theology well or haven’t thought about it lately.  Why do I say so?  I will give you three reasons.

First, because everyone else is doing it.  July 10, 2009 marked the 500th anniversary of Calvin’s birthday and accordingly there has been much ado in the worlds of Reformed publishing and academia.  There have been conferences on Calvinism, new editions published of his most well known works, and a great many books written.  If you peruse our own bookstore and library you will find copies of his Institutes of Christian Religion, his synopsis of the gospel, Truth For All Time, a couple devotionals he wrote, a few biographies, and a couple of the books written this year.  Why all the fuss?  Because God used John Calvin mightily.  This hard-working genius devoted his life to the gospel and the church.  He wrote and pastored with full conviction that he was doing the work of God and it showed.  The body of work that he produced is astounding - commentaries on all but 3 books of the Bible, several editions of the Institutes, and several other books - all while preaching every Sunday and daily every other week and writing a great many pastoral letters.  All the while not living the easiest of lives -- his wife died after less than a decade of their marriage, his only child died in infancy, he was exiled twice, he saw friends burned at the stake for following his teaching, and the list goes on, but I will leave it to Godfrey to tell you the rest.  Calvin’s influence is felt by all Protestants to some degree, but also the unchurched on issues like church and state.  Calvin’s understanding of scripture has been instrumental to all of the pastors at CPC and consequently Calvin’s teachings are influential on our worship.  As you read you may find yourself reflecting on how your understanding of worship, the sacraments, and assurance of salvation has been effected by his. 

Second, of all the books written this year, I picked this book because it is both a biography of Calvin’s life and an examination of his thought.  The book is an accessible read for all of us and often lets Calvin speak for himself.  I found the book to be devotional at times as I reflected on the passion with which Calvin wrote about the gospel. 

Third, the same reason you read any Christian biography, you learn about God.  In studying the piety, the frailty, and the work of Calvin, you see God’s hand in his life.  You will be amazed by the power God can exercise through us, daunted by what He may call us to, and encouraged by the work of the Spirit in humanity. 

Happy reading!