Piety's Wisdom: A Summary of Calvin's Institutes with Study Questions

by Jensen Beach

Publisher:

Reformation Heritage

, 2010

Overview

John Calvin’s The Institutes of the Christian Religion presents one of the most winsome, thought-provoking, spiritually inspiring, and heart-searching summations of Christian truth ever written. Although works exist that either offer an analysis of Calvin’s views or serve as a guide to his Institutes, none fully share the aim of J. Mark Beach’s Piety’s Wisdom

Keeping to the form, shape, and tenor of Calvin’s own work, Piety’s Wisdom offers busy pastors, seminarians, interested college students, and motivated laypersons a book that presents Calvin on his own terms. This summary can be used as an introduction to the Christian faith, as a primer for the study of Calvin, or a combination of each.

While the book is suitable for individual study, the inclusion of study questions makes it an ideal tool for facilitating discussion in adult study groups.

Key Features

• Serves as an introduction to the Christian faith and as a primer for the study of Calvin
• Includes study questions for facilitating discussion in adult study groups
• Offers busy pastors, seminarians, interested college students, and motivated laypersons a book that presents Calvin on his own terms

Contents

• Calvin’s Institutes in Context (Institutes Prefatory Address)

Book I: The Knowledge of God the Creator

• Knowing God (Institutes 1.1-5)
• The Necessity of Scripture (Institutes 1.6-9)
• The True God (Institutes 1.10-13)
• The Creation of All Things (Institutes 1.14-15)
• Divine Providence (Institutes 1.16-18)

Book II: The Knowledge of God the Redeemer in Christ, First Disclosed to the Fathers under the Law, and Then to Us in the Gospel

• The Fall and Human Corruption (Institutes 2.1-5)
• The Way of Redemption in Christ (Institutes 2.6-8) 9. Christ the Redeemer Promise and Fulfillment (Institutes 2.9-11)
• The Person of Christ (Institutes 2.12-14)
• The Work of Christ (Institutes 2.15-17)

Book III: The Way in Which We Receive the Grace of Christ: What Benefits Come to Us From It, and What Effects Follow

• The Holy Spirit Our Bond to Christ: Faith and Repentance (Institutes 3.1-5) 13. The Christian Life (Institutes 3.6-10)
• Justification by Faith Alone (Institutes 3.11-14)
• Justification, Good Works, and Christian Liberty (Institutes 3.15-19)
• Prayer (Institutes 3.20)
• Predestination (Institutes 3.21-24)
• Future Glory (Institutes 3.25)

Book IV: The External Means or Aids by Which God Invites Us Into the Society of Christ and Hold us Therein

• The Church of Christ (Institutes 4.1-2)
• The Church’s Office-bearers and Ecclesiastical Power (Institutes 4.3-13)
• The Sacraments (Institutes 4.14)
• Christian Baptism (Institutes 4.15-16)
• The Lord’s Supper (Institutes 4.17-19)
• The Duties of the Civil Magistrate (Institutes 4.20)

Product Details

• Title: Piety’s Wisdom: A Summary of Calvin’s Institutes with Study Questions
• Author: Jensen Beach
• Publisher: Reformation Heritage
• Print Publication Date: 2010
• Pages: 368
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• ISBNs: 9781601780829, 1601780826
• Resource ID: LLS:PTYSWSDMSTQSTNS
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-10-07T20:49:03Z

About Jensen Beach

J. Mark Beach is an Associate Pastor at Redeemer United Reformed Church in Dyer, Indiana. He also serves as Professor of Ministerial and Doctrinal Studies, and Dean of Students at Mid-America Reformed Seminary.