Genesis (Crossway Classic Commentaries | CCC)
Overview
With its memorable stories and important beginnings, Genesis is one of the most enjoyable Old Testament books. It is more than just a history, however; the Bible’s first book acquaints us with several aspects of the knowledge of God and ourselves, and thus lays the foundation of Christianity. John Calvin notes four theological themes which run through this ancient book and into our hearts and lives today—including our ruinous guilt with its resulting radical alienation from God, and God’s pervasive love which redeems us. Calvin’s ability to discern character and motivation from clues in the text, blended with his understanding of humanity’s condition, creates a work that is constantly probing and practical—a thought-provoking and faithful exploration of this great book.
Top Highlights
“After the world had been created, man was placed in it as in a theater that he, beholding above him and beneath him the wonderful works of God, might reverently adore their Author.” (Page xv)
“Let there be light.’ It was proper that the light, by means of which the world was to be adorned with such excellent beauty, should be first created. It was not, however, by thoughtlessness or accident that the light preceded the sun and the moon. To nothing are we more prone than to tie down the power of God to those instruments that he uses. The sun and moon supply us with light. And according to our thinking we say that they give light, so that if they were taken away from the world, it would be impossible for any light to remain. But the Lord, by the very order of the creation, bears witness that he holds in his hand the light, which he is able to impart to us without the sun and moon.” (Page 19)
“First the woman was led away from the word of God by the wiles of Satan, through unbelief. So the beginning of the ruin by which the human race was overthrown was a defection from the command of God. But observe that men revolted from God when, having forsaken his word, they lent their ears to the falsehoods of Satan. From this we infer that God is to be seen and adored in his word, and therefore that all reverence for him is shaken off when his word is despised.” (Page 43)
“And the common distinction is, image exists in the substance, and likeness in the nonessential qualities of anything.” (Page 25)
“to teach us that God has made nothing without a certain reason and design.” (Page 19)
- Title: Crossway Classic Commentaries: Genesis
- Author: John Calvin
- Publisher: Crossway Books
- Publication Date: 2001
- Pages: 384
John Calvin (1509–1564), one of the most important thinkers in church history, was a prominent French theologian during the Protestant Reformation and the father of Calvinism. His theological works, biblical commentaries, tracts, treatises, sermons, and letters helped establish the Reformation throughout Europe.
Calvinism has spawned movements and sparked controversy throughout the centuries. Calvin began his work in the church at the age of 12, intending to train for the priesthood. Calvin attended the Collège de la Marche in Paris at 14, before studying law at the University of Orléans and continuing his studies at the University of Bourges.
In 1532, Calvin’s first published work appeared: a commentary on Seneca’s De Clementia. The controversy of calling for reform in the Catholic Church disciplined Calvin in his writing project, and he began working on the first edition of The Institutes of the Christian Religion, which appeared in 1536. Calvin’s Commentaries and The Letters of John Calvin are also influential; both appear in the Calvin 500 Collection.
