Historical Context of the Institutes as a Work in Theology - The True and Triune God: Calvin's Doctrine of the Holy Trinity - Election and Predestination: The Sovereign Expressions of God - A Shattered Vase: The Tragedy of Sin in Calvin's Thought - Calvin's Interpretation of the History of Salvation: The Continuity and Discontinuity of the Covenant - Justification and Union with Christ - Appropriating Salvation: The Spirit, Faith and Assurance, and Repentance - Ethics: The Christian Life and Good Works according to Calvin - Calvin, Worship, and the Sacraments - Calvin's Doctrine of the Last Things: The Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting

Calvin's Doctrine of Biblical Authority offers a profound new approach to a long-debated topic. Istafanous draws upon Calvin's twofold structure regarding salvation to illumine the Reformer's twofold knowledge of God with particular focus on biblical authority. In doing so, Istafanous presents Calvin's view of biblical authority framed within modern discussions of inspiration. In the 1539 edition of the Institutes, and in all subsequent editions, John Calvin presented justification and sanctification as the "twofold grace of God." He repeatedly taught this concept in all of his commentaries, sermons, and other writings. More than any other reformer, Calvin used the "twofold grace" to express the full relationship between justification and sanctification. In the definitive edition of the Institutes (1559), Calvin introduced the concept of the "twofold knowledge of God." This framework has been considered by many as the ordering principle of the Institutes and all of Calvin's theology. Istafanous argues that the "twofold Grace" inspired Calvin to introduce the concept of the "twofold knowledge" in 1559. Thus, the "twofold grace of God" provides the key to understanding the "twofold knowledge" specifically and Calvin's theology generally.

In Theology Made Practical , Joel R. Beeke, David W. Hall, and Michael A. G. Haykin declare the significance of John Calvin’s life and ideas—particularly his contributions to systematic theology, pastoral theology, and political theology—as well as the influence he had on others through the centuries. With focused studies related to the Trinity, predestination, the Holy Spirit, justification, preaching, missions, principles of government, welfare, and marriage, this book demonstrates how Calvin’s thought has been, and still is, a dynamic wellspring of fruitfulness for numerous areas of the Christian life. More than 450 years since Calvin experienced the beatific vision, his thinking about God and His Word still possesses what our culture passionately longs for—true relevancy. Table of Contents: Part 1: Calvin’s Biography 1. The Young Calvin: Preparation for a Life of Ministry—Michael A. G. Haykin 2. Practical Lessons from the Life of Idelette Calvin—Joel R. Beeke Part 2: Calvin’s Systematic Theology 3. “Uttering the Praises of the Father, of the Son, and of the Spirit”: John Calvin on the Divine Triunity —Michael A. G. Haykin 4. Calvin on Similarities and Differences on Election and Reprobation—Joel R. Beeke 5. Calvin on the Holy Spirit—Joel R. Beeke 6. Explicit and Implicit Appendixes to Calvin’s View of Justification by Faith —David W. Hall Part 3: Calvin’s Pastoral and Political Theology 7. Calvin’s Experiential Preaching—Joel R. Beeke 8. John Calvin and the Missionary Endeavor of the Church—Michael A. G. Haykin 9. Calvin on Principles of Government—David W. Hall 10. Calvin on Welfare: Diaconal Ministry in Geneva—David W. Hall 11. Christian Marriage in the Twenty-First Century: Calvin on the Purpose of Marriage—Michael A. G. Haykin Part 4: Calvin’s Legacy 12. Calvin’s Circle of Friends: Propelling an Enduring Movement—David W. Hall 13. Calvin as a Calvinist—Joel R. Beeke 14. Calvinism and Revival—Michael A. G. Haykin

Themelios is an international, evangelical, peer-reviewed theological journal that expounds and defends the historic Christian faith. Themelios is published three times a year online at The Gospel Coalition (http://thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/) and in print by Wipf and Stock. Its primary audience is theological students and pastors, though scholars read it as well. Themelios began in 1975 and was operated by RTSF/UCCF in the UK, and it became a digital journal operated by The Gospel Coalition in 2008. The editorial team draws participants from across the globe as editors, essayists, and reviewers. General Editor: D. A. Carson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Managing Editor: Brian Tabb, Bethlehem College and Seminary Consulting Editor: Michael J. Ovey, Oak Hill Theological College Administrator: Andrew David Naselli, Bethlehem College and Seminary Book Review Editors: Jerry Hwang, Singapore Bible College; Alan Thompson, Sydney Missionary & Bible College; Nathan A. Finn, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; Hans Madueme, Covenant College; Dane Ortlund, Crossway; Jason Sexton, Golden Gate Baptist Seminary Editorial Board: Gerald Bray, Beeson Divinity School Lee Gatiss, Wales Evangelical School of Theology Paul Helseth, University of Northwestern, St. Paul Paul House, Beeson Divinity School Ken Magnuson, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Jonathan Pennington, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary James Robson, Wycliffe Hall Mark D. Thompson, Moore Theological College Paul Williamson, Moore Theological College Stephen Witmer, Pepperell Christian Fellowship Robert Yarbrough, Covenant Seminary

There has been a marked increase of interest in the art of spiritual direction in recent decades. Yet in many circles, especially in ecumenical and interfaith contexts, it is unclear what grounds the practice of this ancient art. As a tradition’s practice of spiritual direction expresses its particular theology, which, in turn, is shaped by its unique history, this work explains that ecumenical spiritual direction must make and retain the tri-perspective of history, theology, and method that faithfully reflects each tradition’s distinctives as requisite for true ecumenical enrichment. The importance of this trinocular vision is brought into sharp focus through a comparative study of Ignatius of Loyola and John Calvin, where points of continuity and discontinuity between the Ignatian and Reformed traditions underscore the importance of this work’s thesis.

Suk Yu Chan provides a revisit of John Calvin's interpretation of the doctrine of divine providence and builds upon a vast repository of quality research conducted by previous Reformation scholars. The author adopts a historical approach to explore Calvin's works from 1534–1559, and argues that from 1534–1541, Calvin used the image of the fountain to portray God as the source of everything, who has power to preserve and give life to all creatures on earth. Between the Latin edition of the Institutes in 1539 and the French translation of that work in 1541, Calvin was indecisive about the definition of special providence, articulating a fitful relationship between providence and soteriology in these two texts. In 1552, Calvin gradually ceased using the image of the fountain to portray God as the source of everything, and he also delivered three definitions of divine providence: general providence, special providence, and the very presence of God. Based on the theological understanding of divine providence which he had developed from 1534–1552, Calvin presented his exegesis on the Book of Job and the Book of Psalms through his sermons and commentaries. Furthermore, Calvin also discussed the importance of the human role in God's providence. While Calvin's theological understanding of God's providence was inherited by his successor, Theodore Beza, Beza applied it differently in his exegesis on the Book of Job. From 1534–1559, Calvin formulated his biblical doctrine of divine providence, articulating that divine providence is heavenly providence which is comprised of eternal predestination and divine preservation.

John Calvin (1509-64) was the pinnacle of the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation in Europe. As we celebrate the five hundred-year anniversary of his birth, it is worthy to explore Calvin's covenant theology, which may be one of the best windows to understand and evaluate his theology as a whole. In recent years, the Federal Vision has been surfaced in the American conservative Reformed and evangelical circles. It has strong hermeneutical, theological, and practical attachment with Calvin. Although Calvin was a covenant theologian, he firmly maintained the evangelical distinction between law and gospel, especially in his exposition of justification by faith alone (sola fide) and salvation by grace alone (sola gratia) with a balanced emphasis of believers' covenantal obedience. Moreover, we will find out that Calvin not only applied the distinction between law and gospel to soteriology but also in the depiction of redemptive history. In Calvin, the distinction between law and gospel was foundational for the depiction of biblical vision of eschatology in the Garden of Eden before the Fall and under the Old Covenant. However, the exponents of the Federal Vision deny any validity of the distinction between law and gospel in hermeneutics, theology, and practice while they identify themselves with those of Calvin. In that sense, we may identify the Federal Vision not with the Protestant Reformation and Calvin but as consistent monocovenantalism in which they deny the distinction between law and gospel and apply that monocovenantal principle consistently to their understandings of hermeneutics, soteriology, the doctrine of double predestination, and sacramental theology.

Understanding union with Christ as a frame of thought (as a motif or theme) is important for accessing Calvin's theology. While the union-with-Christ doctrine arises when Calvin explains the doctrine itself directly (especially in light of soteriology), the strong presence of this motif--union with Christ (union with the Triune God)--indicates its pervasiveness when other doctrines or theological themes are explained as well. This book suggests that we approach the notion of union of Christ as a theological frame of thought that touches on most of the doctrines and theological themes of Calvin's theology. This book deals with union with Christ as a motif or theme rather than as a doctrine.

Calvin for Today is an edited compilation of the stimulating addresses given at the Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary’s annual conference in August 2009, at Grand Rapids, Michigan. The book contains a wealth of information and practical applications about how to use Calvin’s thought in our challenging day. Topics include Calvin on preaching Christ from the Old Testament, missions, the church, Scripture, the Spirit’s work, redemption, ethics, believers’ benefits, the early church, reprobation, marriage, and reforming the church. Table of Contents: Preface – Joel R. Beeke Introductory Sermon 1. What Kind of Love Is This? - Dr. David Murray Calvin and the Bible 2. Calvin on the Word of God - Dr. Gerald Bilkes 3. Calvin on Preaching Christ from the Old Testament - Dr. David Murray Calvin the Theologian 4. Calvin on the Holy Spirit - Dr. Joseph Pipa 5. Redemption: Speaking Peace in the 21st Century - Dr. Derek Thomas 6. Union with Christ, the “twofold Grace of God,” and the “Order of Salvation” in Calvin’s Theology – Cornelis Venema 7. Calvin’s View of Reprobation – Donald Sinnema Calvin and the Church 8. Calvin’s Doctrine of the Church - Rev. Neil Pronk 9. Calvin on Reforming the Church - Dr. Derek Thomas 10. Calvin and Missionary Endeavor of the Church – Dr. Michael Haykin 11. Calvin on the Early Church – Ligon Duncan Calvin the Ethicist 12. Calvin on Ethics – Nelson Kloosterman 13. Christian Marriage in the 21st Century: Listening to Calvin on the Purpose of Marriage - Dr. Michael Haykin Calvin and His Contemporary Impact 14. The Resurgence of Calvinism in America - Dr. Ligon Duncan 15. Why is Calvin Important Today? - Dr. Joel Beeke

This book introduces Reformed theology by surveying the doctrinal concerns that have shaped its historical development. The book sketches the diversity of the Reformed tradition through the past five centuries even as it highlights the continuity with regard to certain theological emphases. In so doing, it accentuates that Reformed theology is marked by both formal ('the always reforming church') and material ('the Reformed church') interests. Furthermore, it attends to both revisionary and conservative trends within the Reformed tradition. The book covers eight major theological themes: Word of God, covenant, God and Christ, sin and grace, faith, worship, confessions and authority, and culture and eschatology. It engages a variety of Reformed confessional writings, as well as a number of individual theologians (including Zwingli, Calvin, Bullinger, Bucer, Beza, Owen, Turretin, Edwards, Schleiermacher, Hodge, Shedd, Heppe, Bavinck, Barth, and Niebuhr).