Resources on the Life, Writings and Legacy of John Calvin Print E-mail
The 500th Anniversary of John Calvin's birth (2009) has given rise to a flood of new books on the life, thought and legacy of the reformer.  Below is a list of some suggested reading – some new works, and some of enduring value. More introductory-level suggestions are at the top, followed by some more advanced suggestions for those already familiar with Calvin and the Reformed Tradition.

Introductory

This introductory list is oriented toward those wanting to "get their feet wet." Suggested readings for those already familiar with Calvin's life and thought and with the Reformed Tradition are farther down the page.

THE LIFE OF CALVIN
Selderhuis Selderhuis, Herman J. John Calvin: A Pilgrim's Life. IVP, 2009. A solid, introductory biography of Calvin. Description from the publisher: "'Five hundred years after the birth of John Calvin, the reformer of Geneva continues to loom large as one of the most formative figures in Christian history, and one of the most difficult to know up close and personal. Herman Selderhuis presents here a fresh new biography based on a careful reading of Calvin's letters and other sources. Calvin emerges as neither hero nor villain, but rather as a flawed and forgiven pilgrim who never lost sight of his final destination and inspired many others along the way. A wonderful introduction to a great teacher of the church!' -- --Timothy George, dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, and general editor, Reformation Commentary on Scripture"

THE WRITINGS OF CALVIN
Piety-Calvin Battles, Ford Lewis, ed. The Piety of John Calvin: A Collection of His Spiritual Prose, Poems, and Hymns. P&R, 2009. Description from the publisher: "The Piety of John Calvin is an anthology that promotes a warm personal grasp of Calvin, the man. This book seeks to show the Christian man as he saw himself, to see the Christian life as he understood it, and to examine both his theoretical exposition or prayer and his own prayers, in the liturgy and for other occasions."
Institutes Sections from Calvin's Institutes: "On Prayer" and "On the Christian Life." There are a couple ways to get acquainted with Calvin's Institutes (his main "work" of theology that summarizes, according to topics, his understanding of the teaching of Scripture and the faith of the Church).  First, you could pick up a good "compend" of the Institutes that brings together some key passages from across the various sections of the Institutes.  For this approach, see Lane's book just below, Lane's previous publication available here, or the compend by Kerr (my own first readings in Calvin).

An alternative way into the Institutes is to pick one or two sections from the Institutes and read them in their entirety (rather than a little here and a little there).  This approach may provide a better sense of Calvin's style and how he carries a thought forward.  The two best sections of the Institutes for this approach are the section on Prayer and the section on The Christian Life (sometimes called "The Golden Booklet on the Christian Life.")  Each of these sections has been published independently at various times.  These two sections are also available together as an audio book (though you may want to know that the reading is not from the most modern English translation).
calvin-heart-aflame2.jpg Calvin, John.  Heart Aflame: Daily Readings from Calvin on the Psalms. P&R, 1999. A great collection, which I have used in my own daily devotionals.  From the publisher: "John Calvin described the Psalms as "an anatomy of all the parts of the soul." The description is an apt one, says Sinclair B. Ferguson in the foreward to this volume, "since every experience, every emotion, all the heights and depths, all the joys and sorrows, all the mysteries of human life, are here."

These select readings from Calvin's Commentary on the Psalms provide us with a year's worth of rewarding daily meditations. Calvin wrote as one whose own experience is mirrored in the Psalms. Here we witness his remarkable knack for seeing the real issues, particularly how Christ is the focus of all of Scripture."
calvin-sermons-10-commandments2.jpg Calvin, John.  John Calvin's Sermons on the Ten Commandments.  Translated by Benjamin Farley.  (Baker, 2001). Although his sermons have only recently been receiving the attention they deserve, they provide an excellent introduction to the character of Calvin's thought and the overall "goal" of all his life's work – to faithfully apply the Word of God the lives of the people of God.  Many of Calvin's sermons have been translated into modern English.  To view a partial list, click here.
Lane Lane, Anthony N.S. A Reader's Guide to Calvin's Institutes. Baker, 2009. 174 pages. Description: "John Calvin's Institutes is one of the great classics of Christian theology. Now, at the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth, a leading Calvin expert offers an affordable guide to reading the Institutes (keyed to the McNeill/Battles translation). The book includes selected readings and annotations to offer a streamlined introduction to the heart of Calvin's theology. Dividing the Institutes into thirty-two portions, the author has chosen an average of eighteen pages to be read from each to cover the whole range of the Institutes. The notes guide readers through the text, concentrating on the sections chosen for reading and summarizing the material. An introduction and questions at the beginning of each portion direct the reader's attention to important points."
McKee McKee, Elsie Anne. John Calvin: Writings on Pastoral Piety. (Classics of Western Spirituality) Paulist Press, 2002. Description from the publisher: "John Calvin, one of the most important Protestant reformers of the 16th century, is well known as a theologian. However, he was also a caring preacher, pastor and spiritual leader. This volume in the dynamic Classics of Western Spiritualityâ„¢ series highlights this significant but relatively unknown side of Calvin by exploring his piety and spirituality.

This volume covers the scope of Calvin's life and work and includes sections on his life, theological orientation, liturgical and sacramental practices, the psalms, worship and prayer. The sources translated, some of which were previously translated by other persons, include letters, sermons, prayers, lectures, scriptural commentary, worship services and theological writings."

THE REFORMED TRADITION
Edgar Edgar, William. Truth In All Its Glory: Commending the Reformed Faith. P&R, 2004. Publisher's description: "This guided tour of the Reformed faith highlights the glory of God’s truth and grace. William Edgar takes us first to the historical roots of the Reformed tradition and then leads us through its major doctrines, including God, the trinity, revelation, creation, the fall, redemption, and the church. He gives special attention to the doctrines of salvation and makes suggestions for further understanding and application of a Reformed worldview to our age.

A winsome introduction to Reformed theology, Truth in All Its Glory can be used formally, for example, in a study group or membership class, or less formally, by friends who hope to introduce friends to the Reformed faith. "
Leith Leith, John. Introduction to the Reformed Tradition. WJK, 1981.

More Advanced Suggested Reading

CALVIN'S WRITINGS
Institutes Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion. Trans. F.L. Battles, ed. J.T. McNeill. WJK, 1960. Publisher's description: "This is the definitive English-language edition of one of the monumental works of the Christian church. Under Dr. McNeill's personal supervision labored a whole corps of expert Latinists and Calvin scholars. All previous editions---in Latin, French, German, and English---have been collated; references and notes have been verified, corrected, and expanded; and new bibliographies have been added. The translator and his associates have taken great care to preserve the rugged strength and vividness of Calvin's writing. They have not, however, hesitated to break up overly long sentences to conform to modern English usage or, whenever possible, to render heavy Latinate theological terms in simple language. The result is a translation that achieves a high degree of accuracy and at the same time is eminently readable."  This translation is also available in digital format (CD-Rom).  If you don't mind reading slightly older English, the translations by John Allen and Henry Beveridge are both good and freely available (public domain).  The Beveridge translation is in print by several publishers and is available in many places on the web.
Institutes-1541 Institutes of the Christian Religion: The First English-Version of the 1541 French Edition. Eerdmans, 2009. Calvin translated the successive editions of his own Latin versions of the Institutes into French, so that it could be read by those without a university education.  The 1541 French edition has long been appreciated by scholars but has only been made available in English as of this year, 2009.  It reflects a developed stage of Calvin's thought, without reflecting numerous intense controversies that would take place between the 1541 and 1559 editions of the Institutes.  In other words, it expresses Calvin's developed thinking geared toward the "layman," without many of the lengthy "polemical" sections that would appear in the 1559 Institutes.  It also had a formative influence on the development of French language and literature. Since it's much shorter than the 1559 edition (though it's still hefty), it may also appeal to those intimidated by the massive size of the '59 Institutes.

CALVIN'S LIFE
Gordon Gordon, Bruce. Calvin. Yale, 2009. Description from the publisher: "During the glory days of the French Renaissance, young John Calvin (1509-1564) experienced a profound conversion to the faith of the Reformation. For the rest of his days he lived out the implications of that transformation—as exile, inspired reformer, and ultimately the dominant figure of the Protestant Reformation. Calvin’s vision of the Christian religion has inspired many volumes of analysis, but this engaging biography examines a remarkable life. Bruce Gordon presents Calvin as a human being, a man at once brilliant, arrogant, charismatic, unforgiving, generous, and shrewd."
McGrath McGrath, Alister. A Life of John Calvin: A Study in the Shaping of Western Culture. Wiley-Blackwell, 1993. Publisher's description: "the only life of the great reformer to analyse his impact on subsequent generations of theologians, politicians, economists and philosophers. This biography is theologically unbiased and is written as much for historians and general readers as for those interested in Calvin the Church reformer."
Parker Parker, T.H.L. John Calvin: A Biography. WJK, 2007. Publisher's description: "With clear and concise explanations of Calvin's theology, analyses of his major works, and insights into his preaching, this definitive biography brings this crucially important reformer and his world to life for readers."

SURVEYS OF CALVIN'S THOUGHT & INFLUENCE
theological-guide-institutes2.jpg Hall, David W. (editor).  A Theological Guide to Calvin's Institutes: Essays and Analysis. P&R, 2008. A solid line-up of twenty scholars who are sympathetic with Calvin's theological vision walk through the 1559 Institutes in twenty chapters.
calvin-influence2.jpg Hall, David W.  The Legacy of Calvin: His Influence on the Western World. P&R, 2008. From the publisher: "David Hall identifies 10 seminal ways that Calvin's thought transformed the culture of the West, complete with a nontechnical biography of Calvin and tributes by other leaders. The Legacy of John Calvin is brief enough for popular audiences and analytical enough to provide much information in a short space."
Partee Partee, Charles. The Theology of John Calvin. WJK, 2008. Description from the publisher: "The theology of John Calvin (1509-1564) was given classic expression in his Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559). In this definitive work, longtime Calvin expert Charles Partee offers a careful exposition of Calvins theology as it appears in the Institutes, paying special attention to the relation of Calvins theology to the history of Christian thought and to the questions of Calvins own time. Partee also examines the development of later Calvinism and the adaptations of Calvins thought by his later followers. As Partee shows, Calvins theology provides a profound exposition of Christian faith and a magnificent resource for theology today."
Wendel Wendel, Francois. Calvin: The Origins and Development of His Religious Thought. Originally published in English translation by Baker in 1963. Available in reprint. A classic and still largely reliable work. Publisher's description: "traces the development of Calvin's religious thought in the context of the turbulent Reformation era. Out of the upheavals in political, social, and intellectual life during the 16th century, Calvin emerges as one of the eminent Christian thinkers of his, or any age."