What do you think?
Rate this book
The Crossway Classic Commentaries
Commentaries on the First Book of Moses called Genesis
This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.
526 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1554
23 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
John Calvin
1,675 books524 followersFrench-Swiss theologian John Calvin broke with the Roman Catholic Church in 1533 and as Protestant set forth his tenets, known today, in
Institutes of the Christian Religion
(1536).
The religious doctrines of John Calvin emphasize the omnipotence of God, whose grace alone saves the elect.
* Jehan Cauvin
* Iohannes Calvinus (Latin)
* Jean Calvin (French)
Originally trained as a humanist lawyer around 1530, he went on to serve as a principal figure in the Reformation. He developed the system later called Calvinism.
After tensions provoked a violent uprising, Calvin fled to Basel and published the first edition of his seminal work. In that year of 1536, William Farel invited Calvin to help reform in Geneva. The city council resisted the implementation of ideas of Calvin and Farel and expelled both men. At the invitation of Martin Bucer, Calvin proceeded to Strasbourg as the minister of refugees. He continued to support the reform movement in Geneva, and people eventually invited him back to lead. Following return, he introduced new forms of government and liturgy. Following an influx of supportive refugees, new elections to the city council forced out opponents of Calvin. Calvin spent his final years, promoting the Reformation in Geneva and throughout Europe.
Calvin tirelessly wrote polemics and apologia. He also exchanged cordial and supportive letters with many reformers, including Philipp Melanchthon and Heinrich Bullinger. In addition, he wrote commentaries on most books of the Bible as well as treatises and confessional documents and regularly gave sermons throughout the week in Geneva. The Augustinian tradition influenced and led Calvin to expound the doctrine of predestination and the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation.
Calvin's writing and preaching provided the seeds for the branch of Protestantism that bears his name. His views live on chiefly in Presbyterian and Reformed denominations, which have spread throughout the world. Calvin's thought exerted considerable influence over major figures and entire movements, such as Puritanism, and some scholars argue that his ideas contributed to the rise of capitalism, individualism, and representative democracy in the west.
The religious doctrines of John Calvin emphasize the omnipotence of God, whose grace alone saves the elect.
* Jehan Cauvin
* Iohannes Calvinus (Latin)
* Jean Calvin (French)
Originally trained as a humanist lawyer around 1530, he went on to serve as a principal figure in the Reformation. He developed the system later called Calvinism.
After tensions provoked a violent uprising, Calvin fled to Basel and published the first edition of his seminal work. In that year of 1536, William Farel invited Calvin to help reform in Geneva. The city council resisted the implementation of ideas of Calvin and Farel and expelled both men. At the invitation of Martin Bucer, Calvin proceeded to Strasbourg as the minister of refugees. He continued to support the reform movement in Geneva, and people eventually invited him back to lead. Following return, he introduced new forms of government and liturgy. Following an influx of supportive refugees, new elections to the city council forced out opponents of Calvin. Calvin spent his final years, promoting the Reformation in Geneva and throughout Europe.
Calvin tirelessly wrote polemics and apologia. He also exchanged cordial and supportive letters with many reformers, including Philipp Melanchthon and Heinrich Bullinger. In addition, he wrote commentaries on most books of the Bible as well as treatises and confessional documents and regularly gave sermons throughout the week in Geneva. The Augustinian tradition influenced and led Calvin to expound the doctrine of predestination and the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation.
Calvin's writing and preaching provided the seeds for the branch of Protestantism that bears his name. His views live on chiefly in Presbyterian and Reformed denominations, which have spread throughout the world. Calvin's thought exerted considerable influence over major figures and entire movements, such as Puritanism, and some scholars argue that his ideas contributed to the rise of capitalism, individualism, and representative democracy in the west.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 24, 2021
Superbe ! Magnifique ! Plus qu'une simple exposition, une véritable nourriture de l'âme.
Alors oui selon certains standards actuel c'est un commentaire qui peut paraître frustre, sommaire. Calvin ne s'étendant pas sur les considérations archéologiques et culturelles il ne dit que ce qui lui semble utile et accessible au grand nombre. De même pour les choix de traductions. Quand il y a débat il expose les différentes possibilités et tranche en peu de mot.
Car ce qui l'intéresse c'est le texte, tout le texte, rien que le texte. La doctrine qu'il nous enseigne, l'encouragement qu'il nous transmet etc... Luttant contre les tentations d'allégories pour favoriser le sens "naïf" il enseigne à lire et à étudier le texte par l' exemple.
Il a aussi un vrai souci pastoral, à tel point que plus qu'un commentaire c'est aussi un livre aisément utilisable pour la dévotion personnelle.
Il surprend quand lui que l'on présente comme austère et dur préfère s'étendre sur le positif que sur le négatif dans la vie des patriarches.
Et puis autre point non négligeable : toute occasion de tacler les papistes est bonne à prendre ;)
Lu en français dans une édition comprenant la magnifique dédicace au prince Henri duc de Vendôme.
Ps: qu'il est bon de lire un livre chrétien qui n'est pas juste une bonne source d'information sur la foi mais qui est aussi de la belle littérature, de la belle lettre.
Alors oui selon certains standards actuel c'est un commentaire qui peut paraître frustre, sommaire. Calvin ne s'étendant pas sur les considérations archéologiques et culturelles il ne dit que ce qui lui semble utile et accessible au grand nombre. De même pour les choix de traductions. Quand il y a débat il expose les différentes possibilités et tranche en peu de mot.
Car ce qui l'intéresse c'est le texte, tout le texte, rien que le texte. La doctrine qu'il nous enseigne, l'encouragement qu'il nous transmet etc... Luttant contre les tentations d'allégories pour favoriser le sens "naïf" il enseigne à lire et à étudier le texte par l' exemple.
Il a aussi un vrai souci pastoral, à tel point que plus qu'un commentaire c'est aussi un livre aisément utilisable pour la dévotion personnelle.
Il surprend quand lui que l'on présente comme austère et dur préfère s'étendre sur le positif que sur le négatif dans la vie des patriarches.
Et puis autre point non négligeable : toute occasion de tacler les papistes est bonne à prendre ;)
Lu en français dans une édition comprenant la magnifique dédicace au prince Henri duc de Vendôme.
Ps: qu'il est bon de lire un livre chrétien qui n'est pas juste une bonne source d'information sur la foi mais qui est aussi de la belle littérature, de la belle lettre.
September 15, 2011
Outstanding stuff from Calvin.
He is over-scrupulous in avoiding the Trinity in Gen. 1, but it's because he is adhering to a hermeneutic that is a vast improvement over most of his immediate predecessors.
He is too biblical to be stoic or ascetic, but many of his comments lean that way. Some tilt too far, such as his chastening description of Judah's blessing in Gen. 49. "Judah might be so extravagant as to wash his garments in wine, but this isn't to say God approves it." Possibly misses the hyperbole, and cf. Solomon's magic of turning silver into dirt because of its abundance.
He is very hard on the patriarchs - both in clear instances like polygamy and in murkier questions like the tricksinesses that often occur at points of covenantal succession. His is the more traditional read; James Jordan's Primeval Saintsmight provide some ballast here.
Great comments on the covenants - he clearly sees their fundamental unity, throughout their different expressions, and is quick to find the church in the OT, and excellent at extracting exhortations for us without simply moralizing.
His operating principle is that interpretation begins and ends with Christ, and that serves both Genesis and the reader very well.
He is over-scrupulous in avoiding the Trinity in Gen. 1, but it's because he is adhering to a hermeneutic that is a vast improvement over most of his immediate predecessors.
He is too biblical to be stoic or ascetic, but many of his comments lean that way. Some tilt too far, such as his chastening description of Judah's blessing in Gen. 49. "Judah might be so extravagant as to wash his garments in wine, but this isn't to say God approves it." Possibly misses the hyperbole, and cf. Solomon's magic of turning silver into dirt because of its abundance.
He is very hard on the patriarchs - both in clear instances like polygamy and in murkier questions like the tricksinesses that often occur at points of covenantal succession. His is the more traditional read; James Jordan's Primeval Saintsmight provide some ballast here.
Great comments on the covenants - he clearly sees their fundamental unity, throughout their different expressions, and is quick to find the church in the OT, and excellent at extracting exhortations for us without simply moralizing.
His operating principle is that interpretation begins and ends with Christ, and that serves both Genesis and the reader very well.
February 11, 2009
Of course it was good. It's Calvin! But I did disagree with his refusal to admit that elohim in Genesis 1 has reference to the Trinity. I thought his exegesis of Gen 6 and the sons of God was great. Very needed for most of us Fundies raised to believe the sons of God were fallen (or unfallen) angelic beings. Can't wait to dive into his commentary on Exodus.
June 7, 2022
Calvin writes simply about the first book of the Bible. He brings up really great points while keeping it honest and level. I would recommend to anyone who loves studying the Bible.
November 17, 2013
Calvin is hard to rate. This was a "go to" commentary for me each week as I preached through Genesis despite Calvin's scholarship being 500 years old. Calvin offers some spectacular insights and commentary and some excellent application, but it all has to be filtered. A lot of what he's got to say is based on horribly outdated linguistic studies and much has been corrected by modern historical studies and archaeology, neither of which really existed in Calvin's day. All that said, it's helpful to consult one of the magisterial reformers as one preaches.
July 6, 2022
A good, abridged version of Calvin’s commentary on Genesis in fifty relatively brief chapters. In it Calvin is characteristically insightful on the doctrine of providence, and it’s interesting to ponder how much Genesis shaped his thinking on this doctrine. Perhaps lacking in biblical-theological / redemptive-historical insights as there were several points where I expected Calvin to draw more connections with later biblical material, but this could reflect more a failure on the reader’s part.
July 13, 2022
Consulted this while preparing for a sermon series on the book of Genesis. There were some insights that were very helpful, but I honestly didn't refer to it very often in the preparation of my sermons. The upside of this commentary is that even when I didn't really find relevant information for what I was studying, I did enjoy reading Calvin's insights and loved to see a not so modern perspective and his clear love for the Word of God.
February 20, 2017
Every chapter is only a few pages. This edition (for better or worse) does not have the usual wordiness that is customary of Calvin's voice. The theme of providence and election is on every page. Everything is seen in view of Christ. In the narratives of the patriarchs there is Christ.
January 4, 2020
This was my introduction to Calvin and I benefited greatly. I will be back for more:)
December 6, 2021
It’s a testament to Calvin that his commentaries are still fresh and helpful after all this time.
June 16, 2022
Excellent. Took me two years but so worthwhile.
March 4, 2011
An in depth commentary from the Banner of Truth Trust which contains the full text of the book of Genesis and a translation in Latin (Vulgate?) Very inspirational but serious Puritan reading matter full of replacement theology and emphasises the doctrines of Grace so beloved by these early Reformers.
August 3, 2016
The prince of commentators, and there hasn't been much new since Calvin. Superb.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews