Sermons on Galatians (John Calvin)

Here for the first time since the Elizabethan era – thanks to this new translation by Kathy Childress – readers in the modern English-speaking world are able to join the congregation of St Peter’s, Geneva to ‘hear’ John Calvin’s magisterial expositions of Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

All of the hallmarks of Calvin’s ministry are here: his unparalleled ability to take his hearers to the heart of a passage of Scripture coupled with his concern to marry the riches of biblical theology to the practicalities of Christian living and his deep pastoral insight.

These sermons demonstrate why ‘that learned and godly minister of Christ’ has been called ‘the first great modern preacher’. They provide a model of interpreting Scripture in its context and according to its natural meaning. But more than that, they illustrate why it has been said that Calvin became a theologian in order to be a better pastor. His style captures the apostolic vision of ‘setting forth the truth plainly’ – yet he does this, with such a striking choice of vocabulary, word pictures and application, that the truth of Scripture is allowed to stand forth in all of its native power.

Great evangelical themes meet in concentrated form in Galatians – human depravity and divine mercy; law and gospel; the cross and its significance; union with Christ; justification, adoption, and sanctification. As a result this splendid production of Calvin’s forty-three sermons, preached in 1557-58, brings together the part of Scripture which was the Reformation Magna Charta with its greatest theologian and biblical expositor. Scholars interested in Calvin, theological students seeking a guide to train them in biblical exposition, preachers needing personal encouragement and stimulation, Christians hungry for instruction – all, without exception, will find treasure in these pages.