A Book Review from Books At a Glance
by Michael D. Mock
There is no shortage of books on the great Reformer, John Calvin. The student of church history or theology may, then, wonder where to start. After all, as much as one would love to read all the books on John Calvin, there simply just isn’t enough time. It is because of this dilemma, therefore, that Thianto has helped us through this book. The structure of the book fits the book’s title. In two major sections, Thianto offers a tour guide of the man, ministry, and contributions of John Calvin. In truth, this book is not an exhaustive treatment of the Reformer, but Thianto doesn’t pretend to give us such a treatment. Neither is it, however, a succinct summary of the man that leaves much to be desired for the reader. The guide is an informative, detailed (but not an into-the-weeds-detailed) account of John Calvin. Part One concerns “Calvin the Man,” whereas Part Two guides the initiate into Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion.
Thianto is direct and prophetic, “In this book, you will learn about my good friend John Calvin” (3). Thianto wants the reader to know Calvin and thereby love Calvin because of God’s work in this man’s life for the good of the Church. In chapter one (“Why John Calvin?”), Thianto summarizes the widespread influence of John Calvin, an influence that reached far beyond Genevan bounds. His influence includes Calvin’s thoroughly biblical way about him, and the far-reaching effect his theology and leadership have caused across the globe (7). A “fun” feature throughout the book is his regular “Fun Fact” blocked section, a brief, set-apart paragraph that adds a little more detail and the occasional modern-day relevance of application of some feature in Calvin’s life. These are sprinkled generously throughout the book, and they are much appreciated.
No tour guide would be adequate without some biographical information. In chapter two, Thianto devotes 30+ pages to highlighting the major biographical points in Calvin’s life and ministry: Where he came from, his parents, education, wife, children, ministry, etc. How can we love Calvin if we do not know him? (20). For Calvin scholars, to know Calvin is to love Calvin. But students introduced to Calvin need a little more convincing, which is in part what this short biography offers. It is a reliable biography, reliant mostly on Beza’s treatment, a man who was boots on the ground. Pleasantly, Thianto even interacts with those biographical accounts that have tried hard to paint Calvin with dark colors and in a bad light.
Thianto knows that to know Calvin, and thereby to love Calvin, requires some clarification, because there have been many things said of the man, not all of which being good! My favorite chapter, for this reason, is chapter three: “Frequently Asked Questions about Calvin.” Naturally, Thianto cannot address all the questions we might want to ask about Calvin, but Thianto spends about 30 pages addressing the more important questions or conundra about the Reformer. Thianto draws from decades of study, teaching, and fielding questions from his students, and he answers the major questions about Calvin. Some questions are typical for those who have studied the man: Did Calvin invent predestination? Did Calvin invent TULIP? Other questions are important but less visible on the radar: What did Calvin think about economic exchange? Was Calvin’s view of human nature positive or negative? For anyone trying to put Calvin’s literary contributions in some order, he answers one question in such a way that he lists the kinds and dates of his literary output (68-69). In my estimation, one of the more pressing and pastoral questions that Thianto addresses at some length is, “Was Calvin an angry person, or was there another side to him?” His answer befits his purpose for the student to know, and so love, John Calvin. His answer is a seamless segue into his fourth and final chapter of Part One: “Calvin as a Pastor.” My penultimate favorite chapter is this final chapter. Calvin as pastor is a topic near and dear to my heart, for I wrote my dissertation on the subject “Calvin as Counselor.” In my dissertation, I considered his epistolary counsel: his advice to a variety of people found in his voluminous letters. This is a neglected area in Calvin studies, so it was refreshing and encouraging for me to read his 8-page devotion to the Calvin of the letters. This chapter, and that section in particular, will do much to shape the reader’s perspective of John Calvin, hopefully discouraging a myopia in preference for a more robust representation of the Reformer.
In Part Two: A Guide to Institutes of the Christian Religion, Thianto does the reader a twofold service. First, in chapter 5, “Editions of Institutes of the Christian Religion,” Thianto strains the sediment from the muddy waters from the pool of editions that Calvin wrote. He wrote several editions, some in Latin, others in French. He added more to each subsequent edition as he kept up with his writing. Thianto clarifies the waters for us who appreciate the warm waters of the Institutes, that we might enjoy Calvin’s words with new freshness. There is profit found in each edition, and there is a developing appreciation for Calvin’s insight and structure as Thianto unveils the superstructure that Calvin lays upon the foundation already laid.
Second, to know the development of Calvin’s thought in his Institutes is one thing, but to read the Institutes is quite another. In an increasingly illiterate society, it is a challenge for people to read a few books in a year, much less a thousand-page tome from Calvin. Reading the book can be daunting or challenging, but well worth the effort. Knowing the fruit of our reading labor, but also our reluctance to read a potentially difficult book, Thianto spends most of the book summarizing the key themes, doctrines, debates, and application from Calvin’s Institutes. In four chapters (6-9), Thianto takes each of the four sub-books of the Institutes in turn and draws out the salient features of this great Calvin text. These chapters will do much to assist the first-time Institutes reader, and they summarize the content for those who have already read the book. They can serve also as a guide for individual reflection or group conversation. My only regret is that I did not have this book when I first embarked on my doctoral studies on Calvin many years ago. It would have been a great tour guide for this explorer. Having read Thianto’s treatment, if I hadn’t already known and loved Calvin, surely I would now! Excellent resource!
Michael D. Mock