Sárospataki Füzetek 13. (2009)

2009 / 4. szám - TANULMÁNYOK

1. John Hesselink

“Calvin on the Proper Attitude Toward This Life and the Next”1

Introduction

T

ucked in the midst of Calvin’s lengthy discussion of regeneration, faith, sanctification, and justification in Book III of the Institutes of the Christian Religion is a discussion of the Christian life—chapters 6-10. They make up what is almost an independent unit which contains some of the most beautiful passages in the Institutes, so much so that an earlier version of this portion of the Institutes was published separately as The Golden Booklet of the Christian Life. This is based on the 1550 edition of the Institutes and was first published in English in 1549. It is still in print in English2 and has been published in several other languages.

“In five chapters Calvin gives a brief directory for the Christian life that is balanced, penetrating and practical.”3 Henry Van Andel, the American translator, goes even further and maintains that

There is no other devotional book in the world like the Golden Booklet which is so profound and yet so universal. As to style, spirit, and graphic language it can vie with the great classics, like Augustine’s Confessions,

Thomas ä Kempis’ Imitation of Christ, and Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.

Only it is shorter, saner, sounder, more vigorous and to the points

Such praise may be extravagant, but it at least points to the merit of this portion of the Institutes that has not received enough attention either by Calvin scholars or the public.

1 2009. október 21-én és 22-én a Sárospataki Református Teológiai Akadémia az Osterhaven tanulmányi napok sorozatában megrendezett nemzetközi Kálvin- konferencián és Nagy Barna-emlékülésen elhangzott előadás szerkesztett változata.

2 In modern times it was translated by Henry J. Van Andel from the French and the

Latin by Baker Book House in 1952 and has been reprinted many times since then.

3 John T. Me Neill, Introduction to Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, edited

by Me Neill and translated by Ford Lewis Battles (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, i960), lx.

4 Preface to the Golden Booklet, 4.

Sárospataki I iiziick 11