Yudha Thianto - An Explorers Guide to John Calvin

This book started with a conversation with David McNutt, Academic Editor of IVP Academic, at a conference in October 2018. There he asked me if I would be interested in writing a book to introduce readers with very little or no prior knowledge of John Calvin to this sixteenth-century Reformer. At that time, having taught a course on Calvin and the Institutes at Trinity Christian College fifteen times, I accepted the invitation without hesitation. It has been a joy to work closely with David in the publication of this book, and for this I am very thankful to him.

The entire Trinity Christian College community has been supportive of me in this writing project from start to finish. The college awarded me with a summer research grant to write a portion of this book. Considering the college-level readership for which the book is primarily intended, Provost Aaron Kuecker provided me with as much space as I needed to incorporate the project into my work with students both inside and outside the classroom. My colleagues in the theology department, Ben Ribbens and Keith Starkenburg, consistently encouraged me in the journey of the writing process, especially during the difficult months as we faced the coronavirus pandemic. Several friends and colleagues at Trinity Christian College and Hope Christian Reformed Church deserve special mention for their help and valuable encouragement as I wrote this book: Aron Reppmann, Mark Peters, Bob Rice, Diana Pell, Michael VanderWeele, Erick Sierra, Craig Mattson, Bill Boerman-Cornell, Dave Klanderman, Bill VanGroningen, and Roger Nelson. Students in my honors theology classes in the fall semesters of 2019 and 2020 read, discussed, and suggested improvements for some chapters of this book. As her Honors Work in the Major project, Avery Johnson read through the early completed draft of this book and gave me insightful notes on how to shape it to reach my intended readers well.

Finally, I would like to express my most sincere thanks to the H. Henry Meeter Center at Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary, and its director, Karin Maag, and curator, Paul Fields, without whose presence and assistance I would not have been able to write this book. The center has been a wonderful place for me to interact deeply with Calvin, Calvinism, and scholars works from all over the world ever since I worked there as a student assistant during my years in the doctoral program at Calvin Theological Seminary. This interaction continues to be a strong foundation as I teach my classes and in writing the book you now hold. I sincerely hope that this book opens up more conversations on Calvin and his theology in the years to come.

In this book, you will learn about my good friend John Calvin. I want you to get to know him because he has been a dear friend to me for so many years. Even though he lived about five centuries ago, I still hear his voice today. He is a person I go to when I need guidance in understanding the Bible, thinking about certain Christian teachings, getting ready to lead a worship service, teaching a Sunday school class, or thinking about life in general. I have listened to (or read, to be precise) many of his sermons, sung many psalms in the tunes that were first composed during his lifetime in Geneva, and prayed the prayers that he wrote. He has been my guide because he left behind a wealth of written work that is still valuable for us to learn from. Because he is a good friend of mine, I wanted to write a book about him so it can be a guide for you as you take a step into learning about him and his impact on Christianity since the time of the Reformation in the sixteenth century.

Figure 1.1. A portrait of John Calvin

When you look at the number of books that Calvin wrote, including a shelf full of commentaries on the Bible, you may think it a daunting task to get to know him and his thoughts. Thankfully, we can gain insight into John Calvin by focusing on the final edition of his most famous work, Institutes of the Christian Religion, which he published in 1559. This work is massive. Even though it is one single publication, it is divided into four books with a total of eighty chapters. How would I even start? you might ask. I write this book as a response to your question. Imagine that I am serving you as your guide as you try to chart the landscape of Calvins life and theology. You may compare the journey of understanding Calvin and his significance in the church as a trip to a vacation destination you have never visited before. In such a case, you need a tour guide.

The island of Bali, one of Indonesias more than seventeen thousand islands, is famous for its beauty. It is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in the country. As a tropical island it offers scenery that can be breathtaking. The beaches are warm and inviting. If you love surfing, you will find places where you almost hear the waves call your name. If you love to see mountains and rice paddies rolling down their slopes, your eyes will delight in the greens of these fields. On the island there are volcanoes, some of which are still active, running right down its center. To the north, south, east, and west, you will find beaches and places to dive, do some snorkeling, or enjoy a boat ride. The music and dance performances will bring you to a whole different world when you visit the island.

But if it is your first time in Bali, you may find it hard to navigate. First, as is the traffic rule for the whole country of Indonesia, people drive on the left side of the street. You may be terrified when you drive on the island for the first time; all the other vehicles are coming toward you! Next, you may find it hard to pick where to start. Do you want to visit Kuta, the most famous beach on the island, first, and then go to Ubud, the mountain resort well known for its beauty, or should you reverse the order? Do you want to visit Besakih, the largest Hindu temple on the island, which has been around since the tenth century AD, on your first day or the last day? You have these questions, and to maximize your visit to the island, you need some guidance. After all, the island is quite large, about 2,300 square miles. A tour guide can help you navigate the area well so that you get the most out of your time there. In the same spirit, let me now be your guide to exploring the life and teaching of Calvin. This book will assist you to know Calvin as a person, a pastor, and a Reformer. It will also guide you to understand his main theological teachings as he explained them in the 1559 edition of his