©2007, The Banner of Truth, 52 pp. in paperback

Calvin’s words, “Time exists to show Christ’s glory,” on the title page provides the focus for this small book. Noted Reformation historian J. H. Merle D’ Aubigne gave the address reproduced in these pages on the three hundredth anniversary of Calvin’s death. On that day, May 27, 1864, the crowd gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, heard the speaker focus not so much on Calvin, as on Calvin’s joy – the Lord Jesus Christ.

The address is divided into brief examinations of Christ’s Word, Christ’s Person, Christ’s Grace and Christ’s Life. In each part the author weaves in quotations from Calvin, showing the scholar’s passion for His Savior.  This opens up Calvin’s writing in a manner that is too seldom seen in discussions regarding Calvin. Often, conversations about Calvin focus on controversies in Geneva during his tenure there or debated doctrines such as predestination. What comes through here, however, is that Calvin’s main desire was for Christ to be magnified in all things.

This book gives us a good, well-written introduction to Calvin’s passion for Christ. The opening pages provide a brief sketch of Calvin’s life followed by a biographical table of important dates in Calvin’s life.  This volume is good reading for those who love Calvin’s writing. It reminds us of Calvin’s focus and also what our focus should be. It is also an excellent book to give to people unfamiliar with the reformer. It is brief. Its author writes with a love for his subject and good familiarity with Calvin’s writings. He writes with clarity, conscientiousness, and Christ-centeredness, providing good motivation for further, or a first-time reading, of Calvin’s writings.

Review ©2008 Byron Snapp, Hampton, Virginia