Calvinism: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) - Softcover

Balserak, Jon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0198753713 ISBN 13: 9780198753711

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2017

Synopsis

John Calvin was born only a few years before the Christian church in Europe was plunged into the chaos of the Protestant Reformation. To Calvin, the only thing that mattered was correcting God's church, which he thought had wandered away from the truth. Throughout his adult life, Calvin manifested a singular passion with God. He desired intensely to subjugate the world to what he saw as God's truth, and his ideas started the movement now known as Calvinism. From Calvin's time, the movement has grown and spread throughout Europe and into North and South America, Africa, and Asia. Today 'New Calvinism' is a major branch of Protestantism.

In this Very Short Introduction Jon Balserak explores Calvin's life and considers the major ideas and issues associated with the Calvinist system of thought. He looks at how Calvinist ideas and practices spread and took root, helping shape societies today. Much of contemporary thought - especially western thought - on everything from civil government to money, suicide, and divorce has been influenced by Calvinism. Balserak also combats common misconceptions about Calvinism, and explores the relationship between Calvinism and the modern world.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

About this title

About the Author

Jon Balserak is Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Bristol. He has published numerous scholarly articles on John Calvin and the Calvinist and Reformed tradition. He has written or edited four books including Divinity Compromised; A Study of Divine Accommodation in the Thought of John Calvin (Springer, 2006), Calvinus Evangelii Propugnator; Calvin, Champion of the Gospel (ed., Calvin Studies Society, 2006), Establishing the Remnant Church in France; John Calvin's Lectures on the Minor Prophets, 1556-1559 (Brill, 2011), and John Calvin as Sixteenth Century Prophet (OUP, 2014).

From the Back Cover

"sweeping, yet concise, accurate and compelling"

Mark Dever, Senior Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church


"Dr Balserak has done an excellent service in providing this short, readable, and sympathetic introduction to the history and character of Calvinism... a sure-footed and reliable guide that will be of use to a wide range of readers. Highly recommended."

Oliver D. Crisp, Professor of Systematic Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary and Professorial Fellow, University of St Andrews

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198753713
• ISBN 13: 9780198753711
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176