The Structure of Sacred Doctrine in Calvin's Theology

Translated by Martin Kessler

Having completed three collections of work during his lifetime, Dutch theologian Frans H. Breukelman left much of his work to be published by a later generation of students. Rinse H. Reeling Brouwer has taken up the task, resulting in The Structure of Sacred Doctrine in Calvin's Theology.

Brouwer brings to life Breukelman's extensive study of Calvin's doctrine from the first form of hisInstitutes -- the 1536 basic catechism -- through all of its incarnations to the 1559 final, definitive form. Breukelman illuminates the deep theological significance of Calvin's many changes to theInstitutes, showing that the form and structure of doctrine reveal the hidden direction of the content. Finally, Brouwer focuses on Breukelman's intriguing belief that the entire Reformed doctrinal tradition has proceeded along the line of only one of the possibilities in the structure of Calvin's theology.

Frans H. Breukelman (1916-1993) was a church pastor before he taught hermeneutics at the University of Anisterdam from 1968 to 1981. A brilliant improvisatory lecturer, he influenced many other pastors and theologians with his view of the interaction between biblical exegesis and dogmatic theology.