Rick Phillips

In the concluding paragraphs of Book 4, Chapter 7, Calvin goes for the jugular in his battle against papal supremacy.  Throughout this chapter, he has steadfastly refuted Rome’s chief arguments,…

Well might Calvin have drawn upon Lord Acton’s famous dictum in describing the outcome of the papacy’s successful bid to usurp all ecclesial authority in Christendom: “Power corrupts, and absolute…

In contesting Rome’s claim to universal authority over the entire Christian Church, Calvin pits the sober record of history against the fraudulent records of the papacy.  It had long been…

As Calvin continues his refutation of papal claims to supremacy, he shows the great value of detailed learning.  Reading 4.7.5-10, one may soak in the volume of facts marshaled by…

History is always important to Christians, since ours is a faith based on God’s saving deeds in history and since the true church passes its faith through history, one generation…

Happy birthday, John Calvin!  It is my privilege to post the Institutes blog on this glad occasion, giving thanks to God for the enduring legacy of this great Christian.  As…

In these sections, Calvin is clearly wearied by the ceaseless attacks on justification through faith alone, although he manly perseveres: “come, let us keep beating them back!” he exhorts.  In…

My how time flies, we like to say.  But, reading Calvin, we realize that while time flies, challenges to the gospel seldom change.  Chapter 16 of Book 3 takes up…

Reading Calvin is always instructive not merely for what he says about the topic at hand, but also for the way he approaches the discussion.  In his rebukes against those…