Instituting 2009.
I’m really excited about what Reformation21 is planning to do in 2009: blog through Calvin’s Institutes. They’ll soon post a reading schedule so that you can read through the entire thing with us.
I’ll be joining the other Ref21 contributors–Ligon Duncan, Derek Thomas, Carl Trueman, Iain Campbell, Steve Nichols, Thabiti Anyabwile, Phil Ryken, Rick Phillips, and Sean Lucas–in providing a 250-word summary/reflection each day of the week from the Institutes. Paul Helm and Sinclair Ferguson will also help us blog through it.
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Ligon Duncan offers a Top 10 reasons to read the Institutes this year:
1. Because it the most important book written in the last 500 years.2. Because it is foundational for every Reformed systematic theology ever since.
3. Because Calvin was the best exegete in the history of Christianity.
4. Because Calvin is one of the five greatest theologians in Christian history.
5. Because he wrote it as a “sum of piety” not as an arid, speculative, dogmatic treatise.
6. Because it gave J.I. Packer the idea for Knowing God.
7. Because Calvin thought and wrote succintly and clearly. “Brevitas et claritas” was his motto – brief and clear!
8. Because you will know God better, if you read it prayerfully and believingly.
9. Because it’s the 500th anniversary year of Calvin’s birthday. Don’t be a party pooper.
10. Because I agree with what Derek and Iain say in their posts.
@Bryan: It is terrific that their are godly men leading by example. My intention is to read along in 2009 also. Are you planning on doing the same, cause it looks like you were quoting JT – what are your thoughts on this 2009 challenge?
Nathan,
First, thanks for visiting my blog I hope you continue to come back.
I am extremely excited for what these men are doing. I see several benefits to a consistent and reliable exegesis of Calvin’s Institutes, but I will only expound on two of them.
1. There are several presuppositions that are associated with Calvin, and even his work. My hope and prayer is that this will expose the grace and knowledge that God so richly gave him. Following the exposition of his works I pray that many of the negative and false ideologies of Calvin begin to deminish.
2. In light of Calvin’s 500th birthday I find this to be a fine way of remembering and rejoicing in what the Lord did through Calvin.
I plan on following the reading schedule. In case you didn’t know if you email Derek from Reformation21 he will email you back the schedule. The address is as follows:
r21 [at ]alliancenet.org
What are your thoughts about what they are doing?
@Bryan: I am very excited that they are encouraging this for 2009, and I agree with your two points.
I sent an email to that address over 24hours ago, but have not heard anything back. Have you received yours already? I’d encourage them to post it as a download.