665 - Calvin's Preaching

Calvin's Preaching
By Thomas Henry Louis Parker
Louisville, Kentucky, Westminster/John Knox Press, 1992. 202 pp. $22.99.

T. H. L. Parker, an Anglican priest and Reader Emeritus at the University of Durham, has thoroughly revised and expanded his earlier book, The Oracles of God An Introduction to the Preaching of John Calvin. This book moves from the general theological rationale Calvin gave for preaching in his teaching about the authority of Scripture (Part One) to his practice of preaching in Geneva (Part Two). Then the author gives an account of the progress of his preaching, concentrating on the last years of his ministry, when Denis Raguenier was employed to record in shorthand and transcribe Calvin's sermons (Part Three). The last two parts consider the method and message of the sermons and their form and style. Following these five parts, Parker offers a chronological chart of Calvin's Sunday and weekday preaching from 1549-1564, a number of bibliographies, and an index of names.

Parker brings a distinguished scholarship in Calvin studies to this work and contributes new knowledge of such matters as the early catalogues of Calvin's sermons, sermon dates, and an interesting judgment that Calvin used the Hebrew and Greek texts in the pulpit. He comments on Calvin's understanding of his pastoral office and describes his preaching on Sundays and weekdays from September 1554 through August 1555, when the reformer's standing in Geneva was in heated controversy. In describing how Calvin preached through selected books, verse by verse, choosing the New Testament for Sunday and the Old Testament for weekdays, Parker invites contemporary preachers to give highest place to biblical exposition. His analysis of Calvin's response to controversy and contemporary morals, and of his vigorous, familiar spoken style, gives us a brave example in biblical application. Parker has written a readable and informative book, of interest to all who teach, practice, and value the preaching of the Bible to build up the worship and work of the church.

Charles E. Raynal
Davidson College Presbyterian Church
Davidson, NC.