Calvin: A Guide For The Perplexed

"Calvin: A Guide For The Perplexed" examines the theology of John Calvin, who is amongst the most prominent theologians of the Christian Church. However, he has also established a somewhat misinterpreted reputation amongst Christian theology. This misunderstanding has caused a division of extreme opinions about Calvin: some want to 'capture' his theology to endorse their own, where as others want to vilify it.

Calvin: A Guide for the Perplexed attempts to position Calvin in a more objective light so that his works can be judged from a purely theological perspective. Paul Helm provides a 'middle level' introduction to his thought. The book also looks at Helm's philosophy within his theology, which has often been admired and even overlooked amongst some circles.

Chapters of the book:
1 Orientation - who was Calvin - Calvin and 'Calvinism' - idolising and demonising - recent scholarhip - anachronism - philosophy.

2. Knowledge of God and self - "Sensus Divinitatis" - Revelation - 'Reformed' epistemology
3. God in Trinity
4. Jesus Christ, his person and his work
5. Grace and faith - the will - predestination - faith and assurance - justification and sanctification (two-fold righteousness)
6. Ethics - natural law/common grace - the revealed law and its 'uses' - what is valuable - intention
7. Church and State - word and sacrament - Two Kingdoms - magistrate - resistance
8. Calvin and Calvinism - Kendall - Puritanism - Scholasticism - Warfield