Commentaries - On the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans - By John Calvin

Sep 22, 2026

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This text contains the front matter and translator’s preface to John Calvin’s commentary on Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. It surveys how extensively Romans has been expounded by early church Fathers and later Reformers, noting major commentaries and their historical sequence. The preface also frames the work within debates on predestination and the bondage of the will, describing later English and continental treatments and contemporary scholarly efforts.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages602

Reading Time25 h 17 min

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Commentaries

On the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans

Translator's Preface

UNIVERSITYoF TORONTO31761010653269 # COMMENTARIES ON # THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE ROMANS. THE CALVIN TRANSLATION SOCIETY, INSTITUTRD IN MAY M.DCCc.XLIII. # FOR THE PUBLICATION OF TRANSLATIONS OF THR WORKs OFJOHN CALVIN. tng ana Cotorial rcretarp,Robert ittairn,手.%,就美r.②fce,9,我ortbumberlanu tret,2oinburgt. # COMMENTARIES OX THR # EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE ROMAN S. BY JOHN CALVIN. TRANSLATED AND EDITED BY THE REV.JOHN OWEN, VICAE OFTHRrs8ISGTOS,LRICESTER.HIRE. 会 EDINBURGH:PRINTED FOR THE CALVIN TRANSLATION SOCIETY. M.DCCC.XLIX. “IT IS INDEED STRANGE THAT THEY MAKE so NUCH STIR ABOUT PREDESTINA-TION:LET THEM ONLY CONSULT THEIR OWN LUTIIER ON THE‘BONDAGE OF THEWILL'WHAT DO BUCER,CALVIN,AND MABTYR TEACH WHICH LUTHER HAS NOTTAUGIIT IN THAT LITTLE BOOK?”Archbishop Grindal. [Qnterej at tatíoners’2aII.] “WHICH OF YOU ALI AT THIS DAY IS ABLR TO ANSWER CALVIN's INSTITUTIONs?……IN THE MATTER OF PREDESTINATION,HE I8 IN NONE OTHEE OPINION THANALL THE DCCTORS OF THE CIIURCH BE."—Archdeacon Philpot. # TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. On no portion of TIIE NEw TESTAMENT have so many CoM-MENTARIES been written as on TIIE EPISTLE TO THE RoMANS.We have indeed no separate Comment extant by any of theFathers on this Epistle;though it has bcen explained,to-gether with other parts of Seripture,by Origen in the thirdcentury;by Jerome,Chrysostom,and in part by Augustine,in the fourth;by Theodoret in the fifth;by (Ecumenius inthe tenth;and by Theophyluct in the eleventh century.But since the Reformation,many separate Expositions havebeen published,beside a learned Introduction by Luther,and Notes or Scholia by Zuingle and Melancthon. The first complete CoMMENTARY,as it appears,was writtenby Bullinger;the second by Bucer,a Professor of Theologyat Cambridge for a short time in the reign of Edward theSixth;and the next in order of time was this Work byCALVIN,composed at Strasburg in the year 1539.Thefourth was by Peter Martyr;and this was translated intoEnglish in the year 1568.Another was afterwards publish-ed by Rodolph Gualter,Minister at Zurich. Early in the next century the learned Pareus¹deliveredlectures on this Epistle,as Professor of Thcology in the Uni-versity of Heidelberg—a work of great learning and of greatmerits,though written in a style too scholastic to suit thetaste of the present day.His special object was to rebutthe arguments and expose the sophistries of Popish writers, particularly those of Bellarmine,the acutest,the subtlest,and the most learned of all the Jesuits of his own age,andperhaps of any in after ages.There is hardly a subject inany measure connected with the contents of this Epistlewhich Pareus does not discuss:at the end of every chaptera number of questions are stated and answered,especiallysuch as refer to the disputes between Papists and Protest-ants.He also controverts the perversions of Socinianism. The nextwork that requires particular notice is that of Tur-rettin,a Professor of Theology in the University of Geneva.It was published about the commencement of the last cen-tury;the author died in the year 1737.The doctrine ofCalvin had somewhat degenerated in his time,though hiswork on the whole takes the side of orthodoxy.It yetshows a leaning to those views,which commonly issue insentiments subversive of the essentials of true Christianity. The first Commentary published in this country,composedin English,was by Elnathan Parr,B.D.,Rector of Palgravein Suffolk.He was,as it appears,the personal friend of SirNathaniel Bacon,an elder brother of Lord Bacon.He de-dicated his work to Sir Nathaniel,and speaks of him ashaving been a hearer of what he published when deliveredfrom the pulpit.His style is that of his age,and appearsquaint now;but his thoughts are often very striking andtruly excellent,and his sentiments are wholly in accordancewith those of the Reformers. Since that time until this century,no work of any notehas appeared separately on this Epistl

FAQs

Which biblical passage is Calvin’s commentary focused on?

It is focused on “the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans.”

How does the translator describe the history of commentaries on Romans?

The preface notes that many commentaries were written on Romans, including explanations by early church figures and later Reformation-era expositions and notes.

What controversy is highlighted in relation to predestination?

The text includes quotations suggesting contention over “predestination,” directing readers to the doctrine associated with debates on the “bondage of the will.”

Sep 22, 2026

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