The best available English translation of a classic

Lots of scholarly foodnotes, good introduction, and reliable translation. Truely recommend this book for serious studies.

Concerning This Edition

Calvin is insightful and indispensable for anyone who wants to study modern theology. I don't, however, mean to review this book on Calvin's merits, but only to lend 5 stars to the editors and commentators who made this edition. The notes are extensive, the indices are well compiled, the page-paper is smooth and of good quality, the typeface is pleasant, and the book itself is well constructed. This takes all the revisions Calvin made (from the Latin and French versions) and includes information concerning which revision is used or omitted in certain areas. The reason why this comes in two volumes whereas others can be condensed into one is because of the wealth of footnotes. If you're not interested in commentaries and other references, then they can easily be skipped; but for those who like to read other studies pertaining to Calvin's doctrines and gain a bit of insight into the earlier texts Calvin was drawing from, then these are very useful and well arranged.
And I also need to note the clarity of the translation. While at times it may seem a bit archaic, in select areas it needs must be. If you look at other translations of the text, sometimes they're impossible for the modern English-speaker to interpret while hearing Calvin's voice. The translator and editors made an effort to use modern vernacular and avoid Latinate terms as much as is appropriate, in my opinion.

Masterfully written, Christ-centered theology
Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion is a masterfully written systematic summary and defense of the basic tenets of Christianity. It is exegetical in substance, Christ-centered in focus, worshipful in tone, and polemical in style.

Exegetical in substance - Calvin has been called the "father of modern exegesis" and rightly so. He pioneered the literal-historical-grammatical method of exegesis. This is especially true of his excellent commentaries, but also reflected in the Institutes. The final court of appeal for Calvin is Scripture. His arguments are laced with quotations from the Bible and one senses that Calvin was very hesitant to go further than Scripture in his surmizings.

Christ-centered in focus - This has really struck me in my reading Calvin (I'm now in volume 2 of this edition). Calvin's Christology was robust and it pervades virtually every page of the Institutes. This is especially true in Book III, which is especially rich.

Worshipful in tone - Despite what some people may think, Calvin is not a dry theologian. Some Calvinists could benefit from soaking in their fore-father - perhaps picking up some of his reverence and humility. Seriously, this book lifts my gaze to God. That's good enough reason to recommend it.

Polemical in style - Along with everything above, Calvin was a polemicist, no doubt about it. This book is saucy! Calvin didn't hesitate to call his adversaries by name AND call them names. That may seem harsh to modern readers and leave a sour taste in some mouths. But even Jesus could call the Pharisees vipers and Calvin doesn't stray too far from his master in this regard. We should also remember the turbulent times in which Calvin wrote. He says in his preface that one of the reasons he wrote the Institutes was to make clear what young French pastors who were being martyred were dying for. Remember that his friends were being killed for their convictions before getting too critical of Calvin's language.

This edition is probably the best available with helpful notes and an excellent team of scholars under J. T. McNeil behind the text. Calvin's quotations are documented and the text is keyed with symbols showing the development of the Institutes from its initial version in 1536 through its five reprints (the final in 1559).

An excellent read for anyone interested in Reformed theology, historical theology, systematic theology or . . . just theology!

Hardback, 1800 Pages, 2 Volume Set