Piety's Wisdom

Book excerpt: John Calvins The Institutes of the Christian Religion presents one of the most winsome, thought-provoking, spiritually inspiring, and heart-searching summations of Christian truth ever written. Although works exist that either offer an analysis of Calvins views or serve as a guide to his Institutes, none fully share the aim of J. Mark Beachs Pietys Wisdom. Keeping to the form, shape, and tenor of Calvins own work, Pietys Wisdom offers busy pastors, seminarians, interested college students, and motivated laypersons a book that presents Calvin on his own terms. This summary can be used as an introduction to the Christian faith, as a primer for the study of Calvin, or a combination of each. While the book is suitable for individual study, the inclusion of study questions makes it an ideal tool for facilitating discussion in adult study groups. Author J. Mark Beach is an Associate Pastor at Redeemer United Reformed Church in Dyer, Indiana. He also serves as Professor of Ministerial and Doctrinal Studies, and Dean of Students at Mid-America Reformed Seminary. Endorsements "Though road maps (or a GPS) are no substitute for the experience of traveling through the country side, they can be a great help to the traveler in identifying the best route and the highpoints of the trip. J. Mark Beachs Pietys Wisdom is such a help for the reader who hopes to travel or navigate his or her way through Calvins great exposition of the Christian faith, The Institutes. Written for the general reader, Beach offers a useful guide that identifies the important landmarks, points the way through, and thereby whets the readers appetite for a first-hand acquaintance with Calvins theology." - Cornelis Venema