Month: November 2024

On the Christian Life:
A New Translation

by John Calvin, Raymond A. Blacketer (Translator), Anthony N. S. Lane (Editor)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Crossway
Publication Date: August 20, 2024
Format: Hardcover
Length: 65 pg.
Read Date: October 20, 2024

What’s On the Christian Life About?

These are excerpts from John Calvin’s The Institutes of the Christian Religion focused on the life of the Christian–they’ve been excerpted as such from the time of Calvin, and translated into English (and other languages) from before the final edition of The Institutes were published–then they were updated to match the following editions.

These are from chapters 6-10 of Book Three of The Institutes, setting out general principles to guide our lives–rather than stringent rules and extra-biblical commandments. Calvin starts by talking about ordering our lives correctly, looking for small progress throughout our lives, not perfection. There are some chapters on self-denial, focusing on Matthew 16. Then there’s a chapter focusing on the life to come–where our eyes and hearts should be focused, and the way to go about that. The last chapter is about the use and enjoyment of “the present life and earthly possessions.”

A New Translation?

I now have three copies of this–I had another edition, but I lost track of it somewhere along the line, I’m not sure which translator worked on it (which is a shame, it was a nice looking one). So I can’t compare and contrast as much as I want.

But I do have the translations by Henry J. Van Andel and Aaron Clay Denlinger. Denlinger’s translation reads pretty close to Blacketer’s, but there are differences. Van Andel’s comes across as stuffy and wooden…maybe staid?…in comparison to both (it’s also more than 50 years old, and I’m sure that plays a role, but even then…it’s so different than the other two).

Like I said, Blacketer and Denlinger read pretty similarly–but there’s something about the two that makes you very aware that while they’re on the same page, they’re different enough to justify their independent existences.

I don’t know enough French or Latin (read: practically none) to actually be able to tell you which is a better translation–for all I know Van Andel’s formality hits it better than these new kids. But I know in English, Blacketer comes across as precise, clear, and heartfelt. That’s good enough for me. Also, the footnotes are great (something the other editions could really use some help with)–both in terms of cross-references, and translation notes.

I thought of posting some quotations from the three versions for comparison (and maybe I should’ve), but without the Latin/French, it felt like that approach would be missing something.

Do we need this translation of the book? I don’t know, honestly. But as this is the first taste of Blacketer’s work with Calvin that the general public is getting while Crossway gets ready to publish his translation of The Institutes, it serves as a preview of that work. I, for one, am ready to buy it.

So, what did I think about On the Christian Life ?

I can’t tell you how many times that I’ve read this material–either in versions of this book, or in The Institutes. But every time, it strikes me as fresh, applicable, and useful. It generally feels like it could’ve been published within the last five years (whether I read it in 1996 or 2024).

Calvin never makes this out to be something we can generate within ourselves. This isn’t something we do to earn, or prove, our salvation or God’s affections/pleasure. This is, rather, what’s expected of those who have faith–what faith should look like–but something stumbling, something imperfect, something we strive to do better at. There’s both grace and motivation there–and it’s foolish to expect anything else (or want anything else).

I really do think I could go on and on here, but instead, I think I should point you at the work itself. It’s a mere 73 pages in this edition, if you include the introduction and indexes. But this isn’t the kind of thing you can gulp down in an hour–it’s not a difficult read in terms of complications or weighty arguments. But there’s a depth that belies the brevity.

It’s helpful. It’s encouraging. It’s challenging. I commend it–in any translation, but particularly this new one–to your attention.

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