Randall C. Zachman

John Calvin as Biblical Commentator

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“The publication of John Calvin as Biblical Commentator will at last bring the wide recognition that John Walchenbach's groundbreaking dissertation has always deserved. In one remarkable work he advanced two areas of Calvin research that were both in their infancy at the time: Calvin as biblical interpreter, and Calvin as a student of the early church teachers. Though both areas of Calvin research have grown considerably in recent years, Walchenbach's work is a benchmark to which we all return.”

John Calvin, Myth and Reality

History & Biography

“The essays in this volume do an admirable job of carefully distinguishing Calvin and his influence from the myths that have grown up around him, beginning with the myth that Calvin is the most important figure of the tradition that has taken his name, and that Calvinists always followed his advice. The temporal and geographical reach of the analyses is impressive, extending from Geneva through France and the Netherlands to Java and Korea, and from Calvin himself to twentieth century political thought and philosophy.”

The Early Creeds

Theology

“In these writings, John Williamson Nevin and Philip Schaff develop their conviction that the foundation of the catholic and ecumenical Christian tradition is to be found in the Apostles’ Creed, which expresses the transforming presence of the triune God in the continuing incarnation of the Son of God in the church. The editors do an exemplary job of placing these texts in their theological and cultural contexts. These writings are essential for an understanding of Mercersburg theology.”

The Heidelberg Catechism

Theology

“In these writings, John Williamson Nevin interprets the Heidelberg Catechism as being the best expression of the life of the German Reformed Church, as it combines reformed teaching with a deep catholic spirit, and a rational presentation of the faith with a profound mystical element. The introductions by Lee Barrett helpfully place these writings in their nineteenth-century context, and are also quite informative with regard to the composition and history of the Heidelberg Catechism.”

Theodore Beza

History & Biography

“Donald McKim and Jim West are to be thanked for writing a clear and accessible introduction to the theology and legacy of Theodore Beza, John Calvin’s brilliant successor in Geneva. The authors continually address the question of the contemporary relevance of Beza’s theology for the Reformed tradition today, especially in the discussion questions at the end of each chapter. This book should help to make Beza more widely known and appreciated in the English-speaking world.”