Calvin And The Biblical Languages (Mentor) [Paperback]

John D. Currid (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mentor | Publication Date: January 1, 2007

The church today is built on the Reformation’s linguistic heritage yet is in danger of losing that strong foundation. Many seminaries no longer require that their students learn the Biblical languages for their divinity degrees – some do not even teach them! Yet these are the basic tools of any study of the Bible and if we don’t teach the Bible, then what is the church teaching? If we need encouragement as to what can happen to our sermons and Bible study when we develop a knowledge of the languages that they are written in then Calvin is an excellent encourager. John Curris, Carl McMurray Professor of Old Testament and chairman of the Biblical Studies Division at Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson MS, is in an excellent position to show us how Calvin used a knowledge of the Biblical languages to provide richness, depth and accuracy to his understanding of scripture - and his exposition of it. If you want to develop a deeper ability to understand and explain God’s Word then let the two John’s guide you!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Currid is Carl McMurray Professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Mentor (January 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1845502124
• ISBN-13: 978-1845502126
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,349,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

JOHN D. CURRID is the Carl McMurray Professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the author of several books and Old Testament commentaries. A PhD graduate in Syro-Palestinian archaeology (University of Chicago), he has extensive archaeological field experience from projects throughout Israel and Tunisia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book is NOT what you might think., January 11, 2007

By 

Douglas VanderMeulen (Fargo, ND) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Calvin And The Biblical Languages (Mentor) (Paperback)

This is a very helpful, interesting and quick-read of a book! But don't read the title too quickly. This isn't a dry work on linguistics or hermeneutics. This is a very insightful overview of the role the classical languages of Latin, Hebrew, and Greek played in Calvin's life as a scholar, preacher, teacher, reformer in both the arena of local church ministry and in the academy.

This book will be of great interest in any of the following readers: Those interested in the life and ministry of Calvin, preachers and teachers in the church, those involved in the Classical - Christian education movement, and those who have a longing for the local church being something more than a "felt needs" service staion.

Personally, I am not a quick reader. However, I found this book easy to read and one that I didn't want to put down. I kept telling myself "I'll read just one more chapter...just one more...just one more."

This is clearly only and overview of Calvin's life and use of the classical languages. However, it is very well documented with scholarly sources. The author demonstrates a working knowledge of Calvin and current Calvin scholarship and his footnotes will lead the interested reader to many other "more serious" works on the life and ministry of this great reformer.

As a pastor and home educator I was greatly encouraged, challenged and humbled by the life and work of John Calvin as presented in this short book of just 102 pages.

As of the writing of this review, the book is out of stock on Amazon but IS in print and can be aquired via other web sites dealing with books. Hopefully, Amazon will get this in stock soon!

The chapters are:
The Christian Hercules
The Exegetical Preacher
King of Commentators
This Most Faithful interpreter
The Academy
That Singular Instrument of God
A Plea
Appendix - A Sermon of John Calvin on Deuteronomy 16:1-4

Great gift idea for your pastor or Bible student or seminarian.