Grace and Gratitude: The Eucharistic Theology of John Calvin [Paperback]

B. A. Gerrish (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2000

This book is the first major study of Calvin's doctrine of the Lord's Supper in 25 years and the first attempt to show the eucharistic shape of Calvin's entire theology. The systematic character of Calvin's theology rests on his consistent understanding of God as Father and foundation of good and his conception of the Gospel as the message of free adoption.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: T&T Clark Ltd (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0567292339
• ISBN-13: 978-0567292339
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,199,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview of Eucharistic issues in Calvin's writing, April 2, 2005

By 

Mark Horne (Saint Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grace and Gratitude: The Eucharistic Theology of John Calvin (Paperback)

Whether or not you have encountered the work of John Williamson Nevin, Keith Mathison, Ronald Wallace, or Robert Letham on recovering the Calvinistic view of the Lord's Supper, you definitely want to add this too your reading list if you are at all willing to be challenged from a Reformed perspective. While I can't speak for Gerrish's personal theological commitments, his honesty, even-handedness, and thoroughness make this an essential work, whether as a first book or as follow-up and further reflection.

Gerrish tackles the controversies surrounding Calvin's view of the Lord's Supper by showing that his theology is "eucharistic" from beginning to end. For Calvin, God is a fountain of all good so that the sum of piety is living by grace and gratitude. God is a loving Father and the Gospel is a message of free adoption. Adoption naturally leads us into a household where we ae fed at the family table having been received in baptism (this is way over-simplifying due to brevity; Gerrish's gift is in bringing out real themes while admitting complexity in the data).

I can't recommend this enough and am gratified (no pun intended) that this work is back in print. Take advantage of it. If this is the first time you've become acquainted with the Protestant heritage regarding the Lord's Supper, consider moving on to the other writers mentioned above. Some are Evangelicals and some are not, but all are worth reading for what they expose us to in our Evangelical heritage.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grace and Gratitude, October 22, 2010

By 

Panachde - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Grace and Gratitude: The Eucharistic Theology of John Calvin (Paperback)

The true religion of Christianity is exemplified by the cardinal tenets of grace and gratitude which B.A. Garrish incitefully recognized in the writings of both Calvin and St. Augustine before him. All good things are derived from God the Father, the author and fountain of goodness itself, who graciously created us and then redeemed us through faith in Christ alone. We acknowledge God in gratitude for his gracious justification of us as unworthy sinners. All praise be to God!

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what was wanted., October 13, 2010

By 

Elizabeth I. Steele (Santa Monica, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Grace and Gratitude: The Eucharistic Theology of John Calvin (Paperback)

A group is using this for a book discussion. It was just what I ordered, arrived quickly, and in perfect shape.