Institutes of the Christian Religion is John Calvin's seminal work on Protestant systematic theology. Highly influential in the Western world and still widely read by theological students today, it was published in Latin in 1536 and in his native French in 1541, with the definitive editions appearing in 1559 (Latin) and in 1560 (French). The book was written as an introductory textbook on the Protestant faith for those with some learning already and covered a broad range of theological topics from the doctrines of church and sacraments to justification by faith alone and Christian liberty, and it vigorously attacked the teachings of those Calvin considered unorthodox, particularly Roman Catholicism to which Calvin says he had been "strongly devoted" before his conversion to Protestantism. The over-arching theme of the book – and Calvin's greatest theological legacy – is the idea of God's total sovereignty, particularly in salvation and election. The Institutes are a primary reference for the system of doctrine adopted by the Reformed churches, usually called Calvinism. Book Four of the Institutes discusses "the Church and the Communion of Saints, or of the external means or helps by which God invites us to fellowship with Christ, and keeps us in it." This includes Church government, with scathing denunciations of the Papacy and Catholic Church. (Summary from Wikipedia & TriciaG)

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Title Date published
01 - Argument 0001-01-01
02 - Of the True Church, pt 1 0001-01-01
03 - Of the True Church, pt 2 0001-01-01
04 - Of the True Church, pt 3 0001-01-01
05 - Comparison Between the False Church and the True 0001-01-01
06 - Of the Teachers and Ministers of the Church 0001-01-01
07 - Of the State of the Primitive Church...Before Papacy 0001-01-01
08 - The Ancient Form of Govt Utterly Corrupted, pt 1 0001-01-01
09 - The Ancient Form of Govt Utterly Corrupted, pt 2 0001-01-01
10 - Of the Primacy of the Romish See 0001-01-01
11 - Of the Beginning and Rise of the Romish Papacy, pt 1 0001-01-01
12 - Of the Beginning and Rise of the Romish Papacy, pt 2 0001-01-01
13 - Of the Beginning and Rise of the Romish Papacy, pt 3 0001-01-01
14 - Of the Powers of the Church in Articles of Faith, pt 1 0001-01-01
15 - Of the Powers of the Church in Articles of Faith, pt 2 0001-01-01
16 - Of Councils and Their Authority 0001-01-01
17 - Of the Power of Making Laws, pt 1 0001-01-01
18 - Of the Power of Making Laws, pt 2 0001-01-01
19 - Of the Power of Making Laws, pt 3 0001-01-01
20 - Of the Jurisdiction of the Church, pt 1 0001-01-01
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