Sermons of John Calvin upon the Ten Commandments

What it is

This book collects sermons that Calvin preached on the Ten Commandments, given as he preached on Deuteronomy. According to the title page, the sermons were "gathered word for word" as Calvin delivered them. This is the 1581 English translation, printed not long after Calvin's death.

Why it matters

Preaching was central to Calvin's ministry in Geneva, and sermons like these show how he explained moral teaching to ordinary churchgoers, not just scholars. The fact that listeners recorded his words as he spoke reveals how valued his preaching was, and how quickly his sermons were translated and printed for readers elsewhere in Europe.

Look closer

• What might it mean that these sermons were "gathered word for word" while Calvin spoke rather than written by him afterward?
• Why would English readers in 1581 want access to a French reformer's sermons?
• What does focusing on the Ten Commandments tell you about what Calvin thought was important to teach?