Introduction:  Calvin and the Reformed Tradition

Knowing a little about John Calvin will be helpful as we begin our study.  There's a brief overview of his life in Chapter 3 of A Legacy of Sovereign Joy by John Piper. You will find a PDF download here (go to page 115).  This book is available for personal use courtesy of John Piper and desiringgod.org

We will look at Chapter One, Book One of the Institutes and then these Scripture passages:

Psalm 111:1-10, Genesis 1:27-31, 3:17-19 

Calvin says that true wisdom comes from knowing God and self.  The psalmist declares the fear of God as the beginning of wisdom.  Genesis names us both as bearers of God’s image and as dust returning to dust.  We are called wise theology and wise anthropology.

Some questions to ponder:

  • So what does it mean to be driven to a knowledge of God by our awareness of self and to an awareness of self by our knowledge of God?
  • What do we need to know about ourselves?
  • Do you agree with Calvin that wisdom is to be found both in knowledge of God and knowlege of self?
  • How has a deep sense of self drive you closer to God?
  • How has the Biblical understanding of God helped you understand yourself?

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