Truth for All Time, by John Calvin, published by the Banner of Truth Trust, soft cover gift edition, 150 pages, £10.00, obtainable from the F P Bookroom.
This little book (its small page size means it can be easily carried around) is well described in the preface as a “priceless jewel. It has lain buried and forgotten for far too long, but now that it has been unearthed you will find that it shines as brightly as ever and has lost none of its value.” Calvin wrote it when just 29, in 1537, and entitled it, Brief Outline of the Christian Faith. This translation, by Stuart Olyott, was first published as a paperback in 1998. It reads well, but some readers will be justifiably uncomfortable with God being addressed as “you”.
The book covers basic doctrine, and includes an exposition of the Apostles’ Creed and also of the Ten Commandments. Even at this early age, Calvin was remarkably surefooted in his handling of doctrine; however, he was always too much inclined to see the Sabbath as basically a Jewish institution. Calvin writes warmly and clearly. For instance, he describes faith as “an unwavering persuasion of the truth of God, which can neither lie nor deceive, and can neither be hollow nor false. . . . Faith believes God to be truthful: hope waits for Him to display His truthfulness at the appropriate time”.