A Biography of the Book 'Institutes of the Christian Religion'

Bruce Gordon's biography of John Calvin's Institutes examines the work's publication, immediate reception, and its fluctuating status across history, from reverence to misunderstanding and recovery.

Gordon traces how various theological movements and cultural shifts appropriated or misrepresented Calvin, altering the Institutes' perceived meaning and authority.

The book highlights scholarly debates—such as the transatlantic disputes between Mercersburg and Princeton thinkers—and how these shaped Calvin's legacy.

Gordon provides accessible narrative and analysis, situating the Institutes within broader ecclesial and intellectual developments.

The study offers readers both historical detail and interpretive insight into why the Institutes remains influential in Reformed and broader Protestant circles.