Institutes of the Christian Religion

Preface to the reader - 1559

I did not expect the first edition to be so successful.

It was rumored I defected back to Roman Catholicism.

I wrote this to "prepare and instruct candidates in sacred theology for the reading of the divine Word" to understandit themselves, and help others to understand it, too.

My commentaries build on the foundation of doctrine you hold in your hands.

Subject matter of the present work - from the 1560 French edition

I translated it into French to help the less learned understand Scripture better.

Evaluate this book according to the Bible.