Sermons on 2 Timothy

Preaching is the lifeblood of the Christian church. In every age God has used the proclamation of his word to bring men and women to repentance and faith in Christ, and to help them grow in grace. Throughout his long ministry in Geneva (1536 38, 1541 64), Calvin was a tireless preacher. He spoke of course to a specific congregation and at a particular point in time. Even so his sermons have travelled well across both time and space. God's word is not bound by history or geography, and Calvin's French has a robust plainness and directness which allows it to cross barriers of language and culture with relative ease. Of the 101 sermons which the Reformer preached in 1554 55 on the Pastoral Letters, thirty, on Paul's second letter to Timothy, are presented here. They have been newly translated from the original French. They offer a clear, forthright exposition of the biblical text, but also challenge the reader to live out the truths taught, since to be profitable God's word must transform the way we think, feel and act. In Calvin's hands the sermon is an instrument of real and lasting change.