The Brightest Mirror of God's Works: John Calvin's Theological Anthropology: 236 (Princeton Theological Monograph)

John Calvins perspectives on the nature calling and destiny of the human being is scattered all over his extensive corpus of writings. This book attempts to provide an accurate account of the main theological motifs that governed Calvins doctrine on the human being while keeping in mind variable factors such as the historical development of Calvins thought the pastoral and often unsystematic orientation of his theology and the formative impact doctrinal controversies had on his thoughts. The contribution focuses specifically on Calvins understanding of the created structure of the human being her sinful nature the human beings union with Christ the limits of human reason the anthropological roots of human society and gender. The primary aim is to make the original Calvin speak. But the contribution also addresses some of the most recent debates on Calvins theology and identifies those impulses in his theological anthropology that bear potential for modern reflections on human existence. Like most of us Calvin was a child of his time. However his intellectual legacy endures and readers may well find his thoughts on the human being surprisingly refreshing and stimulating for modern anthropological and social discourses.