SERMONS ON TITUS
By John Calvin
Banner of Truth. 312 pages. £15.00
ISBN 978 1 848 715 691
This is a new translation from the original French by Robert White from Australia. These 17 sermons on the book of Titus were preached by Calvin to the congregation of St Peter’s Church in Geneva in 1555.
The translation is in readable and modern English, with the original Reformation context apparent less from the language used than from the frequent acidic criticism levelled against Roman Catholicism. Some explanatory notes are provided, giving helpful insight into particular applications made by Calvin. For example, in his sermons, Calvin refers to ‘that devilish Interim’ (The Interim of Augsburg of 1548), ‘greased priests’ (who had been anointed with oil), and ‘that wretched heretic’ (Michael Servetus). Each sermon concludes with a short extempore prayer.
Ministerial calling
Calvin’s high view of ministerial office is evident in these sermons, but he urges people to appreciate that a man is not qualified to be a pastor by holding an office but by God’s calling, by their desire to serve God by serving the church, by their faithful preaching and teaching of God’s Word, by their humility and teachable spirit and by their exemplary living.
C a l v i n denounces not only the preaching of error, but also preaching that is aimless and has no real end in view. He insists that God’s Word is to be preached for the welfare and salvation of all. Calvin says that, as shepherds, pastors need to have two voices – a gracious voice which calls and gathers the sheep; and a fearsome voice which frightens wolves and thieves.
In these sermons, Calvin has much to teach us from Titus about the nature of pastoral ministry and the challenges of pastoral ministry. While many of his applications relate to his own historic situation, there is still much falsehood and wickedness in the world around us, Satan is still our active enemy, and there remains a need to exercise self-control as we fight against the flesh.
