by Matt Bogga – June 11, 2018

My cmnt: I am not a fan of Calvin’s Institutes because they are too wordy and the translations of them from French into English are not very readable. Compare the translation below to the one from Boice’s sermon that appears after it.

Book 2.16.19.

If we seek salvation, we are taught by the very name of Jesus that he possesses it; if we seek any other gifts of the Spirit, we shall find them in his unction; strength in his government; purity in his conception; indulgence in his nativity, in which he was made like us in all respects, in order that he might learn to sympathize with us: if we seek redemption we shall find it in his passion; acquittal in his condemnation; remission of the curse in his cross; satisfaction in his sacrifice; purification in his blood; reconciliation in his descent to hell; certification of the flesh in his sepulcher; newness of life in his resurrection; immortality also in his resurrection; the inheritance of celestial kingdom in his entrance into heaven; protection security, and the abundant supply of all blessings, in his kingdom; secure anticipation of judgment in the power of judging committed to him.

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Dr. James Boice in his sermon “The Full Measure of God’s Blessing” said that Mike Horton rendered it this way:

If we seek salvation, we are taught by the very name of Jesus that it is of Him; if we seek other gifts of the Spirit, they will be found in His anointing; if we seek strength it lies in His dominion; if purity in his conception; if gentleness it appears in his birth, if we seek redemption it lies in his passion; if acquittal in his condemnation; if remission of the curse, in his cross; if satisfaction in his sacrifice; if purification in his blood; if reconciliation in his descent into hell; if mortification of the flesh in his tomb; if newness of life in his resurrection; if immortality in the same; if inheritance of the heavenly kingdom in his entrance into heaven; if protection, if security, if abundant supply of all blessing, in his kingdom; if untroubled expection of judgment, in the power given to Him to judge.

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My cmnt: In the rendition below I’ve improved the wording even more:

If we seek salvation, we are taught by the very name of Jesus* that it is of Him; if we seek other gifts of the Spirit, they will be found in His anointing; if we seek strength it lies in His dominion; if purity in his conception; if gentleness it appears in his birth, if we seek redemption it lies in his passion; if acquittal in his condemnation; if remission of the curse, in his cross; if satisfaction, in his sacrifice; if purification, in his blood; if reconciliation in his descent into hell; if mortification of the flesh in his tomb; if newness of life in his resurrection; if immortality in the same; if inheritance of the heavenly kingdom, we find it in his entrance into heaven; if protection, if security, if abundant supply of all blessing, it is in his kingdom; if we would be untroubled at the day of judgment, then let us take comfort in the power given to Him to judge.

In short says Calvin, since rich store of every kind of good abounds in Him let us drink our fill from this fountain and from no other. Now Calvin’s point is that is the present possession of every Christian.

• Jesus’ Hebrew name is Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ). This name is a shortened form of Yehoshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ), which is the Hebrew name we know as Joshua. Both names, Yeshua and Yehoshua, essentially mean “Yahweh saves” or “the LORD saves”. The Greek name “Iēsous,” which is transliterated as Jesus in English, is derived from the Hebrew Yeshua.