John Calvin's Institutes in a Year

Christopher Michael Patton

Ever stared at John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion on your shelf and thought, “One day I’ll finally read that… but where would I even start?” This podcast is for that moment. Calvin’s Institutes in a Year is a guided, day-by-day journey through one of the most influential works in Christian theology. Together, we read through the entire Institutes over the course of a full year—one manageable section at a time—so that a book many admire from a distance finally becomes something you actually finish. Each daily episode is short, focused, and intentional. We keep the pace steady, the sections approachable, and the explanations clear, helping you follow Calvin’s arguments without feeling buried under the weight of a theological classic. No rushing. No intimidation. Just faithful reading, thoughtful reflection, and steady progress. This is not a lecture series and it’s not a shortcut. It’s a companion for the long walk—designed for pastors, students, Reformed readers, and anyone who wants to understand historic Christian doctrine at a deeper level by actually reading the text. If you want more than just listening, you’re invited to read along with us at ThroughTheChurchFathers.com where you’ll find the full reading schedule, written texts, and the ability to comment and discuss alongside others making the same journey. If the Institutes has always felt important but unreachable, this is your invitation to finally open it—one day at a time. We begin January 1, 2026 Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org

  1. Jul 24

    Calvin's Institutes: July 24

    Today's reading deals with one of the most common reasons people leave churches: the presence of sin. Calvin argues that while we should grieve over sin, oppose it, and pursue holiness, we must not confuse the imperfections of the visible church with the absence of the true church. The temptation to separate often springs less from genuine zeal for God's holiness than from pride, impatience, or an unrealistic expectation of perfection this side of heaven. The church is holy because Christ is making her holy—not because she has already reached perfection. In these sections of the Institutes, Calvin confronts the spirit of schism. Drawing from Augustine, Cyprian, the prophets, Christ, and the apostles, he insists that believers should patiently bear with the faults they cannot correct while faithfully working to reform what they can. The prophets worshiped alongside corrupt priests, Christ remained among a deeply flawed covenant community, and the apostles ministered within churches filled with serious problems. The existence of hypocrisy, scandal, or weak believers does not nullify the church's identity. Rather, God is steadily cleansing His people until the day when Christ presents His bride without spot or wrinkle. Until then, Christians are called to humility, perseverance, and unity rather than proud separation. Today's Readings John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 4, Chapter 1, Sections 16–20Explore the Project If you're enjoying Through Theology in a Year, please consider supporting this ministry. Your partnership helps make projects like this possible and enables thousands of people around the world to study the great voices of Christian history. Patreon: https://patreon.com/cmichaelpatton More resources: https://CredoCourses.comhttps://CredoHouse.orghttps://ThroughTheChurchFathers.com#ThroughTheChurchFathers #JohnCalvin #Institutes #ChurchHistory #Reformation #Ecclesiology #ChristianTheology #Augustine #Cyprian #UnityOfTheChurch

    Calvin's Institutes: July 24

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Ever stared at John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion on your shelf and thought, “One day I’ll finally read that… but where would I even start?” This podcast is for that moment. Calvin’s Institutes in a Year is a guided, day-by-day journey through one of the most influential works in Christian theology. Together, we read through the entire Institutes over the course of a full year—one manageable section at a time—so that a book many admire from a distance finally becomes something you actually finish. Each daily episode is short, focused, and intentional. We keep the pace steady, the sections approachable, and the explanations clear, helping you follow Calvin’s arguments without feeling buried under the weight of a theological classic. No rushing. No intimidation. Just faithful reading, thoughtful reflection, and steady progress. This is not a lecture series and it’s not a shortcut. It’s a companion for the long walk—designed for pastors, students, Reformed readers, and anyone who wants to understand historic Christian doctrine at a deeper level by actually reading the text. If you want more than just listening, you’re invited to read along with us at ThroughTheChurchFathers.com where you’ll find the full reading schedule, written texts, and the ability to comment and discuss alongside others making the same journey. If the Institutes has always felt important but unreachable, this is your invitation to finally open it—one day at a time. We begin January 1, 2026 Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org