I recently came across an interesting, French-language web site called Calvinisme, that has some helpful resources.
(link to index page for Turretin)
Gerrit Keizer biography of Turretin, "François Turrettini, Sa Vie et Ses Oeuvres, et la Consensus"
Sermon 1 by Turretin, "Le Bonheur du Peuple de Dieu"
Sermon 111 by Turretin, "Le Réveil et la Résurrection du Pécheur"
I hope that perhaps the owner of the web site may scan some additional sermons of Turretin into PDF form, so that the world may benefit.
-Turretinfan
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
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9 comments:
My good friend Wes White is translating a whole bunch of Turretin's sermons for publication. Hope they come out soon.
Is there any reason why Turretin has never been translated into English? Perhaps the Calvinists fear that the Arminians will easily refute his writings?
Very cute.
Yes, none of the Arminian scholars have been educated enough to read French or Latin, so we've managed to hide many of our easily refuted theological works in those languages. [eyes roll]
But, actually:
a) His magnum opus, the Institutes of Elenctic Theology, has been translated into English.
b) Turretin's sermons (now under translation, at least in part, by Pastor Wes White) were previously translated, but the translator died before publishing his translation (link)
c) Calvinist systematicians Hodge and Shedd relied heavily on Turretin, although often their systematic theologies quote Turretin's Latin original.
d) By comparison, not even all of Calvin's writings have been translated into English. For example, only recently a series of Calvin's sermons on Acts was released in English for the first time.
-Turretinfan
I thought it was cute too. Anyway, I'm interested in reading what Turretin had to say, because I'm sure he's been taken out of context about a million times by now.
Is this the only translation of his Elenctic Theology in English or are there others?
Also, where can I find these sermons of Calvin's in English?
Like for example here, page 3 of topic 18 in the English translation that I gave the amazon link to, (you can read this page in the preview), Turretin speaks of how we distinguish the church by doctrine and not doctrine by the church and then in point VIII quotes the great commission, commenting on that Christ would have the apostles first teach and then baptize, and therefore men are to learn the doctrine first and then to join the church. But then, he takes his own self out of context if I can put it that way, and says "Therefore as in adults faith ought to precede baptism (which is the entrance into the church), so examination of faith and knowledge ought to precede knowledge of the church." He deals a harsh blow to infant baptism, but tries in good Romish fashion to cover it up.
B2k wrote: "Anyway, I'm interested in reading what Turretin had to say, because I'm sure he's been taken out of context about a million times by now."
I'm not sure why you'd expect that. I've very rarely seen him taken out of context on the Internet, though it surely can happen. More on that, shortly.
B2k wrote: "Is this the only translation of his Elenctic Theology in English or are there others?"
It's the only complete published translation. I've seen independent translations of portions (usually just paragraphs or sentences) of the Institutes, but none that were complete. Also, the translation you linked to is a revision/edition of the older translation that was used at Princeton for many years (but was not published, as far as I know).
B2K wrote: "Also, where can I find these sermons of Calvin's in English?"
If you go to this bookstore (link) and type in the search phrase Calvin's sermons, then you should pull up a number of hits.
Also the Calvin College Electronic Library is bound to have some in a freely downloadable format (CCEL).
-TurretinFan
B2k wrote: "Like for example here, page 3 of topic 18 ... Turretin speaks of how we distinguish the church by doctrine and not doctrine by the church and then in point VIII quotes the great commission, commenting on that Christ would have the apostles first teach and then baptize, and therefore men are to learn the doctrine first and then to join the church. But then, he takes his own self out of context if I can put it that way, and says "Therefore as in adults faith ought to precede baptism (which is the entrance into the church), so examination of faith and knowledge ought to precede knowledge of the church.""
With respect, I don't think that's an example of him taking himself out of context. One of the closest examples I've seen of people nearly taking Turretin out of context was a quotation taken from Turretin on the mode of administration of baptism. Turretin seemed (in the quotation) inclined to view immersion as the original form of baptism. By selectively quoting that portion of Turretin, one might think he did not go on to explain why we are not limited to immersion.
It's actually something similar going on here, with your comment:
B2K wrote: "He deals a harsh blow to infant baptism, but tries in good Romish fashion to cover it up."
a) There's no "harsh blow to infant baptism." Perhaps you are unaware that the Reformed churches (excepting, of course, the Reformed Baptists) practice credo-baptism of those who are not already baptized. Turretin is making reference to this practice.
b) Turretin does not seek to cover anything up. He exposes all to the light of the truth of the Word of God. He has (elsewhere) a discussion on why we baptize infants of believers, which is - as you may imagine - similar to the reason that male infants of OT believers were circumcised.
c) The comparison to Romanism is a little offensive, and rather ironic. Turretin is defeating a Romish doctrine in the very section you quoted, namely the Romish doctrine that we need to know the church before we know Christ.
-Turretinfan
Thanks for noticing www.calvinisme.org, which is my website! I fully intend to make available more of Turretin's sermon's, but I want to translate them first. Also note that the 2 sermons posted on my website by Turretin are not complete. I am working with my friend and brother Wes White on the translation project.
Great to hear from you, Riley! I am looking forward eagerly to the result of your and White's project!
-TurretinFan
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