Christ, the End of the Law

John Calvin’s Preface to the Geneva Bible

Introduction

During the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, a great effort was made to translate the Bible into the local languages of the European continent. Until this time, the Bible was only permitted to be translated into Latin, the religious language of the Catholic Church.

The Geneva Bible was translated by imminent theologians from England, but in Geneva, Switzerland, because the Queen of England at the time, Mary the 1st, forbid the Bible to be translated in English.

The Geneva Bible was completed in 1550, and is considered to be one of the most historically significant translations of the Bible into English.

John Calvin, who was the primary spiritual leader of Geneva at the time, and one of the leading theologians in the world, wrote the preface to the Geneva Bible.

Below is an excerpt from Calvin’s preface, where he reminds us that all of the Bible is pointing us toward Jesus Christ and the riches we have in him. His preface was titled. “Christ, the end of the law.”

Christ, the End of the Law

Christ Humbled Himself, to Exalt us. He made Himself a Servant, to set us Free. He became Poor, to Enrich us. He was sold, to buy us back. He became a Captive, to Deliver us from slavery. He was condemned, to secure our Pardon. He was made a Curse, that we might be Blessed. He became the offering for sins, for our Justification. His face was marred, to re-beautify ours. He Died, that we might have life.

By Him, hardness is softened, wrath appeased, darkness made light, iniquity turned into righteousness, weakness is made strength, despair is consoled, sin is resisted, shame is despised, fear is emboldened, debt is paid, labour is lightened, sorrow turned into joy, misfortune into blessing, difficulties are made easy, chaos made into order, division into union, humiliation ennobled, rebellion subjected, threat is threatened, ambush is ambushed, assault assailed, striving is overpowered, war is warred against, vengeance is avenged on, torment tormented, damnation damned, destruction destroyed, hell burned up, death is killed, and mortality changed to immortality.

In short, Love has swallowed up all misery, and Goodness, all wretchedness. For all those things, which used to be the arms with which the Devil attacked us, are turned into instruments from which we can derive good. So that we can boast with the Apostle, saying, “O Hell! “where is thy Victory? O Death! where is thy “Sting” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?

And so, by the spirit Christ promised His elect, we no longer live, but Christ lives in us. And we are by the Spirit, seated in heavenly places, until the world shall be no longer a world to us, because we have our life in Him. And we are content, whatever may be our country, place, condition, clothes, or food. We are comforted in tribulation; in sorrow, are joyful; under abuse, we are glorified; in poverty, we abound; in nakedness we are made warm; we are patient of evil; and in death, we live.

This is the whole of what we should seek in the Scriptures: to be well acquainted with Jesus Christ, and the infinite riches which are comprised in Him; and which are, by Him, offered to us from God His Father.

John Calvin, Christ the End of the Law

1550, Geneva, Switzerland