约翰·加尔文(1509—1564)是基督新教历史上最为重要的人物之一。马丁·路德与天主教会决裂，开始宗教改革；而加尔文则以一部《基督教要义》建立了新教系统神学的典范。

德国历史学家兰克(Leopold von Ranke)说：“加尔文是美国真正的立基者。”法国历史学家论到加尔文宗信徒时说道：“这些人是英国真正的英雄。他们建立了苏格兰，他们也建立了美国。”这些都说明了加尔文深远的历史影响力。

The institution of Christian religion written in Latine by maister John Caluine ; and translated into Englishe accordyng to the authors last edition, by T.N. wherunto is added a table, to fynde the principall matters entreated of in thys boke, conteyning by order of common places, the summe of the vvhole doctrine taught in the same The institution of Christian religion written in Latine by maister John Caluine ; and translated into Englishe accordyng to the authors last edition, by T.N. wherunto is added a table, to fynde the principall matters entreated of in thys boke, conteyning by order of common places, the summe of the vvhole doctrine taught in the same. (London: Richarde Harrison, 1562)

This is the second printing of the 1st English edition of the final version of Calvin's Institutes.

Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion was intended to be a theology text to aid in Biblical interpretation. He wanted each scripture passage to be read in the context of the entire message of the scriptures. The Institutes were intended to be an aid toward sound theology in preaching.

The Institutes of the Christian Religion has been one of the most widely studied systematic theologies for the past 440 years. Calvin revised the Institutes throughout his lifetime, publishing editions in Latin or French in 1536, 1539, 1543, 1545, 1550, 1553, and 1554. Calvin's final Latin edition was published in 1559. Calvin translated this final edition of the Institutes into French in 1560.

Early translations brought the Institutes into Dutch (1560), English (1561) German (1572), Spanish (1597), Czech (1617), Hungarian (1624), Arabic (before 1667).

The second printing of the first English translation (1562) is part of this exhibit. It was printed by the same publisher, and includes an index that was not part of the 1561 first printing. The translator was Thomas Norton.

Other English translations include:

Christopher Featherstone, tr. An abridgement of the Institution of Christian religion. (Edinburgh, Thomas Vautrollier, 1585).

John Allen, tr. Institutes of the Christian religion / by John Calvin. (Philadelphia : Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1813).

Henry Beveridge, tr. Institutes of the Christian religion / by John Calvin. (Edinburgh : Calvin Translation Society, 1845-1846).

The current standard English translation is:

John T. McNeill, ed.; Ford Lewis Battles, tr. Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion. (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1960) in the Library of Christian Classics.

"True and sound wisdom consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves." Institutes 1.1.1

"Knowledge of ourselves lies first in considering what we were given at creation and how generously God continues his favor toward us. & Second, call to mind our miserable condition after Adam's fall; the awareness of which, when all our boasting and self -assurance are laid low, should truly humble us. & in order that the great nobility of our race may not be buried beneath our own dullness of wit." Institutes 2.1.1

"Therefore since we have fallen from life into death, the whole knowledge of God the Creator that we have discussed would be useless unless faith also followed setting forth for us God our Father in Christ." Institutes 2.6.1