Preface

This volume consists of commissioned essays intended to provide a fresh account of John Calvin and the tradition of Calvinism. In many respects the handbook explores what it means to speak about a reformer and a ‘legacy’ over which he had little control. We have focused in particular on new directions in research and engaged our authors to explore unfamiliar and underexamined aspects of the Reformer and the diverse individuals and movements who have claimed his inheritance. The essays follow a largely chronological trajectory, moving from Calvin to the contemporary world.

This project has been in gestation for far longer than anticipated, and we are extremely grateful for the Job-like patience of our contributors. Sadly, along the way we lost a few authors. Particularly regrettable was a chapter on South Africa. Nevertheless, after the delays the authors were ready and willing to update their contributions to take in recent research and new ideas, and for their generous efforts we offer our thanks.

We are extremely grateful to Karen Raith at Oxford, who has guided the project from the beginning and been wonderfully encouraging at every stage.

We have also benefited from the work of two talented assistants to whom we are most grateful. Eunjin Kim, doctoral candidate at Duke Divinity School, worked hard in the early stage of the project in contacting contributors and helped in dealing with the numerous queries and logistical issues which always arise as such a volume starts to take shape. Will Tarnasky at Yale Divinity School performed herculean efforts to bring together and format the final version of the handbook, and we are deeply in his debt. Rona Johnston shared her expert editorial skills and advice to guide our work and significantly enhanced the volume.

During the time this handbook was being written and prepared we lost one of the greatest students of Calvin and Calvinism, Irena Backus. As an extraordinary scholar and teacher, she generously shared her research and compendious knowledge, and was for many of us both a mentor and a model of humane scholarship.

We dedicate this handbook to her memory.