John Calvin's Institutes in a Year
Christopher Michael Patton
Publishing Details
About This Podcast
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
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Recent Episodes
S1E165 Calvin's Institutes: June 13
Podcast DescriptionWhat is prayer, and why is it essential for the Christian life? In this foundational chapter from John Calvin’s Institutes, we learn that prayer is the chief exercise of faith —…
S1E164 Calvin's Institutes: June 12
Podcast DescriptionWhat are the true limits of Christian freedom? In this powerful continuation from John Calvin, we explore how liberty must be wisely modified for the sake of weak brothers, while…
S1E163 Calvin's Institutes: June 11
Podcast SummaryIn this reading from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 19, Sections 7–11, Calvin develops the third aspect of Christian liberty: freedom in matters…
S1E162 Calvin's Institutes: June 10
Podcast SummaryIn this reading from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 19, Sections 1–6, Calvin introduces the doctrine of Christian liberty and argues that it is…
S1E161 Calvin's Institutes: June 9
Podcast SummaryIn this reading from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 18, Sections 8–10, Calvin continues defending justification by faith alone against several…
S1E160 Calvin's Institutes: June 8
Podcast SummaryIn this reading from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 18, Sections 4–7, Calvin continues answering the claim that rewards promised in Scripture prove…
S1E159 Calvin's Institutes: June 7
Podcast SummaryIn this reading from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 18, Sections 1–3, Calvin addresses the common objection that Scripture repeatedly teaches God…
S1E158 Calvin's Institutes: June 6
Podcast SummaryIn this reading from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 17, Sections 10–15, Calvin continues his defense of justification by faith alone while…
S1E157 Calvin's Institutes: June 5
Podcast DescriptionHow do we reconcile the law and the gospel? Today we continue a rich conversation across the centuries. Tertullian exposes how pagan philosophy corrupts Christian truth and breeds…
Calvin's Institutes: June 4
Podcast DescriptionWhat is the relationship between law, gospel, and good works? Today we continue exploring the heart of the Christian faith. Tertullian sharply warns that philosophy is the mother…
S1E155 Calvin's Institutes: June 3
Podcast DescriptionWhat does true freedom look like? Today we hear three voices from the Church’s history addressing the heart of the gospel. Tertullian warns against the dangerous mixture of…
S1E154 Calvin's Institutes: June 2
Podcast DescriptionIn a world that loves to twist the gospel, John Calvin directly confronts the most common attacks on the doctrine of justification by faith alone. He shows that far from destroying…
S1E153 Calvin's Institutes: June 1
This reading brings Calvin’s argument to its sharpest point: Christ is not merely the beginning of salvation, nor simply the one who opens the door while we complete the journey ourselves. Rather,…
S1E152 Calvin's Institutes: May 31
This reading confronts one of the most persistent misunderstandings in Christian theology: if good works matter, do they somehow earn salvation? John Calvin carefully distinguishes justification from…
S1E151 Calvin's Institutes: May 30
This episode explores one of the clearest and most careful statements John Calvin ever makes about salvation by grace alone. Walking through the “four causes” of salvation, Calvin argues that every…
S1E150 Calvin's Institutes: May 29
Podcast DescriptionIn a world obsessed with self-improvement and moral performance, John Calvin delivers a sobering and liberating diagnosis: apart from Christ, even our best virtues are tainted at…
S1E149 Calvin's Institutes: May 28
Podcast SummaryPodcast DescriptionIn a world obsessed with self-improvement and moral performance, John Calvin delivers a sobering and liberating diagnosis: apart from Christ, even our best virtues…
S2E148 Calvin's Institutes: May 27
Podcast DescriptionIn a world obsessed with self-improvement and moral performance, John Calvin delivers a sobering and liberating diagnosis: apart from Christ, even our best virtues are tainted at…
Calvin's Institutes: May 26
Podcast SummaryGratuitous justification operates under two essential coordinates: the preservation of God’s untarnished glory and the establishment of stable peace within the human conscience. In…
S1E146 Calvin's Institutes: May 25
Podcast SummaryTrue justification is anchored in two essential ends: the preservation of God’s absolute glory and the establishment of an unshakable peace in the human conscience. John Calvin argues…
Frequently Asked Questions
John Calvin's Institutes in a Year has published 165 episodes since January 2026, covering topics in Christianity, History.
John Calvin's Institutes in a Year is currently highly active with new episodes daily. Average episode length is 10m.
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