THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY
JOHN CALVIN TO SIMON GRYNÆUS,^9
A MAN WORTHY OF ALL HONOR
I Remember that when three years ago we had a friendly converse as to the best mode of
expounding Scripture, the plan which especially pleased you, seemed also to me the most entitled
to approbation: we both thought that the chief excellency of an expounder consists in lucid brevity.
And, indeed, since it is almost his only work to lay open the mind of the writer whom he undertakes
to explain, the degree in which he leads away his readers from it, in that degree he goes astray from
his purpose, and in a manner wanders from his own boundaries. Hence we expressed a hope, that
from the number of those who strive at this day to advance the interest of theology by this kind of
labour, some one would be found, who would study plainness, and endeavour to avoid the evil of
tiring his readers with prolixity. I know at the same time that this view is not taken by all, and that
those who judge otherwise have their reasons; but still I cannot be drawn away from the love of
what is compendious. But as there is such a variety, found in the minds of men, that different things
please different persons, let every one in this case follow his own judgment, provided that no one
attempts to force others to adopt his own rules. Thus it will be, that we who approve of brevity,
will not reject nor despise the labours of those who are more copious and diffused in their
explanations of Scripture, and that they also in their turn will bear with us, though they may think
us too compressed and concise.
I indeed could not have restrained myself from attempting something to benefit the Church of
God in this way. I am, however, by no means confident that I have attained what at that time seemed
best to us; nor did I hope to attain it when I began; but I have endeavoured so to regulate my style,
that I might appear to aim at that model. How far I have succeeded, as it is not my part to determine,
I leave to be decided by you and by such as you are.
That I have dared to make the trial, especially on this Epistle of Paul, I indeed see, will subject
me to the condemnation of many: for since men of so much learning have already laboured in the
explanation of it, it seems not probable that there is any room for others to produce any thing better.
And I confess, that though I promised to myself some fruit from my labour, I was at first deterred
by this thought; for I feared, lest I should incur the imputation of presumption by applying my hand
to a work which had been executed by so many illustrious workmen. There are extant on this Epistle
many Commentaries by the ancients, and many by modern writers: and truly they could have never
employed their labours in a better way; for when any one understands this Epistle, he has a passage
opened to him to the understanding of the whole Scripture.
Of the ancients who have, by their piety, learning, holiness, and also by their age, gained so
much authority, that we ought to despise nothing of what they have adduced, I will say nothing;
(^9) The account given of Grynæus by Watkins in his Biographical Dictionary, taken from Moreri, is the following: — “A
learned German, born at Veringen, in Hohenzollern, in 1493. He studied at Vienna, after which he became Rector of the school
at Baden, but was thrown into prison for espousing the Lutheran doctrines. However, he recovered his liberty, and went to
Heidelberg, afterwards to Basil, and, in 1531, he visited England. 1536 he returned to Basil, and died there in 1540.” It is
somewhat singular, that in the same year, 1540, another learned man of the same name, John James Grynæus, was born at Berne,
and was educated at Basil, and became distinguished for his learning — Ed.