Commentary on the Psalms

Jean Calvin (1509–1564).  In librum Psalmorum Iohannis Caluini commentarius.
[Geneva]:  Robert Estienne, 1557. (AFD4014)

Calvin’s commentary on the Psalms was first published in this 1557 Latin edition.  French translations followed in 1558 and 1561. In his forward, Calvin stated that he had first lectured on the Psalms in 1552. In addition, between 1555 and 1559 he discussed the Psalms during his weekly Bible studies and Calvin often chose a specific psalm for his Sunday afternoon sermon. Initially Calvin was not interested in publishing on the Psalms, as earlier commentaries by Martin Bucer (1491–1551) and Andreas Musculus (1514–1581) were available. He eventually decided to edit and publish this commentary, however, to avoid having his lectures printed without his approval. By the end of his life Calvin had written commentaries on every book of the Protestant canon except Revelation.