[ksen]

I question the approach to understanding Calvin's theology in this way. Calvin's theology is a systematic approach to theology and to understand him is to understand all that he says as a whole. What is being done here is deconstructing each of Calvin's premises on their own merit apart from the system as a whole.

What other approach would you suggest?

I've never read the entire Institutes so I need to read them. I don't know any other way to read something than chapter by chapter. So I might as well read them with you folk, that way those who know them can help with the understanding of them.

[lockeliberty]

What other approach would you suggest?

Read the whole Institutes and then come back and go through each premise. Have you ever been a part of a reading club? You don't read one chapter and then get together and discuss the first chapter. If I'm not mistaken Calvin restructured his ordering of his premises on at least one occasion. The framework of his premises seem to be an important component of his theology. In this way you could analyze his framework and better understand what it is that he is trying to convey.