Robert M. KingdonAdultery and Divorce in Calvin’s Geneva (Harvard Historical Studies)

As a pastor, I've found this book as helpful in thinking through issues of divorce and remarriage as any I've read. Kingdon worked on translating the consistory (elder board) records of the church pastored by Calvin in Geneva, and uses those records as the basis for this investigation of the Geneva church's treatment of adultery and divorce under Calvin.The issues faced by Calvin in Geneva are timeless. They simply come with different labels today. Kingdon's book examines a number of controversies in the life of the Geneva church--situations as varied and complicated as anything churches face today.It was fascinating to learn that Calvin had to fight for the Biblical right of divorce. Entrenched powers of that day opposed any divorce at all because of its potential to disrupt familial, commercial and political alliances. To this, Calvin responded: Christ grants the right. We cannot gainsay it.The practice of quick and dirty secret marriages ("drinking marriage") was a challenge faced in Geneva that has significant bearing on how the church today should deal with couples living together.In all, a most helpful book.

Kingdon uses a handful of pivotal examples to trace the change in attitudes toward divorce and remarriage among Protestants shortly after Reformation began. The book is concise and well-written. The best parts involved Calvin's role in his brother's divorce and remarriage - which give off a faintly repugnant odor, but Kingdon strives to be fair. This makes a great companion to the Registers of the Consistory, etc., which Kingdon helped to edit.

This book answered many questions about the nature and structure of society in Calvin's Geneva. By illustrating the history of divorce with actual cases of the time it only makes fascinating and absorbing reading but shows that all was not well in Calvin's City of God.