Because Calvin was a sound exegete, little of what he wrote is dated. In Genesis, his treatment of the early chapters is thorough, but not disproportionate. Neither are the later narratives concerning Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph passed over hastily.

Indeed, Calvin excels in bringing out the principles of God’s dealings with men, as individuals and in covenant, and in showing faithfully, yet tenderly, the human weakness and sin all too evident in Genesis.