'I confess that at the outset I was put off by the fear of being thought rash and arrogant if I should attempt such an undertaking after so many excellent works. 'So wrote John Calvin (1509-1564) in the dedicatory letter of his commentary on Romans, his first printed exposition. The initital hesitation overcome, Calvin went on to produce a commentary series covering much of Scripture, one which is, in words of William Cunnignham, 'not only superior to any that preceded it, but it has continued