This study investigates the intellectual origins of Reformed Protestantism by examining the specific theological contributions of Peter Martyr Vermigli regarding the doctrine of double predestination. Frank A. J. L. James, a scholar of Reformation history, utilizes primary source analysis of Vermigli's writings to trace the Augustinian roots of his soteriological framework. The book argues that Vermigli was a foundational figure whose work on divine election and reprobation helped shape the trajectory of Reformed theology, often misattributed solely to Calvin.

Scholars recognize this monograph as a rigorous academic contribution to the study of early Reformed theology. Readers frequently note the dense, scholarly nature of the prose, which is intended for an audience familiar with historical theology and Reformation-era debates.