John Calvin

Lore & Background

In March 1536, Calvin published the first edition of the Institutes of the Christian Religion in Basel. Shortly after, he served briefly as secretary to Princess Renée of France in Ferrara, then returned to Paris. Deciding there was no future for him in France, he set off for Strasbourg in August 1536 but was forced to detour to Geneva. There, Frenchman William Farel recruited Calvin to join the Reformation. Calvin regularly preached sermons throughout the week, but the governing council resisted their ideas, and both men were expelled. At the invitation of Martin Bucer, Calvin went to Strasbourg, becoming minister of a church of French refugees. He continued to support the reform movement in Geneva, and in 1541 he was invited back to lead the church. After his return, Calvin introduced new forms of church government and liturgy, despite opposition from powerful families. During this period, Michael Servetus, a Spaniard regarded by both Roman Catholics and Protestants as having a heretical view of the Trinity, arrived in Geneva; he was denounced by Calvin and burned at the stake for heresy by the city council. Following an influx of supportive refugees and new elections, Calvin's opponents were forced out. He spent his final years promoting the Reformation both in Geneva and throughout Europe.

Reader's Guide

John Calvin's significance lies in his role as the principal figure in the development of Calvinism, a system of Christian theology that emphasizes predestination and God's absolute sovereignty in salvation. His seminal work, the Institutes of the Christian Religion, first published in 1536, served as both a defence of his faith and a doctrinal statement for reformers. Calvin's influence extended through his writings, including commentaries on most books of the Bible, confessional documents, and theological treatises, as well as through his pastoral work in Geneva, where he introduced new forms of church government and liturgy. Despite controversy—he was a dedicated polemicist and was involved in the execution of Michael Servetus—Calvin also exchanged cordial letters with reformers such as Philipp Melanchthon and Heinrich Bullinger. His legacy is reflected in the many Reformed Church movements that look to him as the chief expositor of their beliefs, including Continental Reformed, Congregationalism, Presbyterianism, Waldensians, Baptist Reformed, Calvinist Methodism, and Reformed Anglican Churches, which have spread throughout the world. Calvin's theology and institutional reforms have had a lasting impact on Protestant Christianity.

Did You Know?

• Calvin was originally trained as a humanist lawyer before breaking from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530.
• He published his first book, a commentary on Seneca's De Clementia, in 1532.
• Calvin was forced to flee France during the Affair of the Placards in mid-October 1534.
• Michael Servetus was burned at the stake for heresy by the Geneva city council after being denounced by Calvin.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"John Calvin (10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564) was a major French Protestant theologian during the Protestant Reformation; he is renowned for his teaching and infamous for his role in the execution of Michael Servetus." — John Calvin "A dog barks and stands at bay if he sees any one assault his master. I should be indeed remiss, if, seeing the truth of God thus attacked, I should remain dumb, without giving one note of warning." — John Calvin "Letter 130 (to the Queen of Navarre), 28 April, 1545." — John Calvin "Now among the other things proper to recreate man and give him pleasure, music is either the first or one of the principal;and we must think that it is a gift of God deputed for that purpose'." — John Calvin