John Calvin

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Calvin, John (1509–1564) one of the most importantleaders of the Protestant REFORMATION Calvinwas born and educated in France. His father, a lawyer,had the young Calvin prepare fi rst for a career in thechurch, then for one in law. When his father diedin 1531, Calvin turned from law to humanism, thatis, to the study of the classics of ancient Greece andRome. In 1533 one of Calvin's close friends gave anaddress, at the University of Paris, which supportedsome ideas of Martin LUTHER. The theologians ofParis had earlier condemned these ideas. The friendhad to fl ee for his life. Calvin was implicated in hisfriend's views, and he had to fl ee, too. Around thistime Calvin seems to have had a profound personalreligious experience.In 1536 Calvin settled in Geneva, Switzerland.With the exception of three years spent in Strasbourg(1538–41), he spent the rest of his life inGeneva. At fi rst he assisted the Reformation there.Eventually he led it.Calvin organized Geneva's government, church,and schools. In his eyes, the government and thechurch needed to cooperate to ensure that the idealsof the BIBLE were observed. As a result, GenevaJohn Calvin (Library of Congress) became a place where Christian regulations were strictly enforced. The infl exibility of the views wasnot unusual at the time, but it did have unfortunateconsequences. The most famous example isthe case of Michael Servetus, who was burned atthe stake in 1553 for teaching that GOD is one, nota TRINITY.Calvin made his mark as a writer, a thinker,and an organizer. His many writings include a catechism,sermons, hymns, commentaries on theBible, and letters. But his most important book isInstitutes of the Christian Religion, fi rst publishedin 1536. Throughout his life Calvin revised andexpanded it. He published the last version in 1559.As a humanist, Calvin insisted on returning tothe original sources. In THEOLOGY, that meant theBible. His reading of the Bible owes a great deal tothe thought of the apostle PAUL and AUGUSTINE OFHIPPO. Calvin emphasizes that, as a result of originalSIN, human beings cannot live in the state forwhich they were created: communion with God.Nevertheless, God redeems sinners, although theydo not in any way deserve to be saved. But Godchooses to save some sinners and to condemn othersto hell. This is Calvin's famous teaching of predestination.God saves people through the activityof JESUS, the prophet, priest, and king. He also doesso through the Holy Spirit, who instills faith in thehuman heart.Calvin recognized four offi ces in the church:pastors, who preached and administered the SACRAMENTSof BAPTISM and EUCHARIST; teachers, whoinstructed in faith; elders, who administered andensured discipline; and deacons, who assisted thepoor. The congregation was governed by a "consistory,"a body made up of pastors and elders.On some points Calvin differed from MartinLuther. One of the most signifi cant was the interpretationof the eucharist. Luther had insisted thatJesus's body and blood were actually present inthe bread and wine of the eucharist. Calvin taughtthat they were present spiritually. As a result, theReformation gave rise to several distinct traditions.Calvinism is one of the most important. Calvinistchurches are known as "Reformed" (see PRESBYTERIANAND REFORMED CHURCHES). They predominate inSwitzerland, the Netherlands, and Scotland. In theUnited States Calvinism is represented above all bythe Presbyterian Church, which derives from theScottish Calvinist tradition.