John Calvin

Lutherism

Martin Luther's 95 Theses ushered in the Protestant Reformation. He nailed them to the door of Castle Church in Wittenburg, sending shockwaves across the religious world.

Fig. 1 - Martin Luther

Full of anguish about the corruption of the Catholic Church, he attacked their methods such as indulgences and the power of the pope, wishing for a purified Christianity that went back to the scripture.

Although religious figures such as Jan Hus had previously spoken out against indulgences, part of Luther's success was down to an important development in the 16th century - the printing press. The printing press allowed Luther's Theses to be translated and widely distributed. In addition, Luther set about translating the Bible from Latin to German to make God's word more accessible.

John Calvin Biography

Calvin himself was born into a Catholic family and an ardent one at that. In fact, his father who worked for a bishop wished that John became a priest, so sent him to Paris to study. In the capital was when Calvin began to depart from his strict upbringing, first coming into contact with humanist ideals and eventually those of reformers before his twentieth birthday.

Fig. 2 - John Calvin

As the 1530s wore on, Calvin began to embrace Protestant notions with both hands. With the government of France becoming less and less tolerant of such ideals, he sought refuge in Basel, Switzerland, where he studied theology and managed to make sense of his beliefs. The culmination of this was his 1536 treatise 'Institutes of the Christian Religion', cementing his place as Luther's successor and the torch-bearer of Protestantism.

The Swiss were not very responsive to his writings initially, so he spent three years in Strasbourg (then part of Germany) before being invited to Geneva in 1541 to lead the Protestant Reformation. It was during the following years that he had his most influence until his death in 1564.

Initially written in Latin, 'Institutes' was subsequently translated into French and then English. It is widely considered to form the basis of the Reformed doctrine, but what were the ideas of Calvin?

John Calvins Beliefs

We must not fall into the trap of characterising Calvinism as the teachings of John Calvin. Of course, he is the main reference point for Calvinism, but many of his ideas have been hijacked and developed by other reformers. The main reference point for John Calvin's beliefs today can be traced to the Netherlands in 1618.

Fig. 3 - Opening of the Synod of Dort (1618)

A meeting, known as the Synod of Dort was held to tackle the new Reformed sect of Arminianism, which believed that human free will played a role in God's predestination. For the Calvinists at the Synod of Dort, this was a dangerous idea. It implied that God was not all powerful as they believed To refute this, the assembly summarised Calvinist thought with the following:

'TULIP' or the Five Points of Calvinism is a useful introduction to Calvinism, but it is vital to consider that it diverts from some of his original teachings. Limited atonement in particular is disputed as a true idea of John Calvin. Perhaps, the original ideas have changed over time, nevertheless, it acts as a starting point for many Calvinists today.

John Calvin Commentary

Alongside Calvin's 'Institutes', he once more wielded the pen to fantastic effect with his mission to create biblical commentaries. Beginning with the New Testament in 1540 and following up with the Old Testament in 1554, it was an effective strategy that helped the average believer to foster a scholarly understanding of the scripture.

In addition, it allowed Calvin to twist and mould the Word of God to his own means. Calvin's engagement with the Book of Romans, for instance, distances Jesus from God. Sangmire suggests that Calvin's intention is to show his followers that all members of humanity are 'clothed in Christ'.¹ If Christ is a metaphor for our pre-ordained destinies, it explains how he cannot escape his death on earth and, at the same time, how only believers will be granted salvation.

John Calvin and Predestination

An issue arising from the Synod of Dort is, through reducing the argument to the Five Points of Calvinism, historians can be tempted to forget that Calvin was one of many reformers who believed in predestination.

Indeed, Luther himself also engaged with the issue in that he stated that humans do not have free will. But Calvin tackles it one step further by arguing that sinners were those who were not chosen by God to enter heaven. For him, universal salvation only applies to the predestined, or chosen few. This suggests that God is unable to influence the entirety of humanity.

John Calvin Achievements

As you will already have gathered, John Calvin's influence on the Protestant faith is undeniable.

Let's now summarise these into a list of his main achievements.

Some of the followers of Calvin were so ardent, that they even crossed the Atlantic, hoping to spread their message to Brazil.

John Calvin Legacy

Calvin has been given some fairly poor treatment throughout the years from historians. He is often cast as an austere figure, a remover of the pomp and ceremony of religion; a hardline radical who sought to remove life's pleasures. McKee, paints a different picture, noting the multifaceted nature of the man, as we have already glimpsed from his accomplishments.

While this interpretation may seem a little overblown, we must not underestimate the value of Calvin, as a reference point for Protestantism, but also a political force in Geneva. This should be explored more by historians. In other words, separation of the life and deeds of Calvin the man from constructed notions of Calvinism, should be encouraged.