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“We are not to reflect on the wickedness of men
but to look to the image of God in them, an image which, covering and
obliterating their faults, an image which, by its beauty and dignity, should
allure us to love and embrace them.”
― John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian
Religion, 2 Vols
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“We are not to reflect on the wickedness of men but to look to the image of God in them, an image which, covering and obliterating their faults, an image which, by its beauty and dignity, should allure us to love and embrace them.”― John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2 Vols
John Calvin (/ˈkælvɪn/; French:
Jean Calvin, pronounced: [Ê’É‘̃ kalvÉ›̃]; born Jehan Cauvin:
10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564) was an influential French theologian and
pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal
figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism,
aspects of which include the doctrine of predestination
and the absolute
sovereignty of God in salvation of the human soul from death and eternal
damnation. In these areas Calvin was influenced by the Augustinian tradition. Various Congregational, Reformed
and Presbyterian
churches, which look to Calvin as the chief expositor of their beliefs, have
spread throughout the world.
Calvin was a tireless polemic and apologetic writer who generated much
controversy. He also exchanged cordial and supportive letters with many
reformers, including Philipp Melanchthon and Heinrich Bullinger. In addition to his seminal
work Institutes of the Christian Religion,
he wrote commentaries on most books of the Bible, as well as theological
treatises and confessional documents.
Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman
Catholic Church around 1530. After religious tensions provoked a violent
uprising against Protestantism in France, Calvin fled to Basel, Switzerland,
where he published the first edition of the Institutes in 1536. In that
year, Calvin was recruited by another Frenchman William
Farel to help reform the church in Geneva, where he
regularly preached sermons throughout the week. The city council resisted the
implementation of Calvin's and Farel's ideas, and both men were expelled. At
the invitation of Martin Bucer, Calvin proceeded to Strasbourg,
where he became the minister of a church of French refugees. He continued to
support the reform movement in Geneva, and was eventually invited back to lead
its church in 1541.
Following his return, Calvin introduced new
forms of church government and liturgy,
despite opposition from several powerful families in the city who tried to curb
his authority. During this period, Michael
Servetus, a Spaniard regarded by both 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 to
the city council, Calvin's opponents were forced out. Calvin spent his final
years promoting the Reformation both in Geneva and throughout Europe.
