Portrait of a Protestant: Calvin

Christ Alone – John Calvin (1509-1564)
Guest Blogger: Rowena Miers

Jesus Christ is undisputedly one of the most widely known and controversial figures of human history. Even today there are t-shirts made that brand him as “my homeboy”, he is featured in classical and modern art, and his name is even used the world over as a swear word. Despite Jesus being a world wide figure of intense public interest and scrutiny, there are many in the Christian church today who do not consider the bible truths about Jesus as being central to Christian belief. John Calvin a 16th century Swiss reformation theologian and pastor is one whose life and ministry contended for the centrality of Jesus Christ to Christian belief and worship.

John Calvin was born on July 10, 1509, in Noyon, France. Having initially studied law, during his later studies of theology in France he came into contact with the message of the Reformation, and by 1533 had converted to the Protestant faith. For Calvin, the need for the Reformation rested with failure of the Catholic Church to focus on the centrality of the glory of Christ. This was seen in many practices of the church including: “calling upon the saints to intercede, when Jesus Christ is the one mediator between God and man; by adoring the Blessed Virgin, when Christ alone shall be adored; by offering a continual sacrifice in the Mass, when the sacrifice of Christ upon the Cross is complete and sufficient; and by elevating tradition to the level of Scripture and even making the word of Christ dependent for its authority on the word of man”. For Calvin, while God’s glory was a special attribute revealed everywhere in the world, it was most fully displayed in the demonstration of God’s love through Christ’s death on the cross.

Following persecution of Protestants in France, Calvin escaped to Basel in Switzerland, where between 1534 and 1536 he devoted himself to the study of Hebrew and the penning of the first edition of his famous work known as the “Institutes of the Christian Religion”. Upon stopping in Geneva for a night in 1536 whilst on route to Strasbourg, William Farel a leader of the reformation movement found out Calvin was in the city and sought to convince him to stay and work in Geneva. Succumbing to this request Calvin took up his responsibilities in Geneva first as a professor of scripture, and then as the Pastor of St. Peter’s church in Geneva.

Whilst the church in Geneva would later come to be known for its orderliness and morality, upon arriving in Geneva Calvin was astonished at the immorality both within the church and within Genevan society. Following difficulties with the City Council Farel and Calvin were banished in April 1538 with Calvin proceeding onto Strasbourg to teach and pastor to the 500 French protestant refugees in that city and to continue his writing. Also importantly during his three years in Strasbourg Calvin met and married his wife, Idelette Stordeur a protestant widow who brought a son and daughter with her into Calvin’s home.

Following further instability in the church in Geneva the City Council rescinded the ban on Calvin and asked him to return to his responsibilities which he did in September 1541. Following the loss of three children further children at or soon after birth, Idelette died of what was probably tuberculosis in 1549. Calvin lived for another 15 years working far beyond what his health could stand with his weekly responsibilities varying from lecturing in theology, visiting the sick, private and counsel, and weekly preaching.

Without a doubt the focus of Calvin’s teaching and ministry was the belief that God has revealed himself fully in Christ and that we must turn to no other source than the gospel for our knowledge of him.