John Calvin Research Paper

Part # 3 OK

Today we continue with men who were involved in the reformation before,during and after Martin Luther.

http://andnowyouknowmore.blogspot.com

Today we look at John Calvin:

Born 10 July 1509 in Noyon, France, Jean Calvin was raised in a strong Roman Catholic family. The local bishop employed Calvin 's father as an administrator in the town 's cathedral. The father, wanted John to become a priest. The bishop and his noble family, John 's playmates and classmates in Noyon (and later in Paris) were aristocratic and culturally influential in his early life.

At the age of 14 Calvin went to Paris to study at the College de Marche in preparation for university study.

Near the end of 1523 Calvin transferred to the more famous

Calvin’s services were simple. The sermon was to be the most important part of the service. Calvin loved music, but thought it had no part in the worship, believing that it distracted people from their focus on God. Musical instruments were banned from churches, however congregational singing was permitted and this proved to be popular and an effective way of ‘spreading’ the message. Entertainments were expressly forbidden by their religion; and for more than two hundred years there was not a single musical instrument allowed in the city of Geneva.

Calvin begin to develop his theology on predestination. Calvinism has five essential tenets, or 'points. ' To explain this complex doctrine, theologians often make use of the acronym T.U.L.I.P., which stands for total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints.

Calvin also advised people to pray, saying men must worship, even though they may have no chance to be saved.

Calvinism was based around the absolute power and supremacy of God.

God who before the world began predestined some for eternal salvation (the Elect) while the others would suffer everlasting damnation (the

Calvinism teaches,

“We call predestination God’s eternal decree, by which He determined what He willed to become of each man. For all are not created in equal condition; rather, eternal life is ordained for some, eternal damnation for others.”

John Calvin was a prolific writer of theology. His most notable work was the Institutes of the Christian Religion, the first edition of which was published in 1536 in Latin when he was twenty-six years old. Calvin revised the Institutes several times. The first edition, intended to be a catechism for French Protestants, was a short work consisting of six chapters.

Very little is known about Calvin 's personal life in Geneva. His house and furniture were owned by the council. The house was big enough to accommodate his family as well as Antoine 's family and some servants. On 28 July 1542, Calvin 's wife Idelette gave birth to a son, Jacques, but he was born prematurely and survived only briefly. Idelette became ill in 1545 and died on 29 March 1549. Calvin never married again.

Calvin died on May 27, 1564, in Geneva, Switzerland. The place of his grave is unknown. Calvin is credited as the most important figure in the second generation of the Protestant Reformation.

My final note