John_Calvin

Kenny K. Eric K.

//"Faith consists, not in ignorance, but in knowledge, and that, not only of God, but also of the divine will."// // -John Calvin, Institutes of Christian Religion // [|(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/c/cf/20090212151421!Jean_Calvin.jpg])

John Calvin
**Time Line** 1509 - John Calvin is born in Noyon, France, on July 10. 1523 - Calvin goes to college in Paris at the College of Montaigu. 1528 - Calvin attends law school at Orleans. 1532 - Calvin self-publishes his commentary on Seneca's //On Clemecy//. 1534 - Calvin travels to his hometown, Noyon, and resigns his benefice. 1535 - Calvin completes the first edition of //Institutes of the Christian Religion// 1536 - The first edition of the Institutes is published, and Calvin moves to Geneva. 1537 - Calvin is appointed Reader in Holy Scripture by the city council and later a pastor in Geneva. 1538 - Calvin is forced to leave Geneva because of a conflict with the city council, and Calvin moves from Basel to Stasbourg to ministerto French refugees. 1540 - Calvin marries Idelette de Bure. 1559 - The final Latin edition of the //Institutes// is published. 1564 - Calvin dies.



John Calvin accomplished many feats during his lifetime. He is well known for the continuation of the Protestant Reformation after Martin Luther. During his conversion to Protestantism, Calvin met different people to discuss the idea of reform, such as Jacques Lefèvre d'étaples. The discussing of Protestantism influenced Calvin to write the //Institutes of the Christian Religion//, probably his most renown book. Once the first edition of his book was completed, Calvin moved to Geneva and became a pastor. Eventually his book was translated in latin and is still recognized today. ("Calvin, John." )
 * Accomplishments **

=//Protestant Reformation and Establishment of a Reformed Church //= After Martin Luther, John Calvin was the guiding force behind the Protesant Reformation. Calvin studied in Paris from 1521 to 1526, which introduced him to appeals to reform the church. Later, from about 1525 to 1530, Calvin's father wanted him to study law, but after his father died in 1531 he turned back to his love for theology as he now had his own choice. Calvin started to experience a Protestant conversion, which he states in the introduction to his book //Commentary on Pslams// written later in 1557. He states in his book that "Since I was more stubbornly addicted to the superstitions of the Papacy than to be easily drawn out of so deep a mire, God subdued my heart-too stubborn for my age-to docility by a sudden conversion." Calvin started to learn about religous issues in France especially Jacques Lefèvre d'étaples, a disciple of Luther, who tried to force Luther's views in Paris, but was eventually forced to leave Paris. After seeing the hopelessness of a reform in Paris he went to visit Lefèvre at Nerac to talk about views of Protestantism. The meeting eventually led to the writing of one of Calvin's most famous books, //Institutes of the Christian Religion.// The book was written as an introductory textbook on the Protestant faith. Apart from The Institutes, Calvin also wrote many other works, including commentaries on most of the Old and New Testament books. (Noll)

[|(http://flickr.com/photos/howieluvzus/146616190/)]

=//Calvin's Geneva //= In Geneva, Calvin drew up a Church Order, a set of rules for governing of the church. It was based upon the teaching of Scripture that Christ has ordained four offices in the church: pastors, teachers, elders, and deacons. Through this type of government, based on the Bible, Calvin was able to instruct and discipline the people spiritually. Calvin put great emphasis upon Christian education. He knew that the Reformation would only be effective as people knew and obeyed God's Word. He devised a catechetical system for the young which was carried all over Europe. Primary and elementary schools were set up to educate the people, so they could be better Christians. Calvin also established the Academy at Geneva, the first Protestant University, where thousands of young men were trained for the ministry of the Word. From these efforts, the gospel and Presbyterianism spread all over Europe. It was Calvin's theology and form of church government that triumphed in the Protestant Church of France, the Reformed Church of Germany, the Church of Scotland, the Reformed Church in Hungary, the Reformed Church in Holland and in Puritanism in Old and New England. (Davis 23)

  =Social, Politcal, and Economic Background =

("Calvin, John." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia) ||= Geneva's Little Council, the city's governing body, adopted articles for the reform of religion prepared by Calvin in January of 1537. ("Calvin, John." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia) ||= Many of John Calvin's ideas about Protestantism were ignored because in 1533 France was going through financial troubles. ( "JOHN CALVIN, THE MAKING OF THE REFORMER" History Reference Center) || ("John Calvin" Galenet) ||= Calvin's ideas led to reform of churches in Scotland around 1547. ("Calvin, John." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia//)// ||= In July 1536, France saw major economic problems while at war with the Roman Empire, such as the lack of money to rebuild destroyed towns. ("John Calvin" History Reference Center) || ("Calvin, John." World Book Online Reference Center) ||= By 1543, Calvin ruled Geneva almost like a dictator, and started making many economic decisions, such as the use of money to rebuild parts of the city. ("John Calvin" History Reference Center) || ("John Calvin" History Reference Center) ||= Not only did Calvin rebuild parts of Geneva, but back in France, Francis I spent money to rebuild one of France's most popular places, the Palace of Fontainebleau. ( "JOHN CALVIN, THE MAKING OF THE REFORMER" History Reference Center) || ("John Calvin" Galenet) ||= In 1541, Calvin took over the political power in Geneva and imposed strict moral codes, such as what people could wear and entertainment. ("John Calvin" History Reference Center) ||= In Switzerland around 1536, more land was being claimed, mainly south of Lake Geneva. ( "JOHN CALVIN, THE MAKING OF THE REFORMER" History Reference Center) ||  media type="custom" key="3230524"
 * = **Social** ||= **Political** ||= **Economic** ||
 * = Martin Luther publishes his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517.
 * = Protestant Christianity begins in 1521.
 * = Calvinism started making an impact on churches and society during the 16th century, which led many countries to feel a sense of Nationalism. ("Calvin, John." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia) ||= By 1546, many Protestants in Germany, Switzerland, and France were insisting that the people, not just kings and bishops, should use Calvin's idea in political policy making.
 * = On October 27, 1553, Servetus was burned alive for heresy because of his views against John Calvin. ("John Calvin" Galenet) ||= The City Council in Geneva banned Calvin in 1538, but his supporters gained political power and invited Calvin back.
 * = In 1545, the Council of Trent took place, which was a meeting with many priets to define church teachings.

media type="custom" key="3224270"

Quick Quiz Test your knowledge    Answers: (download and open with microsoft word)
 * 1) Calvin loved theology, yet during the first part of his life he studied law. Who or what was responsible for this?
 * 2) <span style="display: block; font-size: 130%; color: rgb(20, 0, 255); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">What was Calvin's first self-published work?
 * 3) <span style="display: block; font-size: 130%; color: rgb(20, 0, 255); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">Calvin mostly studied law, but turned back to his love of theology in 1531. What event led to his return to theology?
 * 4) <span style="display: block; font-size: 130%; color: rgb(20, 0, 255); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">Who first started the Protestant Reformation before Calvin took over?
 * 5) <span style="display: block; font-size: 130%; color: rgb(20, 0, 255); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">Name three accomplishments Calvin made in Geneva.
 * 6) <span style="display: block; font-size: 130%; color: rgb(20, 0, 255); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">When Calvin turned back to theology, what did he say he started to experience?
 * 7) <span style="display: block; font-size: 130%; color: rgb(20, 0, 255); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">Where did Calvin state this experience? (continued from question 6)
 * 8) <span style="display: block; font-size: 130%; color: rgb(20, 0, 255); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">What is Calvin’s most famous work?
 * 9) <span style="display: block; font-size: 130%; color: rgb(20, 0, 255); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">Name 3 out of the 6 countries that formed churches from Calvin’s influence.
 * 10) <span style="display: block; font-size: 130%; color: rgb(20, 0, 255); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">What was the name of the first Protestant university and where was it located?
 * 11) <span style="display: block; font-size: 130%; color: rgb(20, 0, 255); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">How are relations between the Catholic Church and mainstream Protestantism today?
 * 12) <span style="display: block; font-size: 130%; color: rgb(20, 0, 255); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">What does the group "CUIC", the Churches Uniting in Christ, represent?

//"We have been redeemed by Christ at so great a price... so... we should not enslave ourselves to the wicked desires of men much less be subject to their impiety."// -John Calvin, Institutes of Christian Religion

Badertscher, Eric. "Chapter Four: The Influence of the Protestant Reformation.." Protestant Reformation (Jan. 2009): 4-4. History Reference Center. EBSCO. [Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 23 Feb. 2009 http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=khh&AN=15322389&site=ehost-live.
 * __Works Cited__**

"Calvin, John." //World Book Online Reference Center//. 2009. World Book, Inc.5 Feb. 2009. http://www.worldbookonline.com/wba/article?id=ar088900.

Davis, Thomas J. Spiritual Leaders and Thinkers: John Calvin. 13 vols. Spiritual Leaders and Thinkers. Chicago: Chelsea, 2005.

"Institutes of the Christian Religion." Masterplots II: Christian Literature. 2008. Salem Press, Inc. EBSCO. 23 Feb. 2009. http://web.ebscohost.com/lrc/detail?vid=3&hid=12&sid=42454578-a69a-4e73-af0e-528ab733099f%40SRCSM2&bdata=JnNpdGU9bHJjLWxpdmU%3d#db=lfh&AN=MOL9830002045

"John Calvin.." (1509-1564)." //DISCovering Biography//. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. //Student Resource Center - Gold//. Gale. Upper Merion Area High School. 18 Feb. 2009 http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do? &contentSet=GSRC &type=retrieve &tabID=T001 &prodId=SRC-1 &docId=EJ2102100285 &source=gale &srcprod=SRCG &userGroupName=king46652 &version=1.0.

Lakeside Publishing Group, LLC. "John Calvin.." John Calvin (May 2006): 1. History Reference Center. EBSCO. Upper Merion Area High School. 18 Feb. 2009 http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=khh&AN=21488842&site=ehost-live.

Mullett, Michael. "JOHN CALVIN, THE MAKING OF THE REFORMER.. (cover story)." History Review (Mar. 2008): 6-11. History Reference Center__. EBSCO. Upper Merion Area High School. 18 Feb. 2009 http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=khh&AN=30032046&site=ehost-live.

Noll, Mark A. "Calvin, John." //Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia//. 2009. Grolier Online. 5 Feb. 2009 http://wf2dnvr8.webfeat.org/KEzUL1286/url=http://gme.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0049350-0.

**Works Cited- Pictures:** “John Calvin.” Wikimedia Commons. 12 July 2008. 20 Feb. 2009 <http://commons.wikimedia.org/‌wiki/‌John_Calvin>.

http://flickr.com/photos/howieluvzus/146616190/