DEFINITIONS OF CALVINISM “The channel in which the Reformation moved so far ax 4 ws nether Lutheran nor Anaboptist nor Sociion” — A. Kugper The “inreducible ond distinctive system of trath embodied in the Reformed stonderde” — J. H. Gorsner The “tesching of Calin in Gi widest scope” — A. Ut Hater “mode of religious thinking” — J. Vander Kroct “Pheism come to its rights, religion at the Bight of its conception, and svongeicaiom in ie purest and most sible eaprasion? — B. Be Warfald, “an embodiment of Biblical Christianity ot evidenced in 4 family of confecions triton inthe light of the exegetical ‘orings of Tole Calin, Jomily of dovominatonstwhich are fin general controlled. by lagmen or presbyterian govern- ent, [ond]. way of Bile charactovized by 0 strong sense of (hat and a high degree of ethieslitonce,encourged Wadi onlly by ecclesatical oorsight ond discipline” — E. Stritwerda “dm ll comprehensive sytem of thought ... hich has come down to us from John Cavin.» fond] © chew of We (nd of the universe as @ whole” — HH. Medter “He who buicee in God without reserve, and is determined thot God shall be. God to him, ell his thinking, fling, ‘wing — in the entne compare of his fe actos — fee lech, more, spiral throwghout all hie odio, ‘oca reiious relations — ig by the force of the siriiest ofall lagie which presides oer the outwortng of principles {uo thought and lf, by the very necessity of the case, Cotvinit®” —— B. B. Warfeld “A. form of religion and. Church polity [at] ie char= cctrced not only By 0 theology But also By sngalar com Cention of moral je end cil conduct” — P. Chimineli Sols H Brot PP 4AS 1 THE LIFE AND WORK OF JOHN CALVIN Te was a generation after Luther and Zwingl that John Cal vin appearal-upon the historical scene’ He was orn on “aly 10, Lato, i the province of Piardy fo France. His ‘Nehplace was= cathedral tows, Noyon, located some 58 files northeast of Paris, which, bing an eclestastical center, held some obviows advantages for young aspiring scholars healed for service in the church. Gerard Calen, the father Of John, vas anibitious, indastions, and somewhat, mat nie By dint of Hard wore e had ralsed himself above the fisherman and cooperage trade level of his ancestry © & multiple “white coll” job, He acquired the postions of ‘Garetary to the Bishop Of Noyon, soary to the chapter of the cathedral, registrar to the eity goveroment, slictor in the ecclesiastical court, and fiscal agent of the county. ir ‘rile, born Jeanne Le’ rane, was reputedly of the bility ind datingusted by piety and beaty. John, the second of five sons born to Gerard and Jeanne Calvin, profted but Ile frm her materal nurture, since she suflered an unr timeiy death. "John Calvin received his elementary education jn the School of the Capetes a private boarding schoo! located near Noyon, lee, as well tein later rivers years hs closest frends And companions were boys ofthe nobly, sons ofthe Manges family, and from then be acquired cultural habits and vocal Fefinetents which gave him 28 aitoratie bearing and frame ‘of mind, and which distinguished him from the more uncouth Sd ough Lather. At dhe age of 14 he matriculated atthe Universty of Paris)in the school of thology. Paris, a rival ‘OF He more conservative University of the Sorbonne, was Sleeady inltrated at this ne by “Uberalism” in the formof Lutheran (Lasers writings had been extensively cir Cute and a sal coterie of Prottat synpatiers Called Fatlns under the ledership ofthe Pre-Reormer Le Pert, oasis existence) and by ‘desis wih iy rene of inert inthe eases rather an in cemented ‘nas, and nan st ean rater than in man as an objet of sal tation Here he adied to hi cre of inmates Nichols td Gailre Cop, sons of a instream he medical sa, ‘tho leaned song towards Reformation texas sad Aistne relative, Pierre Robert Olan competent Hebrew Scho, who was istamental im lad Joh Calvino 5 direst sady of the socal Scrpewes “He rested at the home of one del Forge, 2 west and devout Lutheran rmercant who disibted its aang te poor and inverted relgioo tats inthe packages provided & haven for pe Secsted elope tom the Netherinds, and eventually aid with bis efor ht Reloation comvcionn Caves most ilu peofasors daring his free stay at Pais inl She lngutCorder® who. developed hi syle of rt taugit him ecive baba of ody, and dioeinaed Ree formation ideas, and the'plloopee John. Major, = iter ke of the Reformation inverts who soaited Calin with the views of Hse, Wyeife, ad Lethe as he assed ther techings. Te 1528 Calvin was ard the A.D. degree and tran feted the sane of hie sis tthe University of Orlane wp repaced thology as his major ld of interest and “appeared as though Ie vas leaded for the tribunal rather {han the cathedral, The reaton for thie shit of vocational objective was apparently deal one His fuer stared in Jn thr ditection, sp Besa maintains, since wealth and honor ‘were-more realy procurable ia law than in thelogy, and Yyousg Calvin himself, somentnt dilioned by this tne 45 he analyzed current Roman Catholic practices In the light ofthe Serperes, was not averse to it At Orleans he stadied in tt = mew me Wl ete 5 Genera te on and do eat the under Piere LBtoile, prominent ese lawyer and logician ww -gave serapulous"eootera to deta, and snder Melcor Wotmar,' profisient Greek scholar with defite Reformation Testings. Calvin shared lodgings with, Wolmar snd under his tutelage read the New Testament Scriptures thoroughly Tn 1829 Wolnar reedvel and acepted a teaching 2ppoini- ment atthe University of Bourges, a since that nstution fad on ils law aff faous Taian jorut, Andrea Ali, Gavin decided to: pursue his law stuite there. In 20 doing he was leaving the instruction of @ lawyer who sented the which all ofthe iaaitants of Geneva Were t pledge thet allegiance “The path of the Reformers was not strewn sudtion to counteracting charges of Arianism pressed, by {Carl fellow Protestant who later on returved to the Ro- ‘man Catholic commurion, and opposition fed by two invading Dastch Anaboptists Calvin and Face! fad to cope with else tant cv authorities, For although the rling councls had aiven formal appeoval to the Artces of 1537, they held ce {Btn tesreations “They tefced to eelingish the right of e& ammunition and they bested to dersand of all Geneva Inhabitants compulsory subscription to the Confession. The ‘nd tension grew mactelly when the Arschawls, 8 hostile Polite party, oon control of the ity. Tt came & a mae ‘when the government, without eonsuting with the Iitisters proceeded to introduce Bernese ceremonies the use Peal font the use of unleavened bread in the Supper, observance of special days, and the Ske — ‘handoned in many other Protestant chores) and [ened pom open comsnonio..Calvi, Fate, and ther ind ssscite Cora refused to anquiese in what appeared to them to be aa eneroachnent upon the authority of di ugch and a profaation of the sacraments, and on April 13, 538, Shey were commanded to leave the chy within three TFarel returned to. Neachatel to res hie pastorate there, Corauld wert 9. Lausinne, where he pases amy shortly, and Calvin found rege in Basel The fst say it Geneva was 2 matter of history ‘Once again Calvin faced a crisis in his ercer. He saw fn Shvel an excelent retreat in which to porse his scholarly 15. Quoted by Medel ot,» 192 ways, But God intervened once agin. There came 1 Cal- vin the urgeat cll to seve the Frenevrefugee chore = Strassburg. Calvin demurred. and predes to De cxewsel, ereupon Bucer falowed the tavce of Farel in 1835, smn ‘pared hint Wily Jonah the prophet, and threatened hin that ithe went nto “eluson “Ged will know bow to find the febelious servant" The adjuraion bad the desired fet, find in Septerber of 18 he atsumed the pastorate at Stash ere. ‘Tue Tvvmszuse ar Sraassoure (15381541) ‘The Reformation had come to Strassbarg in southwest Germany as early 4s 1528 trough the eflors of the pioneer Diebold Sehware, and i had Gourshed foom the outt Buse? and Capito were mainly responsibe for ite promotion and of- ganitaton. The movenent hal de backing of the statesman Jakob Sturm, who hed the post of mayor of the ty for imany years. "tts educational program hal boon developed by the ecamenially minded pedagogue John Sturm whose gym nas, wheze he sought to “form ma who ar pou, eathes, 4nd capable of expreaung themaver wel," was t0 sve 8S ‘model for the Academy to be st up a few years Inter at Geneva, Tn his three year Strasburg minigey Calvin served a5 professor of theology im the Strassburg gymnasun, lecturing fn the Holy Scripores and helping to train candidates for the ministry; a author, writing bie Commentary onthe Romans his apologetic pice emiled Reply to Sodolee, a cardinal~who urged Geneva to return to the Roman Catholic fold, his Lite Treatise on the Holy Supper of our Lord, and his enlarged tition of the Inatintes of the Christian Religion; a. eca- rmeniist, attending” coaterences with Lutherans and Roman CCtholies at Frankfort in 1539, at Hayanaa and Worms ia 1310, and at Regensburg in 1541; and as pastor, leading the five hundred members of the French refugee church, Te was inthis latter capacity that he was able to pat into prac his “deals with respect to pastoral counseling, church discipline, ta i,20 aun mise asp aevezon “dose” commmaion administered monthly, congregational singing, family visitng, and church lturgy. ile form of wor tip, of whkh the main source was Buce’s tury, included invocation, prayer of confesion, declaration” of sbolution, finging of the Detalogus, prayer of petition, thenkegiving and Eonseration, exposition of the Wort, rectation of the Apos tle Creed, and. heneiction, These elements ave become, the patter forthe trgy of the Reformed churches Tt wae in thi lesan Sasa irae. tat Calin nail Tlette de Bure, widow ofa convere fom Anabaptise. With her Calin spent ight Boppy year, and ber death in 1549 ‘uced him profound rie "As early as Febrany of 1540, litle more than a year ater his dismistal, the recall of Calvin to Geneva was broached and discussed by the city fathers. Maire had gone Dadly ser his departure. Anarchy and immorality were rife. The our ministers upon whom devolved the leadership proved 10 bbe unble to cope with the station, Furthermore, the Gail Termine, the poltical party that favored Calvin and Fare, wat ‘ithe ascenfancy. Calvin's reptaion tad riten perceptibly ska with his magniscent Rely to Sadoleto called “the mont brine popular defense of the Protestant case tha had ye appeared or thatthe Reformation wae to produce" That i ‘ab that on September 2, 1540, the Lite Council voted his Teel, On October 19 and 20 of tht year the Council of ‘Two Hundred and the General Ascembly verfed i Dept tations and communiations were sent t0 him urging him '0 fetutn, Calvin had come to the Sth crisis in his Protestant Garece. He enjoyed Ie at Strassburg and his ministry there was highly appreciated. And he wat deaf to their pleas at Brat, Geneva held no atraction for hin, He told Viret that it would be preferable 10 go 0 the gallows or languish in a (dungeon, and adoted, "Shere f-no-plee woder heaven tht Iam mote afnidof rel resorted once move to ime ‘ation and edjuration, Fialy, inplled by a rene of deep blgatin, Calvin responded afrmativey in those words im ‘edded in the Calvin seal, “When I consider that 1 am. net 1 Wate, of ip. 22 19, osteo wilop ts wk in my own power, I offer my heart slain. vies for a sa. ‘ie to the Lord”® On September 13, 1841, he returned fo Genera and was welctened with an ovation feo the cl ineny, Secon Gaxevass Masistay (1541-1564) Calvin returned to Geneva with cetsin welldeied aims and objectives Hie eovisoned 8 model Civian comsy ised on the Bile and paterost ater the early church right have been sed a ibiscracy since the ite was toe Asteminative for both Chorch and Sate. The. Church, car {arable the aoa man, was by oatere spinal ahd ere Sitvonous io spr afaira snd designed to eve a mete tor and cnseene ofthe State. The Sis cepa to the tedy of man, was transitory by ature, atonemoss in tee ‘ora afas an designed to “fer and ais the external sah of Gof ded sod dorian and cinton OF the Church, to afape our condvct to hun rocey, {oem our manners fo cit josie, to conliste wr fo each other, to cherish eon peace and tranquility. Tie ebject ot mercy. to enable men & breaths ct, dine, and be warmed But that no idolatry. 96 ‘lpheny aginst the mane of Gad, 0 tales aga Bs teh or oir oflenes to regio, tree ext and be ds ‘ited anon the people; tat the pul quit be nt di tered, that every man's property. be kept secure, est men rmay arty on ingoent commerce nth each oer, st bores nd modesty be eatvated; in shot tht-a public form of Feligion may exist among Christians, and humanity: among (On the day of his return Calvin proposed tothe Tite Coun aia recositon ofthe Chor ada crmite of sx was Sppcnted to astit him in formulating the proposals. ‘The do iment they framed war called Ondonnonces Eelsatigus. Ie'was modfed by both the Litte Counc and the Covme of Two Hunde, and ivaled vere smpromios at Cavin had to make On November 20, 1541, it was adopted by the General Assembly. "The Ordowmances, on the basis ofthe institaton of Christ 23 efeted in the peimiive church, provide for four cases of church ofere: Pastore (calle the Venerable Company), ‘who were to preach the Word, administer the sacraments, ad ‘nish the dlsordey, participate in the examination of min- Inerial candidates, cuerciue dicpine with the eet, and sect weekly for session of Biblal teachings; Teachers, ‘who were 10 iastrict in the Word and lecture in theology and) Jn the Mera arts; Elders, who were fo exercise surveillance ‘over the doctrine and conduct of the church, admonish the ving, rule the church and exercise discipline: and the Des- fons, who were to manage the fonds and istdbute to the needy. Liturgical rections regarding the aéminsration of apts and the Lard’: Sopper, conducting fenerals and vist ing the sick were alto included. The main parposes of the Ontonnonces were "to give a mvasure of Slf-goversment else ‘where unlencnm is rotertat lands 16 the Church, while mait- Gaining Pelpul relations to the State: and to put into opera: ion ai eflcive dsipline wherety the Church might fal ‘that which Cavin regarded a8 its most urgent duty, the it~ tition of ite rachis int and their maimeranee i, ght ‘ociine and right fring?" MeNeil sates hat his Kistori document may july rank as one of the most important of feclesaseal consttuons, sine in it the principles of Inter Reformed Church poles found casseal expression.” Since the fest fourien years of Calvin's second Genevan ‘ministry were eather stormy and were marked by extensive Controversy, it i easton to divide hie werk ino the Pere ‘of of Strogele and Confit, and the Period of Tviumph, ‘Peamoo of Sravocix AND Conrice (1541-1555) ‘The conBicts and tensions of tis peviod stemmed from var ious sources. Opposition to Calin and his reformatory measures was indaed by varitd, offen interrelated reasons, 2 Wakes, of i 9 26 Bop iW ‘we cine Axa work OF ont cates = ‘There were those in Geneva who had been instrament in is isms in 1538 and who did ot favor his real in 1541, sd they joined with others in thei disfeton. The city ‘council, lthough backing Calvin in the rain, were reticent bout relinquishing the night of exercising discipline and the prerogative of excommansaton. Tn addition, there were sn- ‘are theclogieal ferences that precipitated cont. ‘Speaking. geval, the major group opposed to Calvin ‘and his program ne the Libertines” Some of them ware d= seendants of the oldest and most distinguished famslies of Genera, who hd ised the Relomation to achieve indepen lence bl who ha ite love forthe Reformation doctrines and ‘who resented the influx of forcigners as well as te face that the rena of goverment ad fallen isto the lands of 2 French ‘ran. Othert of them had a teslogial bass for ther re- stance to he cepressive disciplinary meaceres, They were aminomisn, and “under the pretext of the freedom of Spr they vacated the unbridled cence of the Aesh°™ Stil ‘thers of then hated ander retraite and resunted any en- Croachusent upon thelr pereoal freedom and porsut of peas re. Many ofthe probiitive rules and laws had been on the fate Boks long before Calvin's coming, but they fad fallen fino desoetade and Geneva had aquired the dubious dis tinction of beng wild and Heetious iy. ‘Cases of discpne involved some clested lenders as well as menbers of the cin’ mom digtngsished familie. Among those involved. were: Piers Ameaux, Captain general of the ‘Sy and manalaetrer of playing cards, who cried Calvin Siiterly when the card. manufacturing’ beines deteriorated snd when Calvin hesitated to sanction Ameavr’s divorce frm his pandering wife; Ami. Perso, former member of the Lite Council and tharter member ofthe socially elt whose wile was imprisoned for dancing at a wedding and who there- Spon defiantly denounced and heaped abuse upon Calvin: Jean Favre, who mae spore ofthe hey queson inthe mar age form; Bevteler, son of the martyred patriot who Felped win freedom from Savoy in 1519, who demanded the Privlege of communion despite his notoriously immoral lie; 25 Seka ob ie 8 A.eS and Jacques Gruet, who was gully of overt ireigion and basphemy. Hlereticl opponents inladed Sebastien Costello, Jerome Bolsee and Michel Servetus. A ministerial aspiran, Cas telio was approved by the Lite Courll but rejected by Cal ‘in and his colleagues beeause he regarded the Song of Selo ‘mon a6 an aninspred, obscene piece and disagreed with the racitional Relormed interpretation of the anata the ereed, "He desended Tato hel” Caste became embittered, de- nounced Calvin and other inisters, and wrote a. work, Whether Heretics Ought to Be Punished, which elevated im to the rank of "the most distinguished sistenth century ex ponent of religous toerations"® Boles, former moe, eam Detent physician with deep. theological interests, maintained tat the dectrise of pradsintion taught by Calvin (thereby jeopardising. Calvin's repstation as. Bible interpreter) made God an arbitrary tyrant. Alter various debates on the sabe ject Bolsee was banished and the Council gave Calvin 3 vote (Of confidence. The celebyated Serves, Nrewise = physician with specaltive gis and a resource mid. repudiated the Aectsine of the Trniy. Having come a marked man ov the ‘continent, he was apprehended. in Geneva and executed there, ain wit par on is ips. “Jeu, Seno he Exeral ir have mercy on me.” ‘Toe Pentco oF Taner (1955-1568) Fon 1555 on He io Geneva for Cavin took on & mich ‘more ples and agrees hue. The Litertine movement 1d cotaped, with fs ceharde mating ter headgear a Berne the ers had ether heen converte, nthe or ex ested; the cosintory bad scqeired more sotnomy i opt {al are; the edethip had nen rondene? in tha f now Heo'incloded members Of the Cowell of Two Hundred; and be ent was ing Calvin witht reseraon the Sinpot he coveted fecal. Another conibting factor {ov Calsin's augmented popaaiy wae te Inde of Flinn Tefagers (hetwers 1519 and 58D sme S017 were given te ‘enc nth cy), any of whom were adit fo eizeship 26 Medel of ly 9105 ce op. 167. i tavt AND won oF oH cxLer = privileges, By 1558 they were also made eligible for the of- fee of the magistescy. ‘One of the ose notshle achievements of this final period atthe extabishment in 1559 ofthe Academy of Geneva, with the expert Gres scholar and tnche"Bera ag the fet Rocce. When ie opened its doors on. March 5, 1859. there. were 12 students enoled, By 1568 the student ody numbered TeO0. There was a cosmopolitan cast fo the stodent body and (hia seminary of Relormed Protsantsm and the entire city fs 8 model Christan Commonwealth war termed by John ox "the most perfect seheot of Christ that ever was the tath since the days ofthe Aposties”™" The Academy ent ‘alned leaders to the conte and to the Bridsh Iles, all ‘of them ined with Calvinia teuching In adétion to his ordinary Isbors of preaching on Sunday. and every other day ofthe woe, presiding over the conistory nd expounding Scripture to the Venerable Company, Cavin Tectured on theology in the Academy, his Corunentaries being Te fruits of seh endeavor: aranged and atended collogues With fellow Protestants, Sally uniting with Bullinger and the Zoingians in the Consensus of Zurich; and continued his viting. His idence was voluminous and Ms Tn Thier underwent farther revision in sicrestve edione. of Which "the apologetic purpose” gradually rece and. the Ihstrueiobal purpose became dominant" His service tothe ‘sty ar Christian cits ineladed: sermons on cizeship prior to the city letons; promotion of sanitation measures Fas, or example, te iapecton of food): agitation fora hos Pil and poorhovse: and encouragement of @ clo and sie Industry which brought prosperity t0 the ty of Genera, AG ter eotsiderble sffering and afer s touching farewell with the ety fathers be passed away on May 27,1964, his depart. tre bong deeply moursed by all of Protestantism. ERE Bi ihe ira Setter,