Calvin the man
Meet John Calvin
John Calvin (1509–1564) is the father of the Reformed tradition, the theological tradition that gave birth to Presbyterianism. John Calvin was a French lawyer who became convinced that Luther’s protest against the Roman Catholic Church was right. In 1536, after fleeing Paris during a crackdown on Protestants, Calvin stopped overnight in Geneva. Guillaume Farel convinced him to lead the reformation of the church there, and except for a brief period in Strasbourg, Calvin spent the rest of his life there. Calvin is best known for The Institutes of the Christian Religion, his commentaries on the Bible, and the songbook of psalms that were used in worship. An English-speaking congregation soon sprang up in Geneva, attracting religious refugees from England and Scotland. John Knox — who would become the founder of the Church of Scotland — was shaped by Calvin in Geneva. It is from these English and Scottish churches that we get American Presbyterianism.
Calvin Myths
There are several myths that have grown up about John Calvin. The following list highlights just a few.
His name was John Calvin
The doctor of Geneva was never called John. He was born Jean Cauvin, a Frenchman from Noyon. He was classically educated and wrote in the learned language of the day, Latin. The practice of the time was to use a Latinate form for the author’s name, so his Latin works were attributed to Johannes Calvinus. When these Latin works were then translated into English, the Latin name was Anglicized, leaving us with John Calvin.
He was a minister
Although Calvin was elected to the office of pastor in Geneva, he was actually never ordained as a minister. The black robes that Presbyterian ministers often wear are modeled after Calvin’s robe. But when Calvin ascended to the pulpit in the Cathedral de St. Pierre in Geneva in his black robe he looked like a … lawyer. The black gown he wore was the academic gown worn by those who had graduated from the law faculty. This academic robe signified the pastor as a teacher.
He was a theologian
Calvin was, of course, one of the great theological thinkers in the history of the church. He wrote The Institutes, many commentaries, many treatises and many sermons. But today when we think of a theologian we usually think of a professional academic who teaches and writes. Calvin not only preached weekly, he also participated weekly in pastoral care and discipline.
He was a Presbyterian
Embedded in Calvin’s work was an articulation of church officers and especially of the role of elders. Nonetheless, the Presbyterian form of church government more properly is attributed to Calvin’s followers in England and in Scotland.
