You may be in conversation with another person. As you are talking you tell them you are a Christian. In response they will prob­ably ask, ‘What church do you go to?’ You say, ‘The Reformed church.’ They respond with a blank and puzzled look and ask. ‘What’s that?!’ You explain that it comes from the time of the Reformation in the sixteenth century when Martin Luther initi­ated a break away from the Roman Catholic church. You mention Luther because you hope (sometimes in vain!) they may have heard of him. (Sometimes they assume you mean Martin Luther King and you have to correct them!)

It is true that the Reformation began with Martin Luther? On the 31^st of Octo­ber 1517 he attached his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg. He was a professor of the Bible in the University of that town and he raised objections to the sale of indulgences. God used him to light a fire of reform that would spread rapidly throughout Europe. In the providence of God Luther was the right man at the right time – a man of action, suited by temperament and character to lead the charge of the Reformation.

God also raised up other men to follow hard behind. They added their speech and writing in support of this movement. One of these men was John Calvin. He was 25 years younger than Luther and was only 8 years old when the Reformation began. He was a second-generation reformer. He built on the foundation laid by Luther and Zwingli. ‘They cut the stones in the quarries, he polished them in the workshop. They produced the new ideas, he constructed them into a system.’¹ Luther planted, Calvin watered, God gave the increase.

Calvin’s life was less dramatic than Luther’s but he left the church in better condition. He was a thinker and organizer with a strong intellect and a consistent character. Even today, through his writings, he continues to exert a strong influence on Protestant churches.²

His Early Years⤒🔗

Calvin was born on July 10^th 1509 in Noyon, France.³ He died on 27^th May 1564, and so lived for 54 years. Unlike Luther who was born in a peasant family, Calvin was born into an upper class family in French society. His father was a highly esteemed notary, was a solicitor to the bishop, and the financial administrator to the Noyon clergy. Through Calvin’s upbringing and the social connections of his family he gained the manners, knowledge and bearing that enabled him to move in high society and feel at home there with kings, queens and princes.

He was the middle of three surviving sons of his parents. His father planned that he should be a priest. In 1521 at the age of 12 he was sent to the University of Paris, the most famous educational institution in Europe. There he studied Latin gram­mar for one year under Mathurin Cordier, the best Latinist in France, then entered the arts program and in 1526 gained the equivalent of our MA degree. He was only 16 or 17 years old: the university would have had to make an exception for him as the regulations required a person to be at least 21.

His father then changed his mind and wanted his son to become a lawyer, so Calvin transferred to the University of Or­leans to study law. Within a year he had proved so capable that he was employed to teach the classes when the professors were away sick! He gained a Doctorate in Law in 1532 around the age of 23.

He was ‘a brilliant young scholar, pos­sessed of one of the most thoroughly trained legal minds of his time, taught by the best authorities in all Europe...’⁴ God used all this learning to prepare him for the outstanding contribution he would make to the Reformation.

His Conversion←⤒🔗

Calvin was converted in the latter half of 1532. Many in Europe were discussing and debating the teachings of Luther who, by this time, had been writing for 15 years. During his study of law Calvin studied Greek with Melchior Wolmar, who was sympathetic to Lutheran theology and who supplied Calvin with some of Luther’s books. He was also influenced by his cousin Pierre Robert Olivetan. (His last name was a nickname meaning ‘midnight oil,’ given by his friends because of his late night study habits!) Pierre was a Lutheran and between 1532-35 translated the Bible into French. Reymond writes that he ‘may well have been the primary human instrument used by God in bringing about his conversion.’ ⁵

Calvin himself said very little about his conversion. (Maybe our Reformed reticence about testimonies stems from him!) He wrote that while he was busy with his study of law,

God, by the secret guidance of his providence, at length gave a different direction to my course ... God by a sudden conversion subdued and brought my mind to a teachable frame ... Having thus received some taste and knowledge of true godli­ness, I was immediately inflamed with so intense a desire to make progress therein, that although I did not altogether leave off other studies, I yet pursued them with less ardour.⁶

On the Run←⤒🔗

Immediately he threw in his lot with the Reformation Cause. He joined the secret meetings of the French Protestants and, although new in the Protestant faith, was often called on to teach them the Bible.

Without any intention or effort on his part, Calvin became the head of the evangelical party in less than a year after his conver­sion. Seekers of the truth came to him from all directions ... Every quiet retreat was turned into a school.⁷

In 1533 he had to flee from Paris. Tradition has it that he went out through a back window and left Paris dressed as a vinedresser with a hoe over his shoulder. The police entered his rooms, searched them, and seized all his books and papers. The outbreak of persecution in France in October 1534 prompted him to leave his country.

Calvin in Geneva←⤒🔗

After leaving France he began a journey to Basel or Strassburg, where he intended to settle down for the quiet life of a scholar and author. On the way he passed through Geneva and intended to stop only for the night. The Lord, however, had other plans. Calvin arrived in Geneva in July 1536, only two months after the Reformation had been publicly introduced. One of the main leaders of the Reformation in Geneva was a missionary and fearless evangelist named William Farel. He was enthusiastic and had a great zeal for the gospel, but was no organizer. When he heard that Calvin was in town he saw him as the man who could complete the Reformation in Geneva. He went to visit him and asked him to stay and help. Calvin protested saying that he was young, inexperienced and timid and so was not suited for such a public role; furthermore he needed time for further study. Farel refused to accept these excuses and threatened him with these famous words; ‘I declare to you in the name of the Almighty God – to you who only put forth your studies as a pretence – that if you will not help us to carry on this work of God, the curse of God will rest upon you, for you will be seeking your own honour rather than that of Christ.’ Calvin was terrified and shaken by Farel’s speech and felt ‘as if God from on high had stretched out his hand.’ As a result he accepted the call to be the pastor and teacher of the evangelical church in the city. This was not his preference (he wanted to be a scholar and author); he accepted this as God’s call and his duty.

Farel was twenty years Calvin’s senior, but he recognized Calvin’s superior intel­lectual ability and, with a rare humility, al­lowed Calvin to take the lead in theological matters. He had begun the Reformation but Calvin took it further; he decreased so Calvin could increase. For his part Calvin always treated Farel with kindness, respect and gratitude. There was not a shadow of envy or jealousy between them – a good lesson for us in our relations with each other in our churches.

Expelled from Geneva (1538)←⤒🔗

The Reformation was very new in Geneva. Many did not agree with the new doctrines, including some of the most influential peo­ple in the republic. The council passed laws they could not enforce and this weakened their authority. Two groups, the Patriots and the Libertines, had welcomed the Reforma­tion because they wanted political independ­ence from Savoy and the bishop, but they did not want to submit to the doctrines or commands of the reformers. Farel, in his zeal, had abolished baptismal fonts and the use of unleavened bread in the Lord’s Supper, as well as all holidays except Sunday. Despite opposition he refused to budge on these matters. Hostility to the preachers grew and those who resisted these changes organised themselves into political parties. All this prompted conflict between the city council and the preachers and in April 1538 the council of 200 deposed Farel and Calvin and ordered them to leave the city within three days. Calvin left and went to Strassburg and was warmly welcomed there by Martin Bucer.

Calvin Called Back (1541)←⤒🔗

After the reformers left, life in the city declined. The churches had lost their best preachers and pastoral care was neglected. All the old sins re-appeared in the town, there were riots in the streets, the government could not maintain order, and education went backwards. Those sympathetic to the Reformers continued their support of the Reformation cause and kept up correspondence with Calvin and the others. By 1539 Calvin’s friends, the Council and the people were convinced that they needed to have him back to save the city from anarchy.

Calvin was very happy in Strassburg. But letters arrived from Geneva requesting that he return. These were supported by a number of personal delegates who came to press him to come back. He was reluctant to do so because he knew the great difficul­ties in the city and did not feel up to the task. Yet eventually, prompted by a sense of duty, he agreed to return. He was only 32 years old.

I did this with sadness, tears and great anxiety and distress of mind...’ He wrote to Farel; ‘When I remember that in this matter I am not my own master, I present my heart as a sacrifice and offer it up to the Lord.⁸

Calvin in Geneva←⤒🔗

After Calvin’s return in 1541 he showed Christian forbearance to his former enemies and patience with the weakness of his col­leagues. He pursued a wise and conciliatory course of action. Together with the other pastors he began to reorganize the church, introduced an order of worship and wrote up a church order. He sought to introduce a system of church discipline, although this was fiercely opposed by his enemies. Sometimes his life was threatened. Yet he persevered with reform for ten years, from 1545 to 1555, and the city changed and prospered, spiritually and morally.

Geneva became a place where the churches were filled, the Scriptures were preached daily, family worship was the rule, prayers and psalm singing was frequent. The entire city gave the appearance of a community of sincere and earnest Chris­tians who practiced what they believed. John Knox, the Scottish reformer, described it as ‘the most perfect school of Christ that ever was in the earth since the days of the apostles.’

Along with this came material prosper­ity. Cleanliness was promoted. Magistrates prevented the sale of unhealthy food in the markets. Hospital and poor houses were set up. The Council promoted industries, especially in cloth and silk.

Through all these years Calvin preached, taught, settled controversies, mediated in conflicts, instructed the youth, gave advice in secular affairs, established an academy, wrote commentaries, and revised his In­stitutes. His collected works fill 71 large volumes. He was a busy man!

In addition, he corresponded extensively with many in Europe including theologians and political leaders. 4271 letters have been preserved and are collected in ten volumes. Many cover theological subjects. Others gave advice as a pastor to those who are suffering. In some he poured out his heart to his friends. Letters to lead­ers in Europe dealt with difficult political issues.

Yet Calvin was not only a scholar and a writer; he was also a kind and diligent pastor who gave conscientious and atten­tive care to the poor, the widows and the sick. Calvin and Geneva also showed great hospitality to strangers. In 1543 the city numbered about 13,000. In the next seven years it grew by 1000 people a year, most of whom were Protestants fleeing persecu­tion in their own countries – France, Italy, England, Spain and Holland. Calvin treated them with great hospitality and eventually saw that they were granted the rights of citizenship.

Calvin’s Character←⤒🔗

In his character, Calvin had great integrity. An unbelieving historian of France called him ‘the most Christian man’ of his age. He was free from the love of money or fame, but was rather driven by a strong sense of duty. In his studies he was conscientious and studious. Schaff wrote,

He had an amazing power for work notwithstanding his feeble health ... He allowed himself very little sleep, and for at least ten years he took but one meal a day, alleging his bad digestion. No wonder that he undermined his health, and suffered headache, ague, dyspepsia, and other bodily infirmities which terminated in a premature death.⁹

He enjoyed a loving and happy marriage with Idelette de Bure, a widow with several children, although they were only married for nine years before she died. His letters to others upon her death showed how much he loved her and missed her.

Calvin worked closely with other pastors in Geneva, particularly with Farel and Viret: ‘it was a most pleasing spectacle to see and hear those three distinguished men car­rying on the work of God so harmoniously, with such a variety of gifts.’¹⁰

Calvin also enjoyed very close friendships with other reformers, especially Melanchthon, Farel, Beza and Bullinger. All laboured towards the same goal – the reformation of the Church and the glory of God.

After his death Beza, his pupil and friend, described how ‘the Republic had lost its wis­est citizen, the Church its faithful shepherd, the Acadamy an incomparable teacher.’ On the third centennial of the Reformation in Geneva, in 1853, a memorial medal was produced with Calvin’s likeness on one side and his pulpit on the other, with the circular inscription:

Broken in body; Mighty in spirit; Victor by faith; the Reformer of the church; the Pastor and Protector of Geneva.¹¹