Jean Cauvin or John Calvin

1
Jean Cauvin or John CalvinLatinized

• 3 major political powers had influence on
  Switzerland They were Germany aka HRE, France,
  Italy aka Papal authority
• Zwingli led the Reformation in Switzerland among
  German speaking cantons (counties) in Switzerland
  while Calvin worked with those fleeing from
  France (French speaking cantons)

2
John Calvin

• Born July 10, 1509 in Noyon France (60 miles
  north of Paris) one of 7 children
• Calvins father was Secretary to the Bishop
  Attorney for the church (RCC) in that area along
  with being a fiscal agent for the county.

Noyon Cathedral
3
John Calvin

• Calvins father was well connected and also had
  married well. His wifes parents were well to
  do retired inn-keepers from Cambrai.
• John Calvins personality was one of quiet
  dignity. He was said to be well mannered with an
  aristocratic airstrong sense of dutysilent.

Chateau de la Motte Fenelon, Cambrai
4
John Calvin

• At 14 1523, Calvin went to the University of
  Paris where he studied theology, classics, law,
  language (Latin) in preparation for the
  priesthood.
• At his fathers request Calvin went to the
  University of Orleans to study law (1528). He
  also spent time at the University of Bourges in
  1529 but continued at Orleans until 1531, and
  probably finishing with a degree.

University of Orleans
5
John Calvin

• At the death of his father in 1531, Calvin
  returned to Paris to finish his theologywhile at
  Paris the students nicknamed him Olivetamus or
  midnight oil for his habit of working on his
  studies until the wee hours.
•  Upon graduation John Calvin became an RCC
  priest.

University of Paris
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John Calvin

• While still a law student 1531 at Orleans John
  Calvin begins a friendship with Nicolas Cop a
  pastor.
• In 1532 Calvin publishes his first book A
  Commentary of Senecas Treatise on Clemency
  where he defends tolerance and urges the King of
  France to also practice tolerance.

7
John Calvin

• John Calvins conversion is hard to nail down.
  Schaff says 1532 but definitely between 1531-1533
• After Orleans Calvin returns for his final time
  to the University of Paris. (After the death of
  his father) He joins a Protestant Bible study
  soon becoming its leader.

University of Paris
8
John Calvin

• Nicholas Cop delivers all Saints Day address at
  University of Paris on Christian Philosophy
  which was probably written by Calvin. This begins
  intense persecution of Lutherans in France by
  Francis I. Drives Calvin out of Paris to Noyon to
  resign priesthood.
• After Calvin resigns priesthood he is locked up
  as an apostate.

9
John Calvin

• After release jail in 1534 Calvin begins 2 years
  of travel escaping religious persecution. He
  finally ends up in Basel 1535-1536 where Erasmus
  is also living.
• After studying a year at a friends home (Louis
  Du Tillet) Calvin settles into scholarly
  seclusion to study Hebrew and prepare a French
  Bible for publication.

10
John Calvin

• 1st Edition of the Institutes were written at
  Basel 1536 only 140 pages in length. (Class
  textbook states that it was 516 pages because of
  size of type) And only 3-4 years after his
  conversion.

11
John Calvin

• Even though Calvin was only 27 when 1st edition
  of the Institutes came out and having only been
  saved 3-4 years the work shows tremendous
  maturity.
• The work shows up Calvins education in law
  because of its profound clarity and logical
  synthesis. The work emphasizes the sovereignty of
  God in predestination and election.

12
John Calvin

• Outline of the 1st edition of the Institutes
• I. The Law An explanation of the Decalogue
• II. Faith Covering the Apostolic Creed
• III. Prayer An exposition of the Lords Prayer
• IV. The Sacraments
• VI. Christian freedom, Ecclesiastical power, and
  political administration

13
Meanwhile at Geneva

• One of the leading reformers in Switzerland was
  Guillaume Farel (1489-1565) started his ministry
  in Meaux later fled to Basel (1523) Later helped
  Bern to become a protestant canton (1528)
• By 1533 he came to Geneva with letters of
  recommendation. However, Geneva preferred to stay
  Catholic.

14
Meanwhile at Geneva

• The City Council called for him to appear but he
  got out of town
• Later 1534 Farel returns to Geneva with some help
  and captures the Franciscan Monastery at Rive and
  turns it into a Protestant Church.
• Farel quickly outflanks the Catholics by
  capturing various churches (St Pierre) and
  convincing the Genevan Council of 200 to suspend
  Catholic Mass (August 10, 1535) all RCC priest
  leave the city.

Chillon castle, Montreux, Lake Geneva, Switzerland
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Calvin Happens to Happen Upon Geneva

• Although Farel was a fiery preacher and a man of
  action he was short on Theology and
  administration.
• Calvin Decides to now leave France because of
  the constant wars. He wants to be a Christian
  thinker and writer and live in peace. So he
  heads to Strasbourg.

Strasbourg Cathedral
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Calvin Happens to Happen Upon Geneva

• Well surprise, the route to Strasbourg was closed
  due to a military campaign nearby. So, he
  decides to spend One night in Geneva
• Farel gets wind of Calvins presence in Geneva
  and goes to visit. He pleads with Calvin to stay
  in Geneva to do the work that Farel is not
  equipped for, but Calvin expresses his desire to
  lead a quiet tranquil life with his books.

Geneva
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John Calvin

• Farel tells Calvin May god condemn your repose,
  and the calm you seek for study, if before such a
  great need you withdraw and refuse your help.
• Calvin says later in his commentary on Psalms
  these words shocked and broke me, and I
  desisted from the journey I had begun.
• Upon arrival at Geneva 1536 John Calvin was given
  the title Reader in Holy Scripture and began
  lectures on Romans. He was not made a regular
  preacher for nearly a year.

18
John Calvin

• This new guy in town was not well known by the
  city council (council of 200) The Secretary
  referred to him as the Frenchman. He had no
  income for the 1st 6 months in Geneva.
• Local cities were also struggling with whether to
  make their cities Protestant or not. They decide
  to have a Disputation (debate) at Lausanne where
  Calvin ran over the Catholics with his knowledge
  of Scripture and the church fathers. This
  strengthened his hand back in Geneva.

Lausanne, Switzerland
19
John Calvin

• Calvin about October 1537 begins work on setting
  up the ability to excommunicate disobedient
  believers from the church but this requires okay
  from the city council (because church state
  were wed). This starts big problems for Farel
  Calvin.
• By April 1538 the city council asks Farel and
  Calvin to leave Geneva. Calvin is coerced by
  Bucer and goes to Strasburg. Farel goes to
  Neuchatel.

Neuchatel, Switzerland
20
John Calvin

• Calvin has a fruitful ministry in Strasburg for 3
  years.

Strasburg, France