John Calvin :: essays papers

earth-closet CalvinJohn Calvin was the founder of the Calvinist faith, the Presbyteriandenomination of Christianity today. Calvin was born and died in 1564.John Calvin was one of the chief leaders of the Protestant Reformation.From his early life and start in Protestantism, to his life in geneva,and the Proclamation of his faith, Calvin was an incredibleindividual.Calvin was born in Noyon, France, nest Compiegne. His father was alawyer for the Roman Catholic Church. Young Calvin was educated inParis, Orleans and Bourges. Calvin planned to be a lawyer as hisfather was, but it is likely that he never inwardly committed himselfto that career. With his father died in May of 1931, Calvin was freeto make his choice. He completed his doctorate in law but then came tostudy Greek and Latin and the University of Paris. Calvins life thentook a new direction that he refers to as a choppy conversion. Hewrites about his experience in the introduction to his Commentary onthe Psalms writt en in 1557 Since I was more stubbornly given tothe superstitions of the Papacy than to be easily drawn out of so deepa mire, God subdued my heart-too stubborn for my age-to docility by asudden conversion. Therefore, by 1533 Calvin had declared himself aProtestant. In 1534 Calvin moved to Basel, Switzerland where there,two years later in 1536, he published his first edition on Institutesof the Christian Religion. Calvins platter was the most influential workin the development of the Protestant churches of the Reformedtradition. It sets forth his basic ideas of religion, and he expandedit throughout his life.After much vox populi in 1536, Calvin became a leader of genevas firstgroup of Protestant pastors, even though he was probably never ordaineda priest. In 1538, Calvin and both(prenominal) of the other Protestant pastorswere banished for their strict doctrines. While Calvin was banishedfrom Geneva he became the pastor of a French refugee Protestant churchin Strasbourg, Ge rmany. There he met Martin Baucer who greatlyinfluenced him. Calvin adapted many of Baucers ideas on churchgovernment and worship. Also while in Strasbourg, Calvin met andmarried Idelette de Bure, a widow. The couples only child died ininfancy. In 1541 the Geneva city council begged Calvin to return dueto their lack of able religious and political leadership. Calvins wifedied in 1549 and he never remarried. Calvin developed a constitutionfor Geneva with dealt with both secular and sacred matters.