John Calvin

FRENCH REFUGEE JOHN CALVIN arrived in Geneva, crossroads for exiles and expatriates, in 1536. He rapidly became more influential than Zwingli, second only to Luther. He wrote a popular, systematic presentation of Christian doctrine and life, The Institutes (1536, final edition in 1559). Most important of Calvin's Institutes was obedience to God's will as defined in the scriptures. Salvation, he wrote, came by faith in God's grace, mediated through word and sacrament by the power of the Holy Spirit. Good works were consequences of union with Christ in faith, not the means of salvation. Calvin considered the law an indispensable guide and spur to the Christian life; prayer provided nourishment for faith. He argued that faith was a divine gift resulting from God's unconditional decree of election.

Topics

Please select from the following topics for further information:

• The Calvin Institute for Theology
• The Necessity of Reforming the Church
• On The Christian Life (Christian Classics Ethereal Library)
• Of Prayer (Christian Classics Ethereal Library)
• The Institutes of Christian Religion by John Calvin
• Nice copy of Calvin's Institutes
• Calvin's Commentaries (Christian Classics Ethereal Library)
• The Catholic Encyclopedia entry on John Calvin
• The National Protestant Church of Geneva
• Calvinism as an Evangelizing Force
• John Calvin- Letter to the King, [On the Clergy]
• Instrumental Music in Public Worship- The Views of John Calvin
• Synod of Dort (1619)
• What is the Reformed Faith?
• T.U.L.I.P.
• The Five Points of Calvinism by R.L. Dabney
• A Defense of Calvinism by C.H. Spurgeon
• The Genevan Book of Order
• Genevan Institute for Reformed Studies - Historic Documents
• Zwingli & Calvin - Video

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Last modified: February 08, 1999