John Calvin

Biography of the philosopher John Calvin

Full Name: John Calvin (Jean Calvin in French)

Birthplace and Country: John Calvin was born on July 10, 1509, in Noyon, Picardy, Kingdom of France (now part of modern-day France).

Early Life :

Calvin was born into a Catholic family and received his early education at the Collège de la Marche in Paris.

He later studied law at the University of Orléans and then the University of Bourges, where he was introduced to Renaissance humanism and the works of prominent scholars like Erasmus.

Personal Life:

In the early 1530s, Calvin underwent a religious conversion, embracing the teachings of the Protestant Reformation.

He became a prominent Reformer, writing extensively and advocating for Protestant beliefs.

Calvin lived much of his life as an exile due to his religious beliefs and conflicts with the Catholic Church and local authorities.

He married Idelette de Bure in 1540, and they had several children together, although many of them died in infancy.

Written Books:

"Institutes of the Christian Religion" (Institutio Christianae Religionis): Published in several editions between 1536 and 1559, this is Calvin's most famous work. It serves as a comprehensive systematic theology of Protestant Christianity and outlines his theological beliefs.

Calvin also wrote numerous commentaries on books of the Bible, sermons, and other theological treatises.

Legacy:

John Calvin's theology, often referred to as Reformed theology, had a profound influence on Protestantism, particularly in the Reformed and Presbyterian traditions.

He emphasized predestination, the sovereignty of God, and the authority of Scripture in his theological writings.

Calvin's teachings played a significant role in shaping the religious landscape of Europe during the Reformation era.

His ideas also influenced political thought, contributing to the development of the idea of a "Protestant work ethic" and the separation of church and state.

Calvin's writings continue to be studied and revered by theologians and scholars in the Protestant tradition.

Death Date and Place: John Calvin died on May 27, 1564, in Geneva, which was then an independent city-state. He spent a significant portion of his life in Geneva, where he was a key figure in the establishment of a theocratic government based on his interpretation of biblical principles. His legacy endures not only in the realm of theology but also in the broader realms of religion, philosophy, and political theory.