Profile of John Calvin

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Profile of John Calvin

• Born in Noyon, Picardy (North of Paris) - 1509
• He came from a privileged background
• He studied Law in France but was never ordained
• In Paris he encountered the teaching of Martin
  Luther and was greatly influenced by it

• Suddenly converted in 1534 at the age of 25
• He left the Roman Catholic Church and went to
  live in Basle in Switzerland and then to Geneva
• 1536 He published the first edition of
  "Institutes of the Christian Religion" which was
  a defence of the Reformation
• After persecution of protestants Calvin went to
  Strasbourg began to publish a series of
  commentaries on Romans etc.
• Went back to Geneva in 1541 and began to preach
  for a greater purity in the faith and greater
  discipline in practice

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Profile of John Calvin

• Central idea was the Sovereignty of God i.e. God
  is in control of everything
• Taught - only two sacraments, Baptism and
  Communion, instead of the Catholic tradition of
  many sacraments

• He was against any decorations in the Church
• Introduced the idea of government of the Church
  by Presbyters rather than by bishops
• His system of organisation of theology has become
  known as Calvinism and is still popular today
• Died in 1564 aged 55. He was a significance
  influence in the Reformation especially in the
  beginning of Presbyterian form of worship and
  government
• Luther may have started the Reformation but
  Calvin finished it
• Described by some as "the only International
  Reformer"