Calvinism

AP European

Protestant Reformation

John Calvin (1509-1564)

born Jean Cauvin highly educated:

lawyer and priest logical, structured

thinker highly structured

church

Institutes of Christian Religion (1536) highly structured, logical text universal appeal, although written for King

Francis tenets

justification by faith (as Luther) Lord’s Supper = symbolic act Church was superior to all state should be christianized through “Elect”

leaders; state = theocracy Predestination

saved (the elect) or not saved (the reprobate)

Predestination

through God’s will alone you are saved/damned (Elect/Reprobate)

open profession of faith (baptism & communion)

persistent pursuit of saintly life strength of the individual; inner conviction

“We call predestination God’s eternal decree, by which He determined what He willed to become of each man. For all are not created in equal condition; rather, eternal life is ordained for some, eternal damnation for others.”

Geneva 1536

set out for Strasbourg, but ended in Geneva due to Habsburg/Valois wars

Geneva: French-speaking enclave in Switzerland

1535: political and civil unrest independence from Bishop of Geneva & Duke of

Savoy

Success: led to religious reforms monasteries dissolved, Mass abolished, Papal

authority renounced

Ecclesiastical Ordinances (1541)

restructuring of church gov’t. as written by Calvin and city council priests, elders (laymen elected by city

council), and deacons (laymen who carried for poor & often held political appts.) formed the consistory (governing body of church that is ties to the state)

1555 – finally more priests than laymen Calvinism begins to gain more political

footing

Consistory - 1555

right to excommunicate enforced strict moral code

no work/pleasure on Sunday no extravagant dress death penalty for blasphemy tongue piercing for lewd speech

or song

The Tide turns for Calvinism

Execution of Michael Servetus (1553) Spanish scholar who denied the validity of

the Trinity His execution drove out the remaining

Libertines in Geneva

Libertines try to take Geneva (1555) fail and leaders are executed

Spread of Calvinism Netherlands

1550: 1st preachers arrive in Netherlands Lutheranism & Anabaptism prevalent Background: 1524 Charles V introduces his

own inquisition; 1529 & 1531 he issues edicts to kill all those associated with Lutheranism or Lutherans

Calvinism prevails due to its highly organized structure

France 1553: 1st Calvinist ministers go to France 1563: 2150 Huguenot churches; ~10% (1

million) of French are Calvinist located mainly on west coast & in south-east

Spread of Calvinism (~1555+)

Geneva = heart of movement primary & secondary schools Academy (1559) established [University of

Geneva] train French Huguenots to mission to France

and other areas 1559 = 162 students 1564 = 1500 students

Anglican Church

Catholic Reformation