04/04/2010 1

Swiss Reformation: Calvin

“From the Reformation to the Constitution”

Bill Petro

your friendly neighborhood historian

www.billpetro.com/v7pc

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ObjectivesBy the end of this session you should be able to

• Trace the development of the French-Swiss Reformation

• Demonstrate the philosophical origins of Presbyterianism

• Describe John Calvin’s life and distinctives

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Formula

tion

JeromeAugustine

Sacramentalized

WycliffeHuss

Redisc

overy

ErasmusLutherZwingliCalvin

Re-evaluation

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Swiss Cantons

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John Calvin The Genius of Geneva

• 2nd Generation Reformer

• Systemizer of the Reformation

• Perceptions about Calvin?

• Elicits strong reactions.

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Comments about Calvin

“[Calvin] was the most Christian man of his age”

Ernst Renan, French historian

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“Genevans should bless the birthday of Calvin”

Montesquieu, 18th century philosopher and political theorist

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“I have been a witness of him for 16 years… in this man there was exhibited to all an

example of the life and death of the Christian, such as it will not be easy to deprecate, and it

will be difficult to imitate”

Theodore Beza, Calvin’s successor

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“Geneva: The most perfect school of Christ since the days of the Apostles.”

John Knox, student and Scottish reformer

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“Calvin has, I believe, caused untold millions of souls to be damned…”

Jimmy Swaggart

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“[Calvin was]

the "cruel" and "unopposed dictator of Geneva" ”

Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church

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“Calvin… raised himself up to the rank of the Pope of the Protestants”

Voltaire, French Enlightenment Philosopher

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1+1=1

• Zurich + Geneva = Reformed

• Zwingli + Calvin = Calvinism => Presbyterianism

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jean cauvin

• Born July 10, 1509

• Noyon, France, in Picardie

• Father: professional

• Education: by church

• University of Paris

• University of Orleans

• University of Bourges.

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Calvin’s Change

• 1532-33: Conversion

• Nicolas Cop’s public sermon

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Calvin: Exile

• Left France for Strasbourg

• Traveled under 3 assumed names

• Dressed as common gardener

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Calvin’s Travels

Basel Strasbourg Italy

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A Providential Meeting

• 1536: Geneva, war detour

• William Farel (1489-1565)

• Challenge

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Geneva

• Popular rejection, political hostilities

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The Exile in Exile

• Strasbourg: 1538-40

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Idelette de Bure

• Widow

• Anabaptist → Reformed

• 1540: Woman of character

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Back in Geneva

• 1540-64

• Genevan Catechism

• Ecclesiastical Ordinances

• Theocracy not Ecclesiocracy

• “Presbyterian” government

Church Officers• Pastors and teachers - to preach and explain the

Scriptures

• Elders - representing the congregation to administer the church

• Deacons - to attend to its charitable responsibilities

• Consistory of Pastors and Elders - to make all aspects of Genevan life conform to God's law.

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Geneva: St. Pierre & Le Jet

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John Calvin’s House, near the St Pierre’s Cathedral

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John Calvin lived here from 1553 to 1564, year of his death.

The house that he lived in was demolished in 1706 and replaced by this particular building.

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John Calvin’s St. Pierre

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Altar at St. Pierre’s

04/04/2010 32After Darkness, Light

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John Calvin’s pulpit, St. Pierre

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Calvin’s original Academy

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Inside the Calvin Auditorium

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Calvin’s triangular chair

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Calvin’s Writings

• Commentary of Seneca:

De Clementia

• Institutes

• Commentaries on the Bible

• Wrote 3,000 letters.

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Calvin’s Sayings

• “The principal work of the Spirit is faith.”

• “The principal exercise of faith is prayer.”

• “God commands that which we cannot

do, in order that we know what we should

ask of him.”

• “The law commands in order that we, …

might train ourselves to implore God’s

aid.”

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Luther vs. CalvinWild Boar Quiet

Peasant Professional

Theology & Philosophy Humanistic & Legal

Prophet Organizer

Large & Strong Weak & Thin

Large family Married widow, no issue

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Luther vs. Calvin continued

Monarchy Republic

Consubstantiation (real) Spiritual (real means of grace)

Broad (conscribe) Narrow (proscribe)

Light Church Strong Church

Go-go No-no

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The Servetus Affair

• Spanish theologian

• 1553: Geneva

• October 27

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Calvin’s Later Life

• Writings

• Preached twice Sunday

• Established Academy

• Lectured thrice weekly

• Consistory and committees

• Ill health.

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Calvin’s Contributions

• Institutes of the Church

• University of Geneva

• Commentaries on most books of Bible.

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Calvin’s Contributions

• Defender of Democracy

• Thrift – “Protestant Work Ethic”

• Geneva: Haven for persecuted

Christians.

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Upper level, added for refugees

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Calvin’s successor: Theodore Beza

• Luther → Melanchthon

• Zwingli → Bullinger

• Calvin → Beza

• 1519 – 1605 Wealthy family

• University of Orleans

• Both Swiss traditions united:1516: Helvetic Confession.

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Geneva’s Wall of the Reformers

Guillaume Farel, Jean Calvin, Theodore Beza, John Knox

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Spread of Calvinism

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Reformation Traditions

Lutheran1517

German-Swiss1519

Swiss Brethren1536

French-Swiss1532

Lutheranism Episcopal

Anabaptists Congregational Mennonites English Sep English Baptists

}Reformed Presbyterian Scottish Presb Dutch Reformed

LutherMelanchthon

CalvinBeza

ZwingliBullinger

GrebelManzSimonsz

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1-Word Summary

• Catholic Church Merit

• Luther Justification

• Zwingli Sovereignty

• Anabaptists Believer’s Baptism

• Calvin Omnipotence