FC: The Story Of John Calvin By: Phillip Spencer
1: The Story Of John Calvin By: Phillip Spencer
3: Born July 10, 1509 in Noyon, France, John Calvin was raised in a Roman Catholic family. Although the theological teachings of individuals such as Martin Luther were spreading throughout Paris, Calvin was closely tied to the Roman Church.
4: At the age of 14 John went to Paris to study at the College de Marche in preparation for university study. In 1523 he enrolled at the University of Paris where he studied theology.
5: By 1527 Calvin had made a couple of friends who were reform-minded. These friendships eventually set the stage for Calvin's switch to Reformed faith. It was around the same time that John's father was pushing him to study law rather than theology.
6: By 1528 John had moved to Orleans to study in civil law. One year later he went to Bourges also to study law. When Calvin's father past in 1531, it gave him the freedom to resume his religious studies.
8: In 1532 Calvin had finished his law studies and also had published his first book, a commentary on De Clementia by the Roman philosopher, Seneca. For the next three years, John lived in many different places outside of France.
11: He studied on his own, preached, and began work on his first edition of the Institutes of the Christian Religion. By 1536 Calvin had separated himself from the Roman Catholic Church and made plans to permanently leave France and go to Strasbourg.
13: War had broken out between Francis I and Charles V, so Calvin decided to make a one-night detour to Geneva. Calvin's fame in Geneva preceded him. Farel, a local reformer, invited him to stay in Geneva and threatened him with God's anger if he did not.
14: That began a long and difficult relationship with the city. He began as a lecturer and preacher, but by 1538 was asked to leave because of theological conflicts. He went to Strasbourg until 1541.
16: His stay there as a pastor to French refugees was so peaceful and happy that when in 1541 the Council of Geneva requested that he return to Geneva, he was emotionally torn.
18: John Calvin's Journey
19: He wanted to stay in Strasbourg but felt a responsibility to return to Geneva. He did so and remained in Geneva until his death May 27, 1564. Those years were filled with lecturing, preaching, and various editions of the Institutes of the Christian Religion.