As a seminary student I have the privilege to research and write on various topics assigned by my professors. I took a class on the Reformation this past Spring, which one of my assignments was to research and write on a particular subject or person pertaining to the Reformation. So I chose to research John Calvin, as a scholar, theologian, and pastor.
I found my time of research to be helpful in grasping a better understanding of John Calvin. Since becoming a student of theology it seems to me that many evangelicals are easily turned off by John Calvin. Yet, most have never taken the time to read or study his life as a scholar, theologian, or pastor. However, God used John Calvin in a mighty way by paving the way for solid and sound theological writings that is beneficial for many today. Therefore, I wanted to share my my research and writing with you on "John Calvin: The Scholar, Theologian, and Pastor." I will post the paper in a series over the next few weeks. I pray it would be a blessing to you.
John
Calvin: The Scholar, Theologian, and Pastor
Throughout
the course of church history, there have been few more influential, widely
disliked, and grossly misrepresented people than John Calvin. Calvin’s impact
on church history, especially during the time of the reformation, has been largely
contributed to his theological writings, lectures, letters, and sermons.
Calvin’s deep intellect and theological giftedness prepared him to be one of
the greatest theologians who has ever lived. However, with influence and
leadership comes opposition and criticism. Calvin suffered from both.
One
of the major features in the reformation of the 16th century was to
bring the pure teaching of Scriptures, and that alone, to bear upon the church.
This type of movement brought about false accusations of who Calvin was and
what he believed. Even today, there is a misconception and preconceived notion
that John Calvin was an evil and unapproachable man. Therefore, in this paper,
I will argue that John Calvin was not the vicious, and cold-hearted ivory tower
pastor-theologian as some claim, but rather that Calvin’s theology was tailored
for the mind, heart, and the church. I will prove this argument by first examining
Calvin’s childhood and education, secondly, by reviewing his life as a
theologian, and lastly, how his education and theology affected his heart as a
pastor.
Calvin: The Scholar
Jean (John) Cauvine was born to his
parents, Gerard and Jeanne Cauvine, on July 10, 1509, north of Paris at Noyon,
Picardy. His parents were a hard working, middle class, prosperous family. Gerard,
John’s father, was a determined individual who made his way up through the
“ranks of ecclesiastical office, from notary, to notary apostolic and notary
fiscal until, in 1497, he was made bourgeois.”[1] His
father’s hard work and determination could be seen throughout the life of his
son, John. Calvin, who followed in his father’s footsteps by being diligent in
his work, achieved a number of major accolades throughout his life and ministry
including recognition as a statesman, theologian, and pastor.
John’s
parents’ marriage lasted roughly twenty years, as Jeanne, his mother, died in
1515. Calvin had five brothers, two who passed away in infancy, and two half-sisters
who survived into adulthood. John’s mother’s death took place when he was still
a young child, likely less than six years old or as young as 4 or 5 years old. Although
his mother died at an early age, she was faithful to encourage John and his
other siblings in devotion to the Lord.
With
his mother’s passing and his father’s rapid success, Calvin left for Paris to
attend the College de la Marche at the age of 12. It was here that Calvin
“studied Latin under one of the most well-known teachers of that time period,
Marthurin Cordier.”[2]
Latin was an essential language that one needed to learn in order to advance in
the world. Calvin’s day at the College of de la March probably would have been
very rigorous on him mentally, as it was a difficult world of “rote learning
and corporal punishment.”[3] Thomas
More’s Utopia comments “that English
school masters would sooner beat their boys than teach them.”[4]
Calvin
would further pursue his education by leaving the College de la Marche for a
monastery school at Montaigu. This monastery was a strict school and was
established in order to prepare young men for the priesthood. It was here that
Calvin learned the valuable lesson of living a disciplined life. The school was
located in one of the most dangerous parts of the city, known for its violence,
lack of food, and the strictest of discipline. The students at Montaigu began
each day at with;
prayers at 4 o’clock in the morning,
followed by lectures until 6, when Mass was said. Then followed by breakfast.
From 8 until 10 o’clock came the grande
classe, followed by discussion. Dinner at 11 was followed by Bible readings
and prayers. At midday, students were questioned about their morning’s work,
then rested from 1 until 2. More classes were held from 3, followed by vespers.
Between supper and its accompanying readings and bedtime at 8, further
interrogations took place in the chapel. On two days of the week, an allowance
was given for recreation.[5]
It was here that Calvin was introduced
to the studies of grammar, logic, and rhetoric that would prepare him for his
higher theological training, which he would soon forsake.
With
Martin Luther’s impact on neighboring Germany gaining more strength, a career
in the church was looking less and less desirable to John’s father. Calvin was
16 or 17 years old when his father sent him to Orleans to begin studying law,
which was not Calvin’s desire. After his education at Bourges, he moved to the
University of Bourges to study Greek, which was deemed as an undesirable thing
to do. It was while Calvin was at Bourges that he began to teach rhetoric at an
Augustinian convent and preach regularly. It was also during this time (1530)
that some suggest the evidence of evangelicalism began to appear in his
teachings.
Although
not much is known concerning Calvin’s conversion experience, some suggest that
it was during his stay at the Bourges that he was converted to Christ. There is
one little passage in the preface to his Latin commentary on the Psalms where
he simply writes, “God subdued my heart to docility, which had become hardened
against the truth of the gospel.”[6] But
those few words give us a wonderful insight into the mind and heart of John
Calvin. This phrase, “God subdued me,” would become the hallmark of Calvin’s
life and teaching until his death in 1564.
It
was God’s subduing Calvin that would prove his utter allegiance to Christ and
His work as a gospel minister. Calvin’s affections toward Christ and calling by
way of his conversion can be understood, as he sought to compare himself to
David when he wrote,
For although I follow David at a great
distance, and come far short of equaling him, or rather, although in aspiring
slowly and with great difficulty to attain to the many virtues in which he
exalted, I still feel myself tarnished with the contrary vices. Yet, if I have
anything in common with him, I have no hesitation in comparing myself with him.
In reading the instances of his faith, patience, fervor, zeal, and integrity,
it has, as it ought, drawn from me unnumbered groans and sighs that I am so far
from approaching them. It has, however, been of very great advantage to me to
behold in him, as in a mirror, both the commencement of my calling and the
continued course of my actions, so that I know more certainly that whatever
that most illustrious king and prophet suffered was exhibited to me by God as
an example for imitation.[7]
God’s calling of Calvin led him from
Bourges to Paris, whereby he left his studies of law in order to further study
classics, as well as other disciplines. It was around this time that he wrote
his doctoral thesis on the stoic philosopher Seneca, which was titled, De Clementia (On Mercy).
Although
Calvin wrote very little of his childhood, one could sense his formative years
spent with his parents played a huge impact on his role in the reformation.
From his father’s desire for his children to be educated to his mother’s spiritual
investment through devotions, each one had an important role in Calvin’s life.
By the time Calvin was in his early twenties, he had suffered the loss of both
parents, moved in order to his continue his studies, and experienced his conversion
unto Christ. God providently used all of his childhood experiences to prepare
him as a scholar in bringing reform to Geneva.
[1] Burk Parsons, A Heart
For Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology (Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust,
2008), 19.
[2] Ibid. 20.
[3] Bruce Gordon, Calvin,
(Cornwall: MPG Books; 2009), 5.
[5] Burk Parsons, John
Calvin: A Heart for Devotion Doctrine & Doxology, (Lake Mary: Ligoner,
2008), p.20
[6] John Calvin, Commentary
on the Book of Psalms, trans. James Anderson (Endinburgh: Calvin
Translation Socitey, 1845) 31:22.
[7] Bruce Gordon, Calvin,
33.
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