Yazar: Jean Calvin

Jean Calvin, also known as John Calvin in English contexts, was a seminal French theologian, pastor and reformer during the Protestant Reformation. Born on July 10, 1509, in Noyon, Picardy, he was a leading figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Initially trained as a humanist lawyer, Calvin broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530. After religious tensions provoked a violent uprising against Protestants in France, Calvin fled to Basel, Switzerland, where he wrote his most influential work, “Institutes of the Christian Religion” (Institutio Christianae Religionis, 1536). This text was a cornerstone for reformed Christian doctrine, outlining his views on topics such as the church, grace, and predestination. Another critical work by Calvin is “A Treatise on Relics” (1543), wherein he vehemently critiqued the veneration and use of religious relics, which was common in the Catholic Church at the time. His literary style is marked by clear, rigorous argumentation, reflecting his humanist education and legal training. Calvin”s writings not only fueled the fire of religious reformation but also had a lasting impact on governance, economics, and social life across Europe and beyond. He died on May 27, 1564, in Geneva, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to influence Christian theology and Western thought.