What Does it Mean to be: Reformed Swiss , part 3 Calvin

Bill Petro your friendly neighborhood historian

billpetro.com/happydaze 1 Find out more

• billpetro.com/history-of-john-calvin

• billpetro.com/happydaze

2 Objectives By the end of this session you should be able to

• Describe ’s life and distinctives

• Demonstrate the philosophical origins of Presbyterianism

• Enumerate Calvin’s contributions

3 A Providential Meeting

• 1536: , war detour

• (1489-1565)

• Challenge.

5 Geneva

• Popular rejection, political hostilities.

6 The Exile in Exile

• : 1538-40.

7 Idelette de Bure

• Widow

• 1540: Woman of character.

8 Back in Geneva

• 1540-64 • Genevan Catechism • Ecclesiastical Ordinances • Theocracy not Ecclesiocracy • “Presbyterian” government…

9 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.

10 Geneva: St. Pierre & Le Jet

04/04/2010 11 04/04/2010 12 John Calvin’s House, near the St Pierre’s Cathedral

13 14 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. 15 John Calvin’s St. Pierre.

16 Altar at St. Pierre’s

04/04/2010 17 After Darkness, Light 04/04/2010 18 John Calvin’s pulpit, St. Pierre

19 Calvin’s original Academy

20 Calvin’s triangular chair

04/04/2010 22 Calvin’s Writings

• Commentary of Seneca: De Clementia • Institutes • Commentaries on the Bible • Wrote 3,000 letters.

23 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.” 24 Luther vs. Calvin

Wild Boar Quiet

Peasant Professional

Theology & Philosophy Humanistic & Legal

Prophet Organizer

Large & Strong Weak & Thin

Large family Married widow, no surviving children 25 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.

26 Calvin’s Later Life

• Writings • Preached twice Sunday • Established Academy • Lectured thrice weekly • Consistory and committees • Ill health.

29 Calvin’s Contributions

• Institutes of the Church

• University of Geneva

• Commentaries on most books of Bible.

30 Calvin’s Contributions

• Defender of Democracy

• Thrift – “Protestant Work Ethic”

• Geneva: Haven for persecuted Christians.

31 Upper level, added for refugees.

32 Calvin’s successor:

• Luther → Melanchthon • Zwingli → Bullinger • Calvin → Beza

• 1519 – 1605 Wealthy family • University of Orleans • Both Swiss traditions united: 1516: Helvetic Confession.

33 Geneva’s

Guillaume Farel, Jean Calvin, Theodore Beza, 34 Spread of

35 Reformation Traditions 1517 Luther Lutheran Melanchthon Episcopal 1532 Calvin French-Swiss Beza 1519 Reformed Zwingli } Presbyterian German-Swiss Bullinger Scottish Presb 1536 Dutch Reformed Grebel Manz Swiss Brethren Anabaptists Simonsz Congregational Mennonites English Sep English Baptists 36 1-Word Summary

• Catholic Church Merit • Luther Justification • Zwingli Sovereignty • Anabaptists Credobaptism • Calvin Omnipotence

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