John Calvin

French theologian and reformer who developed Calvinism.

His birth occurred on 10 July 1509 in Noyon, which is located in Picardy, France.^[1] His death took place on 27 May 1564.^[2]

Quick Facts

Religion

Christianity

Church

Protestant

Birth name

Jehan Cauvin

Born

10 July 1509

Birthplace

Noyon, Picardy, France

Died

27 May 1564

Place of death

Geneva, Republic of Geneva

Occupation

Reformer
minister
author

Facts from the source article.

Life and work

He returned to Geneva on 13 September 1541 after the city council recalled him.^[3][4] At twelve years old, Calvin began working as a clerk for a bishop and underwent the tonsure ceremony.^[5] His education included studying Latin at the Collège de la Marche in Paris, followed by philosophy studies at the Collège de Montaigu.^[5] His father removed him from his studies in either 1525 or 1526 to pursue law at the University of Orléans.^[6]

In 1529, Calvin began attending the University of Bourges, where he spent eighteen months acquiring knowledge of Koine Greek.^[6][7] A commentary on Seneca's De Clementia, published in 1532, was Calvin's first book.^[8] The initial version of his Institutes of the Christian Religion came out in March 1536.^[4]

What the cited sources add

Calvin's own account in his Commentary on Psalms states that "God by a sudden conversion subdued and brought my mind to a teachable frame"^[9] He wrote that after receiving "some taste and knowledge of true godliness," he pursued other studies "with less ardor"^[9] The Dictionary.com entry notes Calvin's original name was Jean Cauvin, Caulvin, or Chauvin.^[10]

References

Wikipedia, "John Calvin" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Robert Dean Linder, The Reformation Era, (Greenwood Press, 2008), p. 139. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "John Calvin" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Definition of Calvin Dictionary.com", www.dictionary.com (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "John Calvin" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; ; (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "John Calvin" (CC BY-SA 4.0) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "John Calvin" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ;; ; ; . states that Nicolas Colladon was the source that he attended Collège de la Marche which McGrath disputes.; ; (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "John Calvin" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: . According to , there may have been a family conflict with the clergy in Noyon. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "John Calvin" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, "John Calvin" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; ; ; (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
"Commentary on Psalms". facts only, no text reused. ccel.org
"Definition of Calvin Dictionary.com", www.dictionary.com. facts only, no text reused. dictionary.com

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article John Calvin (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.