John Calvin (July 10, 1509-May 27, 1564) was a renown religious reformer in Geneva, Switzlerland. Calvin’s followers were called Calvinists,
With kings and queens killing subjects who believed differently than they did, Calvin wrestled with Romans 13:
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
For most of world history the “governing authorities” were monarchs. Monarchs had subjects who were required to submit to government mandates. A problem arose, though. What if the “governing authority” had mandate to kill you and your family if you believed differently?
Reformers who “protested” were labeled “protestants.” Other Protestant Reformers included Martin Luther, Thomas Cranmer, Philip Melanchthon, William Tyndale, Huldrych Zwingli, John Knox, and others.
John Knox escaped England with other Protestant scholars to Geneva, Switzerland. There they met Reformer John Calvin and participated in publishing the Geneva Bible. Through Knox, Calvin’s beliefs were introduced into Scotland. In the following centuries, millions of Scots, Scots-Irish, Puritan and Presbyterian immigrants came to America.
Calvin wrote in Institutes on the Christian Religion, 1536:
<The first duty of subjects towards their rulers is to entertain the most honorable views of their office, recognizing it as a delegated jurisdiction from God … We are always to make this exception … that such obedience is never to lead us away from obedience to Him, to whose will the desire of all kings ought to be subject … We are subject to the men who rule over us, but subject only in the Lord. If they command anything against Him let us not pay the least regard to it.> 1509JC001
Calvin wrote in Readings on Prophet Daniel (Geneva, 1561), that when kings disobey God they “automatically abdicate their worldly power”:
<They are no longer worthy to be counted as princes … When they raise themselves up against God … it is necessary that they should in turn be laid low.> 1509JC002
Calvin’s teachings influenced the Puritans who developed a bottom-up form of government. They drew from the ancient Hebrew Republic, that first four hundred year period out of Egypt before they insisted on having a king.
Since the printing press was recently invented by Gutenberg, individuals you have their own copy of the Bible, in their own language. They joined together in covenant with each other and with God to rule themselves without a king.
John Calvin wrote of the Law of Nature in his Institutes (Book Two, Chapter 8 , on the Ten Commandments, Section 1, Grand Rapids: Associated Publishers, p. 186.):
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John Adams contrasted monarchs with Reformation views in A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law, 1765:
<Desire of dominion … becomes an encroaching, grasping, restless, and ungovernable power … Tyranny, cruelty, and lust … was soon adopted by almost all the princes of Europe … The people were held in ignorance … till God in his benign Providence raised up the champions who began and conducted the Reformation. From the time of the Reformation to the first settlement of America, knowledge gradually spread in Europe, but especially in England; and in proportion as that increased and spread among the people … tyranny … lost … strength.> 1509JC004
Suleiman the Magnificent’s Ottoman Turks were invading Europe. John Calvin wrote to Philip Melanthon, 1543 (Selected Works of John Calvin: Tracts & Letters, I:373):
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John Calvin wrote in Commentary of 2nd Thessalonians:
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Calvin wrote in Commentary on Daniel:
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John Calvin wrote in Sermons on Timothy and Titus:
<The Turks at this day, can allege and say for themselves: "We serve God from our ancestors!" – It is a good while since Mahomet gave them the cup of his devilish dreams to drink, and they got drunk with them. It is about a thousand years since cursed hellhounds were made drunk with their follies – Let us be wise and discreet! – For otherwise, we shall be like the Turks and
Heathen.> 1509JC008
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1509JC001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). John Calvin, Institutes on the Christian Religion, 1536:
1509JC002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). John Calvin, Readings on Prophet Daniel (Geneva, 1561).
1509JC003. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). John Calvin, Institutes, Book Two, Chapter 8, on the Ten Commandments, Section 1, Grand Rapids: Associated Publishers, p. 186.)
1509JC004. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). John Adams, referencing Puritans, A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law, 1765.
1509JC005. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). John Calvin, 1543, to Philip Melanthon. Selected Works of John Calvin: Tracts & Letters, I: 373.
1509JC006. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). John Calvin, Commentary of 2nd Thessalonians.
1509JC007. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). John Calvin, Commentary on Daniel.
1509JC008. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). John Calvin, Sermons on Timothy and Titus.
This post originally appeared at https://americanminute.com/blogs/todays-american-minute/john-calvin-1509-1564