Dr. Derek Thomas did his Ph. D on John Calvin's expositions of Job. This research eventually became a book titled, Calvin's Teaching on Job: Proclaiming the Incomprehensible God. The following post is a summation of Dr. Thomas' Calvin lectures at the Master's Seminary (D. Min class). Please note that I have included some theological and pastoral commentary along the way.
This influential Reformation leader has left us with an extraordinary legacy. When people remember Calvin they often think first of his Institutes of Christian Religion. Calvin believed his commentaries and his Institutes should be studied together. Calvin's commentaries are exegetically grounded and help the contemporary reader to understand the basis of Calvin's systematic theology. In a later introduction Calvin defended the Protestant Reformation and said the Roman Catholic church was out of step with the Church Fathers and therefore it was the Roman church that was schismatic. For Calvin the mark of a true church consisted of three defining marks: The faithful preaching of the Word; the two ordinances (baptism and communion), and church discipline.
Brief biography of Calvin: The French theologian John Calvin lived from 1509-1564. In those days towns and cities were often built around Roman Catholic cathedrals. During his youth Calvin's mother passed away. His relationship with his father was distant though respectful. In order to honor his dad's wishes Calvin went to school to become a lawyer. After Calvin's father died it opened the door for Calvin to give his life to the church in a pastor-theologian capacity. Remarkably, Calvin never received a formal theological degree; (he did received various academic degrees in law and later in philosophy). At some point in the 1530's Calvin came to a saving knowledge of the gospel. According to one historian, "After what he called a 'sudden conversion' at the age of 23, Calvin became a fervent Christian and scholar of the Scripture. Calvin did not immediately break with the Roman Catholic Church, but rather worked toward its reform. His pleas for reform soon brought upon him the hatred of the Catholic Church, and in time he was banished from Paris." During this time period Calvin moved to Switzerland. As a Renaissance scholar Calving published a book on "soul sleep" and then in 1536 as a 27 year old he published his first edition of the Institutes.
In 1531 Geneva was declared a Protestant city (on political grounds). In short, the leaders grew tired of paying taxes to the holy Roman Empire. In this time period church attendance was mandatory. One would receive a fine for not "going to church." This policy also meant everyone came to church expecting to partake of the Lord's Supper. Calvin became increasingly concerned about Libertine unbelievers partaking of holy Communion. Eventually Calvin is banished from Geneva for being too "narrow-minded" in relation to the love feast and church discipline (see 1 Corinthians 11; Matthew 18:15-17).
Backing up, David Mathis talks about how Calvin wound up in Geneva as a pastor instead of in a ivory tower as a 'professional theologian.' (quote) "William Farel was the fiery redhead who cursed John Calvin’s ivory-tower life in Strasbourg and twisted his arm to stay in Geneva. Here’s the story: Having published his Institutes, which were immediately successful, Calvin left Basel, still a fugitive from France, in the Summer of 1536 to make for Strasbourg where he could pursue a life of study and writing while tucked away under the pastoral care of famed reformer Martin Bucer. (Bucer had come to the Reformed faith after seeing Martin Luther defend his emerging Protestant doctrine at the Heidelberg Disputation in 1518.)
That evening word got to William Farel that the famed writer of the Instituteswas staying in town. Farel was the first reformer of Geneva. He was the pioneer who fought to have the city become officially Protestant in May of 1536. But now a year in, he needed help. And Calvin’s mix of gifts seemed to complement Farel's perfectly.
He descended upon Calvin and pled that he stay in Geneva and partner with him in bringing the Reformation there into fullness. Calvin resisted. He saw himself more as an academic than a pastor. He longed to hide away in Strasbourg and write books that would help the Reformation across Europe.
When he saw he was making no headway with Calvin, Farel pronounced a curse, damning Calvin’s quiet studies in Strasbourg when the need was so acute in Geneva. Amazingly, Calvin conceded. Whether it was fear of God or the affect of Farel’s display of earnestness, we don’t know for sure. Maybe both.
So Calvin remained in Geneva, and by January of 1537, he and Farel were fully engaged in their attempt to complete the Reformation in Geneva. But by Easter of the following year, they hit a major snag. The Reformers were expelled from Geneva."
For three years Calvin set up shop in Strasbourg. During this time (1538-1541) Calvin met John Knox (the Scottish Reformer). Eventually the leaders of Geneva visit Calvin and begged him to come back in order to stabilize Geneva from political and religious unrest. Calvin agreed to return and would invest the rest of his life in this needy city.
Calvin's relationship to Martin Luther: John Calvin was in France when the Protestant Reformation broke out in Germany. Though Calvin disagreed with Martin Luther at times he never criticized him publicly; (likely because Calvin did not want to hinder the gospel progress of the Reformation). Luther would have been a spiritual father figure to Calvin.
Calvin's part in the execution of Servetus- In the 16th century the state and religion were often married together. Heresy in the 16th century was punishable by death. Servetus was deemed a heretic by both Protestants and Roman Catholics and was told not to come to Geneva and promote his heretical views lest he be found guilty of heresy and die. Without an understanding of historical context the execution of Servetus will not be properly understood; (this does not to justify the execution of religious heretics).
Unique factors during the ministry of Calvin. Death and mortality surrounded the pastoral ministry of John Calvin. Infant mortality was a common (sorrowful) experience. Calvin had to deal with many difficult circumstances as a husband, a father, and a pastor.
