Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
John Calvin

John Calvin

John Calvin (1509 - 1584)

Was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he 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 published the first edition of his seminal work The Institutes of the Christian Religion in 1536.

Calvin's writing and preachings provided the seeds for the branch of theology that bears his name. The Reformed, Congregational, and Presbyterian churches, which look to Calvin as the chief expositor of their beliefs, have spread throughout the world.


John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he 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 in 1536 he published the first edition of his seminal work Institutes of the Christian Religion.

Calvin's writing and preaching provided the seeds for the branch of theology that bears his name. The Presbyterian and other Reformed churches, which look to Calvin as a chief expositor of their beliefs, have spread throughout the world. Calvin's thought exerted considerable influence over major religious figures and entire religious movements, such as Puritanism, and some have argued that his ideas have contributed to the rise of capitalism, individualism, and representative democracy in the West.

      Founder of Calvinism. John Calvin, a French scholar who became a leading preacher and dominant force in the Reformation of the 16th Century, studied at the University of Paris and at the University of Orleans. He became dissatisfied with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and allied himself with the cause of the Protestant Reformation in 1532.

      When the king of France decided to settle the religious question in his country in favor of the Catholics, Calvin fled to Geneva, Switzerland, where his writings and lectures made Geneva the Rome of Protestantism. His institutes of the Christian religion became the basis for the Presbyterian way of thought and church life. Calvinism is the main doctrine of the Presbyterian and Reformed Churches.

... Show more
John Calvin

A Summary of the Christian Life. Of Self-Denial

The divisions of the chapter are,—I. The rule which permits us not to go astray in the study of righteousness, requires two things, viz., that man, abandoning his own will, devote himself entirely to the service of God; whence it follows, that we must seek not our own things, but the things of God, ... Read More
John Calvin

All The Principles Of Piety Subverted by Fanatics, who Substitute Revelations for Scriptures.

1.The fanatics wrongly appeal to the Holy Spirit Those who, rejecting Scripture, imagine that they have some peculiar way of penetrating to God, are to be deemed not so much under the influence of error as madness. For certain giddy men have lately appeared, who, while they make a great display of t... Read More
John Calvin

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. —Revelation 14:13 But what advantage, you will say, is it to me to have had a son of so muc... Read More
John Calvin

And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb

And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. —Job 1:21 The necessary consequences of this knowledge are, gratitude in prosperity, patience in adversity, and a wonderful security respect... Read More
John Calvin

Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies

Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded. My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. —Psalm 7:6, 10 And, indeed, we can never pray in faith unless we attend, in the first place, to what... Read More
John Calvin

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, —Philippians 3:13 Depravity never ceases in us, but is perpetually producing new fruits —those works of the flesh which we have ... Read More
John Calvin

By faith Moses, when he was come to years

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to he called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect... Read More
John Calvin

Fire, and hail; snow and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word

Fire, and hail; snow and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word: —Psalm 148:8 He then ascends to hail, snows, and storms, which he says fulfill the word of God; for it is not by an effect of chance that the heavens are clouded, or that a single drop of rain falls from the clouds, or that the thund... Read More
John Calvin

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. —John 3:16 "For God so loved the world." Christ opens up the first cause, and, as it were, the source of our salvation; and he does so, that no doubt may rema... Read More
John Calvin

Genesis 10:1-32

1. Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. 1. Porro istae sunt generationes filiorum Noah, Sem, Cham, et Jepheth: quibus nati sunt filii post diluvium. 2. The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and... Read More
John Calvin

Genesis 11:1-32

1. And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 1. Erat autem universa terra labii unius, et verborum eorundem. 2. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 2. Et fuit, quum proficiscerentur ipsi ab Orien... Read More
John Calvin

Genesis 12:1-20

1. Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 1. Dixerat autem Jehova ad Abram, Abi e terra tua, et e cognatione tua, et e domo patris tui, ad terram quam ostendam tibi. 2. And I will make of th... Read More
John Calvin

Genesis 13:1-20

1. And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 1. Et ascendit Abram ex Aegypto, ipse et uxor ejus, et omnia quae erant ei, et Lot cum eo ad Meridiem. 2. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 2. Et Abram dives erat vald... Read More
John Calvin

Genesis 14:1-24

1. And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; 1. Et fuit in diebus Amraphel regis Sinhar, Arioch rex Elasar, Cedorlaomer rex Helam, et Thidhal rex gentium, 2. That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, a... Read More
John Calvin

Genesis 15:1-21

1. After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 1. Post haec fuit verbum Jehovae ad Abram in visione, dicendo, Ne timeas Abram, ego scutum ero tibi, merces tua multa valde. 2. And Abram said, Lord GOD, ... Read More
John Calvin

Genesis 16:1-16

1. Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 1. Porro Sarai uxor Abram non pepererat ei: erat autem ei ancilla Aegyptia, et nomen ejus Hagar. 2. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee... Read More
John Calvin

Genesis 17:1-27

1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 1. Et fuit Abram nonaginta et novem annorum: et visus est Jehova Abram, dixitque ad eum, Ego Deus Omnipotens, ambula coram me, et esto perfectus... Read More
John Calvin

Genesis 18:1-33

1. And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 1. Deinde visus est illi Jehova in Querceto Mamre, quum ipse sederet in ostio tabernaculi, quando incalescebat dies. 2. And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: a... Read More
John Calvin

Genesis 19:1-38

1. And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 1. Et venerunt duo angeli in Sedom vesperi, Lot autem sedebat in porta Sedom: et vidit Lot et surrexit in occursum eorum, e... Read More
John Calvin

Genesis 1:1-31

1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 1. In principio creavit Deus coelum et terram. 2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 2. Terra autem erat informis et inanis; tenebraeq... Read More

Group of Brands