The Greatness of John Calvin
The Greatness of John Calvin
Though I think it is wise and prudent, not to make too much of any one fallen human being as being too special--nonetheless, we do God an honor by acknowledging the astounding work He does in some very remarkable individuals. These people are those extremely rare geniuses--which come along maybe once every thousand years, or so. Of course, these unique souls represent all kinds of different aspects of life on earth. . . . Calvin was a pastor/theologian; Mozart was a musician; Einstein was a physicist. Compared to Jesus, none of these men are anything--any more than any of us are, either. But, notwithstanding this obvious fact, their astonishing giftedness, received from God alone, is not to go unrecognized, to the possible disparagement of the supreme greatness of the Triune Sovereign who meted it out.
In my opinion, the most amazing thing about John Calvin, was his pastoral heart. He was a very gentle, wise, and sensitive shepherd of the church, whose care for souls was and is legendary. Perhaps he came to this graciousness through his own personal experience with God and his own struggles; and through other ministers of the gospel who sincerely cared for him, and assisted him in his most extreme need.
Calvin only lived to see his 54th birthday--but his relatively short life was well spent. The great theologian published his first edition of his monumental "Institutes of The Christian Religion" in 1536, when he was but 27 years old. Calvin's health was often very tenuous; and it is phenomenal to consider his output of sermons, lessons, books, and commentaries, let alone his extensive correspondence. With the sole exception of Augustine himself, (of whom Calvin was very fond), the Genevan pastor would rank first of all time in the post-apostolic period of the New Covenant church age.
Calvin's commentaries on (most) of the books of the Bible are fantastic. Also his personal correspondence is warm and friendly; and his "official" letters to kings and other authorities is humble and self-effacing (even though Calvin was clearly superior in character to those to whom he wrote).
Calvin's irenic and even-headed (and -handed) spirit was well known; and he was a good "counter-balance" to the tumultuousness of his fellow-Reformer Martin Luther. Had Calvin and Luther met to discuss the issues surrounding the Lord's Supper, there may never have been a cleavage regarding the doctrine touching on this blessed sacrament.
It is true, that Calvin sometimes called God's opponents "dogs"; and he (Calvin) portrayed them as "barking" out their heretical teaching--but we must remember that the Reformer was dealing with issues of life and death; and, besides, this kind of speech was pretty common in the 16th Century. Calvin knew that the church's undershepherds (under Jesus), had to "beat off" the wolves that would attack the sheep of Christ's pasture.
Naturally, Satan and the world have always sought to paint John Calvin in the most negative colors possible--but this is always done to God's choicest servants. The Reformer inflicted many fresh wounds onto the crushed head of the old snake--and the devil is seeking (even today) to gain some "pay-back."
Calvin's ministry to the heretic Servetus was inspirational and commendatory. The Reformer sought to lead Servetus to repentance, before the Genevan city council's sentence of death would fall on him (Servetus).
Calvin's knowledge of Scripture, church history, pagan history, and languages was encyclopedic. When you read him, you save yourself a lot of time, since he has done so much of the hard (historical) work for you already.
Under Calvin's ecclesiastical leadership Geneva became the world's best city. It also became a refuge for persecuted Christians; and many ministers learned their theological lessons there, largely under the Reformer himself.
It is ironic, that the greatest Frenchman of all time would be held in such light esteem by his countrymen--but this (again) is not surprising. Calvin's greater "nation" was the company of the church militant, and the church triumphant. Still, Calvin maintained an especially-tender care for the faithful and true church in his native France.
I certainly recommend John Calvin to your readership. To help "whet" your appetite, here is a selection from his Galatians Commentary. (Calvin is teaching on Gal. 5:12): "Believers earnestly desirous that the glory of God should be promoted, forget men, and forget the world, and would rather choose that the whole world should perish, than that the smallest portion of the glory of God should be withdrawn."
Rev. Mark J. Henninger
Treatise #29
13 October 2025
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