John Calvin Research Paper

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Numerous theologians work with one another to put together doctrines of what they believe. Theologians such as: Thomas Cranmer, John Knox, and Martin Luther (Wikipedia). In this paper, John Calvin, his theology of Calvinism, and the opposing theology of Arminianism will be the main topics spoken of. By digging deeper into these beliefs, this paper will show how and where the "Calvinist Christian" came to be. John Calvin was born on July 10, 1509 in Noyon, Picardy, France (Biography.com). As he grew up, he was raised in France where he practiced the Roman Catholic religion. His father always wanted him to become a priest in the Roman Catholic Church (Tilbert). As Calvin grew older, he decided to attend college at the University of Paris. Later …show more content…

After Luther nailed the theses to the door, which were put there to show the church in Wittenberg that their corrupt practices were wrong, Calvin started to take notice to the Reformation (Tilbert). In 1555, Calvin was given authority as leader in Geneva, Switzerland. Geneva came to be the center of Protestantism. Not only did Calvin become Martin Luther's successor, he created Presbyterianism in Scotland, the Puritan Movement in England, and the Reformed Church in the Netherlands by sending pastors all through Europe. Calvin started writing a book called, "The Institutes of the Christian Religion". In writing this book, he was trying to standardize the doctrines of Protestantism (Biography.com). When he first published his book, it was only six chapters talking about his views on Christian theology. Over the span of twenty-three years later, his book grew into four volumes with a total of eighty chapters (Tilbert). John Calvin was a preacher for many years. He preached to the people of Geneva and Strasbourg. His practices became known as the "Reformed Tradition" after moving to North America. Hundreds of years later, Calvinism and the Reformed Tradition represent two very different doctrines and interpretations …show more content…

The Synod was called to examine Jacob Arminius’s views and compare them to scripture. This lasted seven months, and a total of one hundred and fifty-four sessions. The Synod decided to reject Arminius, and create the Five Points of Calvinism. They chose the name “Calvinism” from the reformer, John Calvin, who died several years before they met (Steele). On the contrary to John Calvin, Jacob Arminius was a Dutch theologian. Arminius was originally Calvinist, but after studying through the book of Romans in the Bible, he rejected many Calvinist doctrines (Fairchild). Jacob Arminius and his doctrine of Arminianism proclaims a God who allows man to save himself. Arminianism also states that God saw into the future to see who would choose Him, Jesus died for everyone’s sins, and that it is possible for man to lose his salvation

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