Calvin, John

John Calvin was born Jehan Cauvin in Picardy, France, on July 10, 1509, the first of the four sons of Gerard Cauvin. Calvin was brought up in a staunch Roman Catholic family. However, in 1527 he made friends who were reform-minded. The following year on his father’s advice he started studying law. In 1533 he experienced a religious conversion that resulted in a break from the Roman Catholic Church. He moved around constantly from one church to another during his time in Strasbourg, France. In 1541, the council of Geneva requested him to return to Geneva, where he remained until his death in 1564. During his lifetime he attracted many followers and made many enemies.

In 1536, Calvin published the first edition of Institutio Christianae Religionis ...