You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
JOHN CALVIN: LIFE, LEGACY AND THEOLOGY<br />
PROF. M. M. NINAN<br />
PREFACE<br />
My initial intention was only to write the life of <strong>John</strong> <strong>Calvin</strong> following my similar studies in others in<br />
the theological field. <strong>John</strong> <strong>Calvin</strong> especially is a controversial figure both in his life <strong>and</strong> in his<br />
theology.<br />
The success of the reformers was spurred on by the advent of the printing press whereby the Bible<br />
which was previously available only to a privileged few was now available to the common man in<br />
his or her own language. This resulted in a spurt of rethinking <strong>and</strong> the result was the overthrow of<br />
the religious leader's exploitation of ordinary man.<br />
However it gave several different theological approach, among which <strong>John</strong> <strong>Calvin</strong>'s theology had<br />
been the most controversial. This theology is essentially based on the idea of the Sovereignty of<br />
God <strong>and</strong> the concept that God deals with his creation as he pleases. The whole idea of God as a<br />
Father got mislaid somewhere. This in fact is the st<strong>and</strong> of Islam. The relationship between God<br />
<strong>and</strong> man is one of Master to the slave. Is God an ego maniac who is concerned only about his<br />
glory even in the face of putting his own children through eternal torture, just for the fun of it?<br />
Agreed that God revealed himself to us through history in a gradual process. We are already in<br />
the New Covenant through the Blood of the Son. "God so loved the world that…"<br />
<strong>Calvin</strong>'s own life ethics <strong>and</strong> the treatment of those who differed from his own way of thinking <strong>and</strong><br />
the consequent burning <strong>and</strong> torturing those according to his theology are heretics led to st<strong>and</strong>ards<br />
of justice that are totally opposite to that of Jesus.<br />
The only definition of God in the Bible as Jesus has given us to believe is that God is Love <strong>and</strong> that<br />
God is our Father. These are major differences <strong>and</strong> consequently we have widely different<br />
theologies.<br />
What I have tried to give here is the theology of <strong>Calvin</strong> from as many different point of views so that<br />
we have a wider underst<strong>and</strong>ing of it in its context of the reformation period. I have copied the<br />
varying views from those who uphold it. I have tried to give the references as <strong>and</strong> when it comes.<br />
They are many <strong>and</strong> there are many more.<br />
If this gives a summary of all sides without partiality I am satisfied.<br />
Prof.M.M.Ninan<br />
Normal, IL<br />
March, 2018
Change language