## Introduction to Calvinism - [[Reformed Christianity | Calvinism]] is a doctrine that people often align themselves with or disparage, but rarely take the time to define, and it is a question that is frequently asked, with the goal of understanding what it means to be for or against Calvinism [(00:00:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=14s). - The term Calvinism can be defined narrowly or broadly, with the narrow definition referring to the [[Five Points of Calvinism | tulip]] doctrines, which are also known as the doctrines of grace, and will be explained in more detail later [(00:01:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=119s). - Calvinism is a fully formed worldview that encompasses more than just the tulip doctrines, and it is not just a subset of Christian doctrines on soteriology, but rather a comprehensive worldview [(00:02:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=158s). - The Protestant Reformation, which took place in the 1500s, was a great revival that called God's people back to the scriptures, and it was a response to the Roman Catholic Church's accumulation of extra-biblical and non-biblical teachings, such as the Marian doctrines and the doctrine of purgatory [(00:02:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=177s). ## The Protestant Reformation and Calvin's Role - The Reformation was characterized by a return to the scriptures, with the slogan "ad fontes," or "back to the sources," and it laid the groundwork for the development of [[Reformed Christianity | Calvinism]] as a distinct theological tradition [(00:03:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=218s). - The Protestant Reformation was centered around five main ideas, including Solos scriptura, which holds that scripture alone is the final authority of revealed truth, with other authorities such as pastors and magistrates being subordinate to it [(00:03:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=232s). - Another key idea is Solless cristus, which states that Christ alone is the mediator between God and men, excluding the possibility of Mary or the pope acting as co-mediators [(00:03:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=238s). - The concept of salvation by grace alone, not through works of the law or sacraments, is also a crucial aspect, with faith in Christ's finished work on the cross being the means of salvation [(00:04:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=274s). - The Protestant Reformation involved multiple important figures, including [[Martin Luther]], Olrich Zwingley, and [[John Calvin]], who were contemporaries and largely aligned on most issues, but had some disagreements that caused the movement to fracture [(00:05:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=314s). - John Calvin, the subject of the doctrines known as Calvinism, was a French Catholic who had a profound conversion experience and joined the Protestant movement, leading him to flee Paris for his safety, and he went on to become a prominent theologian and scholar [(00:06:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=394s). - Calvin's life and experiences, including his training in theology and law at the University of Paris, and his desire to be a scholar and write commentaries on the Bible, are important context for understanding his role in the Reformation and the development of [[Reformed Christianity | Calvinism]] [(00:06:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=402s). - The Reformation, led by figures like Luther, Zwingley, and Calvin, was a call to return to the authority of the New Testament and the Old Testament, and to revive the church through a renewed focus on scripture and the doctrines of the faith [(00:06:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=370s). - John Calvin's desire to be a peaceful scholar was interrupted when he met [[William Farel]], who recruited him to [[Geneva]] to be a reformer due to his genius in doctrine and aptitude for biblical theology at a young age [(00:07:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=458s). - Calvin was kicked out of Geneva, went to Strasbourg for some time, and was later invited back to Geneva, where he established himself as one of the premier theologians of the Reformation [(00:08:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=496s). - A major controversy in Calvin's life was the burning of [[Michael Servetus]], an anti-trinitarian heretic, which was a common practice during the Reformation era, and many Calvinists were also burned by the Roman Catholics [(00:08:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=515s). - One of Calvin's great accomplishments was the founding of the academy in Geneva, sometimes called Calvin's School of Death, where he trained many young men for ministry, who then went on to preach and establish reformed churches, often at the risk of being martyred [(00:09:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=553s). - Calvin's influence was largely in places where the language was accommodating, including Geneva, the Netherlands, Belgium, England, and Scotland, where his student [[John Knox]] founded [[Presbyterianism]] [(00:10:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=619s). - The Reformation was geographically and linguistically oriented, with different reformers having influence in various regions, and Calvin's influence extended across linguistic barriers, with many reformers reading and writing in multiple languages, including Latin [(00:10:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=642s). - Despite efforts to unite, the reformers, including [[John Calvin | Calvin]], Luther, and Zwingli, were unable to coalesce due to factors such as politics, language, and theology, which hindered their ability to agree on a unified Reformation [(00:11:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=675s). ## John Calvin: Life and Influence - John Calvin, the subject of the doctrines known as [[Reformed Christianity | Calvinism]], was a French Catholic who had a profound conversion experience and joined the Protestant movement, leading him to flee Paris for his safety, and he went on to become a prominent theologian and scholar [(00:06:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=394s). - Calvin's life and experiences, including his training in theology and law at the University of Paris, and his desire to be a scholar and write commentaries on the Bible, are important context for understanding his role in the Reformation and the development of Calvinism [(00:06:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=402s). - The Reformation, led by figures like Luther, Zwingley, and Calvin, was a call to return to the authority of the New Testament and the Old Testament, and to revive the church through a renewed focus on scripture and the doctrines of the faith [(00:06:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=370s). - John Calvin's desire to be a peaceful scholar was interrupted when he met [[William Farel]], who recruited him to [[Geneva]] to be a reformer due to his genius in doctrine and aptitude for biblical theology at a young age [(00:07:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=458s). - [[John Calvin | Calvin]] was kicked out of Geneva, went to Strasbourg for some time, and was later invited back to Geneva, where he established himself as one of the premier theologians of the Reformation [(00:08:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=496s). - A major controversy in Calvin's life was the burning of [[Michael Servetus]], an anti-trinitarian heretic, which was a common practice during the Reformation era, and many Calvinists were also burned by the Roman Catholics [(00:08:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=515s). - One of Calvin's great accomplishments was the founding of the academy in Geneva, sometimes called Calvin's School of Death, where he trained many young men for ministry, who then went on to preach and establish [[Reformed Christianity | reformed]] churches, often at the risk of being martyred [(00:09:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=553s). - Calvin's influence was largely in places where the language was accommodating, including Geneva, the Netherlands, Belgium, England, and Scotland, where his student [[John Knox]] founded [[Presbyterianism]] [(00:10:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=619s). - The Reformation was geographically and linguistically oriented, with different reformers having influence in various regions, and Calvin's influence extended across linguistic barriers, with many reformers reading and writing in multiple languages, including Latin [(00:10:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=642s). - Despite efforts to unite, the reformers, including Calvin, Luther, and Zwingli, were unable to coalesce due to factors such as politics, language, and theology, which hindered their ability to agree on a unified Reformation [(00:11:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=675s). ## The TULIP Doctrines - The [[Five Points of Calvinism | tulip]] doctrines are a set of five principles that define [[Reformed Christianity | Calvinism]], with the acronym standing for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints, and are considered quintessentially what people refer to as Calvinism [(00:11:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=699s). - Total Depravity refers to the condition of human beings being tainted by original sin, affecting every aspect of humanity, including the body, mind, will, and spiritual life, making humans inclined towards sin and away from God [(00:12:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=727s). - Unconditional Election is the doctrine that God elects sinners to save them by his grace, not because they are good or better than others, but because of his grace, as rooted in the Bible, particularly in [[Epistle to the Ephesians | Ephesians]] chapter 1, [[Epistle to the Romans | Romans]] chapter 8, and Romans chapter 9 [(00:13:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=800s). - Limited Atonement is the idea that Jesus' death on the cross was sufficient to cover the sins of everybody, but its efficiency is limited to the elect, those who believe, and those who are predestined, which is a concept that follows logically from Calvin's teachings, even if not explicitly stated [(00:14:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=896s). - The tulip doctrines, including Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, and Limited Atonement, are essential to understanding Calvinism, and are based on biblical teachings, with notable figures such as [[John Piper (theologian) | John Piper]], Mark Driscoll, and Francis Chan being associated with Calvinism [(00:13:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=807s). - The doctrine of limited atonement states that Jesus' death was intended to atone for the sins of the elect, and it is limited in its efficiency, not its sufficiency, meaning that it successfully accomplished its intended purpose, which is to atone for the sins of those who would believe and be regenerate [(00:15:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=951s). - The concept of irresistible grace suggests that when God sets his salvific grace upon a person, he will ultimately save that person, as seen in the example of Paul on the Damascus road in [[Acts of the Apostles | Acts]] 9, where God changed Paul's heart and saved him for the glory of Christ [(00:16:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=984s). - The perseverance of the saints is the idea that once a person is truly converted, their heart has been changed, and they will persevere in their faith, not because of their own efforts, but because God preserves them, giving glory to God in salvation [(00:17:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1043s). - The [[Five Points of Calvinism | TULIP]] doctrines, which include limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints, among others, ultimately give glory to God in salvation, suggesting that God is totally glorious and gracious in the saving of man [(00:17:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1068s). ## Calvinism as a Worldview - [[Reformed Christianity | Calvinism]] is a broader worldview that is essentially an orthodox and faithful expression of biblical Christianity, as evidenced by John Calvin's writings, which affirm the basic essence of orthodox Christianity and the great creeds of the Christian faith, such as the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed [(00:18:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1122s). - Calvinism is not a narrow or unique doctrine, but rather a expression of historic Christianity, and those who hold to Calvinistic beliefs can find common ground with other Christians who affirm the same creeds and essentials of the faith [(00:19:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1156s). ## Calvin's Writings and Theology - John Calvin's book, The Institutes, is a key source for understanding his theology, and it demonstrates his intention to show that his teachings are rooted in biblical Christianity and aligned with the creeds of the ancient church [(00:19:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1192s). - [[John Calvin]] stands in the mainstream of Christendom, calling the church back to its early days and the founding of Christianity, especially as described in the New Testament, by referencing other theologians to establish a connection to the past [(00:20:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1208s). - Calvin refers to theologians such as [[Augustine of Hippo | Augustine]], Bernard, Chrysom, Ambrose, Gregory the Great, Cyprien, Jerome, Sirill, Hillary, and Tertullian to demonstrate his connection to the mainstream of true Bible-believing, Holy Spirit-inspired Christianity [(00:20:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1258s). - Calvin sees himself standing in the Augustinian tradition of theology, quoting St. Augustine frequently, and his Institutes contain numerous quotations from Augustine and other theologians [(00:21:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1266s). - The works of John Calvin primarily include the Institutes, a systematic theology of the Reformation era that defines Protestant beliefs, and his commentaries on almost every book of the Bible, which are considered expert and well-recommended [(00:21:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1289s). - The Institutes are a comprehensive and foundational theological work that underwent multiple editions, alternating between French and Latin, and had a significant impact on the Reformation era [(00:22:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1336s). - Calvin's commentaries are based on his sermons and cover a wide range of biblical books, although he does not have a commentary on Revelation and harmonizes the synoptic gospels rather than treating them individually [(00:23:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1381s). - In addition to the Institutes and commentaries, Calvin's theological work includes sermons, letters, and shorter treatises on topics such as the Lord's Supper, showcasing his extensive and diverse output [(00:23:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1415s). - The Institutes cover a broad range of systematic theology topics, including but not limited to predestination, which is not the primary focus of the book, and is a highly recommended read for those interested in Calvin's theology [(00:24:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1440s). - [[Reformed Christianity | Calvinism]] has several key doctrinal emphases, including the Trinity, the sovereignty of God, divine providence, salvation from sin, and justification by faith, which are all important aspects of Calvin's teachings [(00:24:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1476s). - The sovereignty of God is a central concept in Calvinism, with [[John Calvin | Calvin]] believing that God is sovereign over all creation and that every event, including every raindrop and every hair that falls out of one's head, is ordained by God [(00:25:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1508s). - This view of sovereignty is often misunderstood as fatalism, but it is actually a reflection of Calvin's theocentric understanding of the universe, where God is at the center and humanity is not [(00:25:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1552s). ## Calvin's Vision for the Christian Life - Calvin's vision for the Christian life emphasizes holiness, prayer, global missions, vocation, and the third use of the law, with a focus on living a life set apart to God and glorifying Him through sanctification by the Holy Spirit [(00:27:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1625s). - Calvin places a strong emphasis on prayer, with beautiful sections on the topic in his writings, including a subsection on self-denial and prayer in the Institutes [(00:27:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1655s). - [[John Calvin | Calvin]] also has a strong vision for global missions, believing that the nations are the Lord's and that people will come to a saving knowledge of Christ throughout the whole earth, with a focus on sending church planters to Roman Catholic France and other areas [(00:28:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1690s). - Calvinistic movements aimed to spread the gospel globally, influenced by Calvin's big god view of the world and the history of the world, with the goal of taking the gospel where it is not, as seen in the example of the pilgrim fathers, who were responding to Calvin's ideas [(00:28:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1716s). - Calvin has a strong doctrine of vocation, which emphasizes that whatever one does, they should do it for the glory of God, whether they are a clock maker, shoemaker, homemaker, or preacher, and this view is reflected in the excellence of Genevan clocks and watches [(00:28:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1738s). - The third use of the law, as emphasized by Calvin, is that the purpose of the law of God is to live a life that pleases our heavenly father, and this is in contrast to Luther's emphasis on the first use of the law, which drives us to the cross [(00:29:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1777s). ## Calvinistic Hermeneutics and Worship - Calvinistic hermeneutics involves a plain reading of the text, looking for the obvious meaning that the author intended, and this approach takes us back to a real study of the scriptures, avoiding arbitrary and spiritual interpretations [(00:30:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1802s). - Calvin's interpretation of scripture is never creative or inventive, but rather seeks to understand the text in its historical and literary context, and this leads to a Christ-centered way of interpreting the holy scriptures, where the Old Testament foresees and foretells the coming of Christ and the New Testament explains what it means that Christ has come [(00:31:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1888s). - Calvinistic worship is simple and emphasizes praying to God, reading the scriptures together as a church, singing the psalms, and a few other elements, in contrast to the more elaborate worship of the medieval [[Catholic Church | Roman Catholic Church]] [(00:32:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1944s). - Calvin's worship services typically started with a call to worship, followed by an exhortation, a time of confession and forgiveness of sins, the singing of psalms or the ten commandments, a prayer for illumination, a reading of scripture, expository preaching, intercessions, the Lord's prayer, a creed, and then the Lord's supper, although the Lord's supper was not celebrated every week [(00:33:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=1987s). - [[John Calvin | Calvin]] believed in only two sacraments, which were water baptism and the Lord's supper, departing from the Roman Catholic Church's seven sacraments, and he continued the practice of infant baptism, emphasizing baptism by water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit [(00:33:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2039s). ## Calvin's Sacraments and Confessions - Calvin believed in only two sacraments, which were water baptism and the Lord's supper, departing from the Roman Catholic Church's seven sacraments, and he continued the practice of infant baptism, emphasizing baptism by water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit [(00:33:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2039s). - Calvin's view on the Lord's supper was a mediating position between Zwingli's memorialism and Luther's consubstantiation doctrine, affirming the real presence of Christ, but not in the sense that the elements become the body and blood of Christ, rather that Christ lifts us up to himself [(00:35:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2100s). - Calvin strongly emphasized the presence of the Holy Spirit in the sacraments and that they should accompany the preaching of the word, and he was a confession writer, participating in the creation of several confessions, including the Genevan confession and the Augsburg variata [(00:35:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2140s). - Calvin's confessional outlook has inspired and modeled other Reformation-era confessions, including the Westminster confession, and most Presbyterian denominations are Calvinistic, such as the [[Presbyterian Church in America | PCA]] [(00:36:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2187s). - The [[Presbyterianism | Presbyterian Church]] in America (PCA) and other denominations like the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) and the [[Reformed Christianity | Reformed]] Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) are unabashedly Calvinistic in orientation, while some churches or theologians from non-Calvinistic denominations, such as Calvinistic Baptists and Anglicans, can also be found [(00:36:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2207s). ## Calvinistic Denominations and Figures - Calvin's confessional outlook has inspired and modeled other Reformation-era confessions, including the Westminster confession, and most Presbyterian denominations are Calvinistic, such as the PCA [(00:36:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2187s). - The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and other denominations like the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) and the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) are unabashedly Calvinistic in orientation, while some churches or theologians from non-Calvinistic denominations, such as Calvinistic Baptists and Anglicans, can also be found [(00:36:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2207s). - Some denominations that are not Calvinistic include the Assemblies of God, Methodist church, Lutheran church, Churches of Christ, [[Catholic Church | Roman Catholic Church]], and the PCUSA, which has become too secular, liberal, and progressive to be considered Calvinistic [(00:37:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2269s). - Famous Calvinists include [[John Knox]], Francis Turretin, John Owen, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Charles Spurgeon, and many others who have contributed to the development of [[Reformed Christianity | Calvinism]] throughout history [(00:38:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2329s). - There are also modern-day Calvinists, including those who are part of the "new Calvinist" movement, such as [[John Piper (theologian) | John Piper]], John MacArthur, and DA Carson, as well as those who are part of traditionally Reformed denominations, such as Joel Beeke, Kevin DeYoung, and R Scott Clark [(00:39:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2397s). ## Resources for Further Learning - For those interested in learning more about Calvinism, recommended resources include THL Parker's biography of [[John Calvin]] and RC Sproul's book on Reformed theology [(00:40:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2456s). - Calvinistic thought is explored in the book "Souls, How Jesus Saves Sinners", which serves as an example of Calvinistic soteriology [(00:41:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2466s). - The [[Five Points of Calvinism | tulip]] doctrines can be found in the book "Hold Fast the Faith", a devotional commentary on the Westminster Confession [(00:41:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2482s). - For those interested in reading John Calvin's work, "The Institutes" is a recommended starting point, and a link to it is provided in the video description [(00:41:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2496s). ## Conclusion - The discussion of [[Reformed Christianity | Calvinism]] has been covered in a video that is approximately 40 minutes long, aiming to provide a helpful understanding of the topic [(00:41:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y&t=2500s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhBaQqwMe6Y?si=d3liw3XMCB2Rq7Th)