Though his greatest work would occur in Switzerland, John Calvin began his life near Paris. Despite his parents’ wishes and his own original intentions, his life would take twists and turns before his conversion set his destiny on course.

<p>Though his greatest work would occur in Switzerland, John Calvin began his life near Paris. Despite his parents’ wishes and his own original intentions, his life would take twists and turns before his conversion set his destiny on course.</p>

Adam Ramdin

Lineage: Season 1

Episode 1- Constantine: Compromise & Controversy

Episode 2- Scotland’s Braveheart

Episode 3- Holy Island

Episode 4- The Tide Turns

Episode 5- Dinooth & Columbanus

Episode 6- Waldenses: People of the Valleys

Episode 7- The Waldenses: A Mission Movement

Episode 8- The Waldenses: Lux Lucet In Tenebris

Episode 9- The Albigensian Massacre

Episode 10- Magna Carta: The Foundation of Freedom

Episode 11- John Wycliffe: The Morning Star

Episode 12- Bohemian Reformation: Huss & Jerome

Episode 13- Bohemian Reformation: Trial of Huss & Jerome

Episode 14- Bohemian Reformation: Burned for Their Faith

Episode 15- Bohemian Reformation: Hussite Wars

Episode 16- John Wycliffe: Worldwide Witness

Episode 17- The Press Behind the Reformation

Episode 18- Martin Luther: Discovering The Word

Episode 19- Martin Luther: The Just Shall Live By Faith

Episode 20- Ulrich Zwingli: The Swiss Reformation

Episode 21- Martin Luther: The 95 Theses

Episode 22: The Papal Bull & Martin Luther

Episode 23: Martin Luther - Here I Stand

Episode 24: Martin Luther - Captured To A Castle

Episode 25: Martin Luther - Protest of the Princes

Episode 26: John Calvin - Early Years in France

Episode 27: Placards and Protest in France

Episode 28: John Calvin - The Work in Geneva

Episode 29: Geneva - International Hub of Reform

Episode 30: Scandinavian Reformation

Episode 31: William Tyndale

Episode 32: George Wishart - Scotland’s Forgotten Forerunner

Episode 33: John Knox - Scotland’s Greatest Reformer

Episode 34: John Knox - Showdown At Holyrood

Episode 35: The Waldenses Meet the Reformation

Episode 36: Ridley And Latimer Light A Candle

Episode 37: Thomas Cranmer - Cowardice and Courage

Episode 38: Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

Episode 39: The Spanish Armada

Episode 40: Guy Fawkes & The Gunpowder Plot

Episode 41: The Mayflower

Episode 42: Martin Luther- The Protest Is Not Over

Episode 43: The Waldenses- Massacre at Castelluzzo

Episode 44: Marie Durand- Righteous Resistance

Episode 45: John Wesley- The Origins of Methodism

Episode 46: John Wesley & George Whitfield

Episode 47: Mary Jones & World Mission

Episode 48: Is the Reformation Over?

Lineage Journey


John Calvin's story Season 2 Episode 2 John Calvin John Calvin was born in Lyon, near Paris, on the 10th of July 1509. He was thus only a child of 8 years old when Martin Luther, a man of 34 years old, nailed his famous 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg. Calvin did not experience the harsh upbringing that Luther had, but had a happy start to life, enjoying every prospect of success and numerous educational advantages. At the age of 12 he was appointed to a chaplaincy in a church in his hometown. His head was shaved and he received a concha.

As he grew up he wanted to become a priest and was soon noted for his intellectual ability, his blameless life, and his religious devotion. It was confidently anticipated that he would grow up to become a great defender of the Catholic Church. Calvin had heard of the new doctrines with a shudder, not doubting at all that those who believed them, the heretics, were worthy and deserving of the fires to which they were often taken. 🎵 At the age of 14, a plague hit the town where Calvin was living and so he moved from his town here to Paris and studied at the University of Paris. An interesting coincidence took place whereby 1 of his fellow pupils was a boy by the name of Ignatius Loyola.

Ignatius Loyola would grow up to found the Jesuits, a movement very very different from the 1 that Calvin would lead later in his life. 2 pupils both outstanding, but who would both have a vastly different impact on the world. Calvin later on left studying for the priesthood and went to study law after his father's footsteps and after his wishes as well. He completed his doctorate in law at the University of Orleans, but after the death of his father, he would re-evaluate his course and direction in life. [♪ music ♪ Calvin's cousin had joined with the Reformers, and whilst in public when speaking with him Calvin would strongly defend the positions of the church and reject new teachings, when he was alone he would ponder the words.

Conviction of sin gripped him. He saw himself without an intercessor. Confession and penance were resorted to in vain, but none could bring about peace. [♪ music ♪ 1 day he decided to visit a public square and he witnessed the burning of a martyr. He was filled with wonder at the expression of peace that was on his face, and he contrasted this with his own feelings of emptiness, doubt, and darkness.

He knew that the martyrs rested their faith on God's Word, and so he proposed that he would study the Bible to see if he could find the secret of their joy. As he studied the Bible, he found Jesus Christ. [♪ music ♪ No 1 knows for sure when Calvin experienced conversion, but that he did is not open to question. His conversion was definite enough to cause him to relinquish all income from church sources and abandon any idea of entering the legal profession. This decision would have been costly, causing him to give up an immense salary and all comforts that he was accustomed to in life.

[♪ music ♪ Calvin joined a small band of Protestants and preached the gospel from home to home for 2 years. The authorities were determined to capture him and kill him, and they came to his place of abode. But due to the quick thinking of some of his friends, They detained the officers at the door for long enough to allow others to lower him out of the window, and he was able to flee the city. [♪ music ♪ 1 thing that we learned from the life of Calvin is that no matter what you start out doing in life, it doesn't have to be that way for the rest of your life. He started out wanting to be a priest, his father wanted him to be a lawyer, he ended up doing neither of these things and would go on to be a great reformer who changed the face of the whole of Christendom.

Maybe you're on a course of study that you don't really enjoy or know why you're there. Maybe you're doing something that your parents have imposed upon you and that you don't really feel is your calling. And God may be calling you to something different and I want to appeal to you that if that is the case then follow the leading of the Lord. You may have to change your course of study, you may have to change your occupation, but when you do that that's when true satisfaction, purpose, and meaning comes in our lives. You

Series

Lineage: Season 1

Episode 26: John Calvin - Early Years in France

Description

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

Other Teachings in Series

Episode 1- Constantine: Compromise & Controversy

4m

Episode 2- Scotland’s Braveheart

5m

Episode 3- Holy Island

4m

Episode 4- The Tide Turns

4m

Episode 5- Dinooth & Columbanus

5m

Episode 6- Waldenses: People of the Valleys

4m

Episode 7- The Waldenses: A Mission Movement

4m

Episode 8- The Waldenses: Lux Lucet In Tenebris

4m

Episode 9- The Albigensian Massacre

5m

Episode 10- Magna Carta: The Foundation of Freedom

4m

Episode 11- John Wycliffe: The Morning Star

4m

Episode 12- Bohemian Reformation: Huss & Jerome

6m

Episode 13- Bohemian Reformation: Trial of Huss & Jerome

5m

Episode 14- Bohemian Reformation: Burned for Their Faith

2m

Episode 15- Bohemian Reformation: Hussite Wars

5m

Episode 16- John Wycliffe: Worldwide Witness

3m

Episode 17- The Press Behind the Reformation

4m

Episode 18- Martin Luther: Discovering The Word

5m

Episode 19- Martin Luther: The Just Shall Live By Faith

5m

Episode 20- Ulrich Zwingli: The Swiss Reformation

5m

Episode 21- Martin Luther: The 95 Theses

4m

Episode 22: The Papal Bull & Martin Luther

4m

Episode 23: Martin Luther - Here I Stand

5m

Episode 24: Martin Luther - Captured To A Castle

3m

Episode 25: Martin Luther - Protest of the Princes

4m

Episode 26: John Calvin - Early Years in France

5m

Episode 27: Placards and Protest in France

5m

Episode 28: John Calvin - The Work in Geneva

4m

Episode 29: Geneva - International Hub of Reform

4m

Episode 30: Scandinavian Reformation

5m

Episode 31: William Tyndale

5m

Episode 32: George Wishart - Scotland’s Forgotten Forerunner

5m

Episode 33: John Knox - Scotland’s Greatest Reformer

4m

Episode 34: John Knox - Showdown At Holyrood

4m

Episode 35: The Waldenses Meet the Reformation

4m

Episode 36: Ridley And Latimer Light A Candle

5m