John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

John Calvin (1509 - 1564) was a French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He developed a system of Christian theology which was later to be called Calvinism. Originally a Roman Catholic, trained as a humanist lawyer, he left the Catholic Church in 1530. Religious tensions resulted in a violent uprising against Protestants in France and Calvin fled to Switzerland.

Calvin was an energetic orator and writer who generated much debate. He communicated with many reformers including Philipp Melanchthon and Heinrich Bullinger. Calvin wrote commentaries on most books of the Bible, theological essays and other works. He also gave sermons in Geneva. Calvin was influenced by St. Augustine and he was know to believe in predestination.

Calvin's writing was highly influential in the Presbyterian and other Reformed churches. Calvin's teachings also exerted considerable influence in the Puritan movement as well as in capitalism, and democracy.