Calvin and Knox: Religious Thinker and Religious Politician

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Abhinav Parameshwar

Western Civilization

7-02-07

Calvin and Knox: Religious Thinker and Religious Politician

        Human society’s teachings and beliefs have been improved, refined, and remade for thousands of years. Great thinkers, who have the ability to think for themselves rather than simply accepting what they are taught without believing it, have changed the human outlook for better or for worse. Christianity, the most practiced religion in the world, has been through many major changes. The split between Catholicism and Protestantism during the Renaissance is the single biggest change that it has undergone. This monumental schism was initiated and spearheaded by Martin Luther. In addition, two men who were influential contributors to the spread of these new ideas were John Calvin (1509-1564) and John Knox (1514-1572). Calvin and Knox both found Luther’s beliefs and ideas appealing and embraced them wholeheartedly. Calvin sought to systematize Protestant thought and wrote one of the most influential theological works of all time (Online: Holznagel, p.1). John Knox found himself under the influence of Calvin and struggled to reform religion in Scotland alone (Online: Knox, p. 1). While both John Calvin and John Knox believed in the same theological ideas, they pursued very different religious goals.

John Calvin and John Knox grew up in very different backgrounds and experienced different lifestyles. Calvin was born on the 10th of July, 1509 in Noyon, France. His mother died when he was still young and his father, subsequently, married a widow. Calvin’s father, Gérard Cauvin, was the apostolic secretary to the bishop of Noyon. Calvin’s father’s position and ambition for his son, secured for him the best educational advantages at home. When Calvin was only twelve, he received the chaplaincy attached to the altar of La Gésine in the cathedral of Noyon, which provided for him a regular income (Online: Schaff, p. 1). Knox, on the other hand, is believed to have been born in Haddington, Scotland in the year 1514. Knox was born a Roman Catholic. His father, William Knox, was a decent man who fought at the battle of Flodden Field. Many details of Knox’s early life are unclear. His father was moderately well off and managed to give Knox an adequate education in an excellent grammar school in Haddington. (Online: Lent, p. 1). 

Both Calvin and Knox studied Christian theology before converting to Protestantism. In 1523, when Calvin was just fourteen years old, he was sent to the University of Paris to prepare for priesthood as it was expected he would become a priest. Calvin demonstrated rare ability whilst acquiring the priestly training. He studied Latin during his training until the opening of 1528. It was then, however, that his father ordered Calvin to change his studies to law, after failing out with local authorities (his father, was subsequently excommunicated). Calvin obeyed and left Paris for Orléans (Online: Schaff, p. 1). Similarly, Knox completed his education at the University of Glasgow, however, it is uncertain how long he remained in college or whether he graduated. In the same way as Calvin, Knox pursued priesthood and ordained it, sometime prior to the year 1540, when his status as a priest is first mentioned in documents of the time. In some of Knox’s concurrent works, it is evident that he had not yet separated himself from the Roman orders in his character as a priest (Online: Lent, p. 1). In 1533, Calvin made a rapid conversion from a humanist into a Reformer. Calvin said- “God, by a sudden conversion subdued and brought my mind to a teachable frame. . . . Having thus received some taste and knowledge of true godliness, I was immediately inflamed with [an] intense desire to make progress" (Online: Piper, p. 6). Calvin explains that God reached out to him and therefore he knew what needed to be done. Knox first professed the Protestant faith in the year 1545. Although, his mind had been directed to the faith for some time before. It is believed that an amiable Lutheran reformer by the name of George Wishart was the immediate instrument of Knox’s conversion. During their time together, Knox followed the reformer everywhere and was greatly influenced by his preaching. After Wishart died, Knox continued as a reformer and preacher to revolutionaries in Scotland (Online: Lent, p. 2). Calvin and Knox both studied the bible and were quite familiar with its law before drastically changing their views upon Catholicism. 

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John Calvin and John Knox both believed in Protestant theology and desired to spread their beliefs. Calvin has often been seen as little more than a systematizer of the more creative philosophies of Luther.  He did follow Luther on many important points on the original sin, scriptures, dependence of human beings on divine grace and justification by faith alone; however, his differences with Luther are significant. Calvin was more impressed by God’s supremacy and control over the world. Furthermore, Calvin emphasized God’s power and glory. Identical to Luther’s teachings, Calvin taught that predestination meant that salvation would be taken care of by a loving ...

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