Calvin’s Success in Geneva

Calvin’s Success in Geneva

In the generation after Luther and Zwingli the dominating figure of

the Reformation was John Calvin, the French Protestant theologian who

fled religious persecution in his native country and in 1536 settled

in the newly independent republic of Geneva. Calvin led in the strict

enforcement of reform measures previously instituted by the town

council of Geneva and insisted on further reforms, including the

congregational singing of the Psalms as part of church worship, the

teaching of a catechism and confession of faith to children, the

enforcement of a strict moral discipline in the community by the

pastors and members of the church, and the excommunication of

notorious sinners. Calvin's church organization was democratic and

incorporated ideas of representative government. Members of the

congregation elected pastors, teachers, presbyters, and deacons to

their official positions.

Although church and state were officially separate, they cooperated so

closely that Geneva was virtually a theocracy. To enforce discipline

of morals, Calvin instituted a rigid inspection of household conduct

and organized a consistory, composed of pastors and laypersons, with

wide powers of compulsion over the community. The dress and personal

behaviour of citizens were prescribed to the smallest detail; dancing,

card playing, dicing, and other recreations were forbidden; blasphemy

and ribaldry were severely punished. Under this severe regime,

nonconformists were persecuted and even put to death. To encourage the

reading and understanding of the Bible, all citizens were provided

with a...

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...ng Calvin to return from

Strasbourg because they feared civil unrest. The Libertines were

defeated and Perrin left the city was a factor which helped Calvin

become a success in Geneva because his opposition was excommunicated.

The growing numbers of French refugees was an advantage to Calvin as

most of them become missionaries of the Reformation.

Calvin’s character was another factor, which lead to his success in

Geneva; the way he preached his creation of systems, his organisation

skills, in the Ordinances. He set an example of Christian godliness.

His writings were influential to the people and set standards. His

ideal world was living from the Bible.

Overall Calvin’s success was due to many factors all linked together

and we cannot say it was just his personal leadership that lead to his

success in Geneva. .