Essential elements of Calvinist doctrine include the sovereignty of God as demonstrated in His creative power and His providential care, the authority of the Bible as the source and norm for all of life, and both the sinfulness and responsibility of man.

The Term

Calvinism is a term that John Calvin did not like and one that often makes a wrong impression. It emerged as a term of insult from Lutherans trying to separate themselves emphatically from the Reformed doctrine of the Lord’s Supper. Although Calvin distanced himself from the term—just as Martin Luther protested the term Lutheran—it has nevertheless endured.

Calvinism involves much more than merely the theology of Calvin. First, there is much of Luther’s theology and Huldrych Zwingli’s theology in Calvin’s teaching, and there were quite a few other theologians who contributed to what is called Calvinism, including Philip Melanchthon, Martin Bucer, and Theodore Beza. It would be more accurate, then, to speak of Reformed Protestantism. Since, however, the term Calvinism is recognizable and widely used, it is still useful.

The Theology

Essential elements of Calvinist doctrine include the sovereignty of God as demonstrated in His creative power and His providential care, the authority of the Bible as the source and norm for all of life, and both the sinfulness and responsibility of man. Calvinism is distinguished by the abiding function of the law for the Christian life. In Calvin’s mind, the law of God as summarized in the Ten Commandments has continuing meaning and is regarded as the rule for the Christian life. Combined with a focus on the person and work of the Holy Spirit, Calvinism distinguishes justification and sanctification while stressing that both are vital, and stresses the importance of a godly lifestyle, a commitment to mercy, and a continuing reflection on law and justice as evidences of the true, saving faith by which alone we are justified.

Culturally, Calvinism (inside the church) led to resistance to the cult of images as a threat to the proclamation of the Word and (outside the church) to an impulse for art and culture as a means of worshiping God. The focus on the Word on the importance of knowing God resulted in a Calvinist “culture of reading” in schools, homes, and churches, which in turn made Calvinism a home for many intellectuals over the centuries. Calvinism’s openness to science comes from Calvin’s view that God is also revealed in creation. Scientific research contributes to the recognition of God, and this view gave great impetus to academics.

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