Though it has been 450 years since John Calvin published the first edition of his Institutes, his influence continues to be felt today. His thoughts were the “cutting-edge of theology” in his day.

John Calvin (1509-1564), has been called "the ablest theologian and disciplinarian of the Protestant Reformation." He was educated, first for the Catholic priesthood and then for the Law. As a young man he came under a deep conviction of sin. Finding no relief in the Catholic methods, he was enabled to turn to God and find refuge in the merit and grace of Christ. He renounced Romanism, joined the Protestants, then had to flee from Paris in 1533 because of religious persecution. In the next two years twenty-four Protestants were burned alive, while many more were condemned to less cruel sufferings.

In 1536, the first edition of his widely read Institutes was published. A Professor Fisher observes, “The striking, the peculiar feature of his system is the doctrine of predestination.” Because of this distinctive feature, his theology later came to be called “Calvinism”.

Although Predestination has become synomous with Calvinism, the doctrine did not originate with him. In Hassell’s Church History we read, “The characteristic principles of the system now called Calvinism, were first fully developed by Augustine, Bishop of Hippo (324-430), whose great opponent was Pelagius, a British monk.”

In the 4th century, Pelagius developed a system of theology which is labeled “Pelagianism”. Church Historian Hassell states (pp.366), “Pelagianism declares that Adam’s fall hurt himself alone, and not his posterity; that all men are born in a sinless condition, and can keep the law of God and thus insure their own salvation....”. Augustine was successful in his defence of the doctrines of grace against Pelagius. However, his success was short lived. Soon after, a modified form of Pelagianism arose...Semi-Pelagianism. “Semi-Pelagianism declares that men, though born in sin, are not born entirely sinful, but have some good still remaining in them, and that this good must form a joint partnership with God in order to insure the sinner’s salvation.” Ibid. Readers acquainted with Arminianism will recognize it’s close similarity with these ancient heresies.

Today many eroneously think, that of the Reformers, John Calvin alone received the Augustine doctrine of Predestination. Hassell states, “This doctrine, at the outset, was common to all the Reformers. They were united in receiving the Augustinian theology, in opposition to the Pelagian doctrine.”

From this historic period precipitated the Westminster Confesson of Faith, a Confession widely accepted by Protestant Denominations of the day. A study of this Confession will show, that of the Protestant Denominations formed during the Reformation, the majority held the Calvinistic position...a position most have subsequently departed from.

Primitive Baptists are occasionally refered to as Calvinists because they adhere to the “T-U-L-I-P” doctrines. (five points of sovereign grace) However, there are numerous other important areas of theology where Primitive Baptists sharply differ with Calvinism. Although Calvin had extraordinary light on the doctrine of grace, Hassell correctly observes that, “...he was in great and lamentable darkness in regard to infant baptism,...alliance of Church and State, civil punishment of excommunicated persons, and fellowship with every so-called Christian Church.”

On a positive note, perhaps the greatest compliment paid to Calvin was by a formidable opponent, Pope Pius IV... “The strength of that heretic consisted in this, that money never had the slightest charm for him.”

“We are all born Arminians--it is grace that turns us into Calvinists” George Whitefield

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