Before we begin reading The Institutes of the Christian Religion, we pause to meet the man behind the work. In this episode, we trace the life of John Calvin—from his early education and sudden conversion, through exile, struggle, and ministry, to his enduring theological legacy. Calvin emerges not as a cold system-builder, but as a pastor-theologian shaped by Scripture, suffering, and a relentless desire to live coram Deo—before the face of God. Understanding Calvin’s life helps us understand why the Institutes were written as they were: not merely to instruct the mind, but to form worshippers whose lives are ordered by the glory of God.
Readings: John Calvin, John Calvin: A Life Lived Before the Face of God
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