In this episode we'll look briefly at the life and theology of John Calvin. Alistair McGrath wrote, "it's impossible to undertand modern protestantism without coming to terms with John Calvin's legacy to the movemet which he did so much to nourish and sustain."

Calvin's view of spirituality can be seen in his understanding and exposition of the Christian life, found in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, which we will look at in more detain in episode 4. As one writer noted, "He was completely committed to living out God's claim on his life and calling others to hear and heed, to rejoice in and witness to God's claim on them as the purpose and joy of their lives."

We'll also look briefly at the Institutes as well as Calvin's influence in the English Reformation.

Works cited:

John Calvin: Writings on Pastoral Piety. Edited by Elsie Anne McKee. Paulist Press 2001.

Calvin and Augustine, Benjamin Breckenridge Warfield. The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company 1974

A Life of John Calvin: A Study in the Shaping of Western Culture, Alistair McGrath. Basil Blackwell LTD 1990

Europe from the Renaissance to Reformation, G.R. Elton. The Folio Society 2001

The Works fo Augustus Toplady vol. 1. William Baynes and Son 1825.