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John Calvin, the Organizer of Reformed Protestantism, 1509-1564.

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Williston Walker wrote a biography about a second generation reformer. A book about a man who was in his youth when Martin Luther was risking his life to alter theological teaching of the Roman Catholic Church and eventually starting a new church based on the word of God - not proclamation of Popes. John Calvin theological training was under the Roman Catholic Church, but in the times when its teachings were being challenged. When it was time to become a priest he had to choose to follow his conscience what the Bible taught or stay in the Catholic Church and its theology. John Calvin effected his time on earth and was a creation of the times. In no way was a man free to teach the thoughts of God free from the sword of the state. Whether in Straus burg Germany or Geneva Switzerland, John Calvin was there because of religious persecution- so was the French people listening to him. It was in this environment that Calvin developed his understanding of the Bible and his ability to expound on the word of God. It was under this environment John Calvin influence the teaching and governing of Geneva. The author does an excellent job in doing this.

Chapter one is about Spiritual antecedents. What was the Catholic Church about and the Pre-Reformation. What is it that brought John Calvin about? What is the Reformation development of John Calvin? When instructor Cop fled because heretical speech, John Calvin decided it was a prudent time to leave Paris. This led to Calvin first to Basel Italy where he studied and published. Then after that his first tour in Geneva Switzerland. The author gives a whole chapter to Geneva before Calvin's arrival which was not completely sympathetic to Calvin's views of theology and other French people seeking refuge there.

Calvin was banished from Geneva after a dispute with the Bernese government (which was the protectorate of Geneva}. So Calvin left Geneva for Basel Italy and eventually Strasburg Germany where Calvin pastor French refugees and extended his intellectual life. Bernese release of authority of religious aspects of government and change of local control in Geneva led to John Calvin and Farcel's return. Religious and government authority were intermixed, so Calvin continued to struggle with those with different points of view for a good fifteen years. The book gives a good 30 pages on the Servetus theology, correspondence with Calvin, Servetus flight from Roman Catholic Church authorities and Servetus eventual execution in Geneva under Calvin's participation.

The Author ends the book with analysis of Calvin's influence outside of Genev