Through the nearly 450 years since his death, John Calvin has been portrayed by his critics - Protestant as well as Catholic - as a cold, ruthless fanatic. This distorted characterization, for the most part, remains today. What was this man really like? An unfeeling, gloomy monster or a saint untouched by the common problems which beset lesser men? The author examines Calvin's personal correspondence and reveals him as a man capable of human mistakes and weaknesses, and yet, a deeply dedicated, sensitive individual undeserving of the years of vilification. This book, available here in English, for the first time in over 35 years, considers John Calvin from a personal standpoint. The excellent preface by Calvin-scholar John T. McNeill, carefully noted resources, brevity, readability, and human interest make this a biography for scholars and laymen alike. "This little book is one of a kind. Written by a careful historian and Swiss pastor, it draws on Calvin's correspondence and other records of the time to give a strong impression of what the reformer was like as a person, in his family life, in his close friendships, and in his sympathy and generosity as a pastor." - Rev. Sherman Isbell
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
As a Calvinist myself, I often hear every stereo-type you can imagine about Calvinists--puritanical, unyielding, straight-jacket, frowning, and more. Yet, this book takes the reader into the inner world of the man who gave his life so that others would benefit from the love and grace and mercy of God. Well titled, John Calvin was a man of great family love, endearing to friends and society, husband, hospitable, caring, gracious, and never forgetting a friend. The very fact that after years of exile, Calvin comes back to his church and picks up his preaching at the very next verse from which he left off years earlier tells us that his congregation was always on his mind.
This book is short, easy to read, yet the information is a gold mine of truth, insight, snapshots of life and a picture of a man to imitate. There will never be another Calvin, but his life leaves a legacy that no Calvinist should shy away from. The author has found sources that are beautifully blended together to paint a masterpiece of a life well lived...and a man, well loved. Having stood in his pulpit, reading his writing in Geneva, examining his materials held in safekeeping in his church I can attest to the real human life that stands behind this giant of the Reformation. While he could debate a man into the middle of the night, he would be just as willing to sit with a friend over a jug of wine and tell stories of family, discuss life and love, and share the joy of living in the presence of God.
I encourage any reader to read the trilogy of books that give us a better picture of Calvin's life. Read this one, plus Calvin in History and Memorial Addresses. This trilogy is a priceless addition to your library.
This book is short, easy to read, yet the information is a gold mine of truth, insight, snapshots of life and a picture of a man to imitate. There will never be another Calvin, but his life leaves a legacy that no Calvinist should shy away from. The author has found sources that are beautifully blended together to paint a masterpiece of a life well lived...and a man, well loved. Having stood in his pulpit, reading his writing in Geneva, examining his materials held in safekeeping in his church I can attest to the real human life that stands behind this giant of the Reformation. While he could debate a man into the middle of the night, he would be just as willing to sit with a friend over a jug of wine and tell stories of family, discuss life and love, and share the joy of living in the presence of God.
I encourage any reader to read the trilogy of books that give us a better picture of Calvin's life. Read this one, plus Calvin in History and Memorial Addresses. This trilogy is a priceless addition to your library.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
If you are at all interested in the Swiss Reformer John Calvin, I must heartily commend to you The Humanness of John Calvin: The Reformer as a Husband, Father, Pastor & Friend by Richard Stauffer. In a mere 100 or so pages, Stauffer does an excellent job of a painting a portrait of Calvin. It's probably a different portrait than what you may have in your mind, but its very accurate and corrects a lot of misconceptions of Calvin.
Calvin is slandered by his enemies, but even people who like him tend to pigeon-hole him into something he is not. Calvin was not a one-track theologian with nothing on his mind but predestination. He was not a cold, heartless exegete. He had a soft pastoral heart and a friendly, temperate disposition in many ways. One by one, Stauffer shows Calvin as a Husband, Father, Pastor, and Friend. To me, the most enlightening of these was "Friend". The book really shows through primary sources how Calvin came along side people, cared for them, and was fiercely loyal to them. And it was not just one or two friendships that he nurtured, instead Calvin sought a handful of friendships and really himself poured into them.
The section on Calvin as "Pastor" is also very good, showing the way he cared for his people and also his humble approach, even upholding the church leadership which overthrew his own, because he felt it was still a valid church. Calvin's pastoral heart really shines forth and refutes the idea which relegates Calvin to some sort of cold-hearted dictator. The portrayals of his sympathy and care for human suffering really dispels a lot of common misconceptions.
We also get a good glimpse into Calvin's married life, and how he cared for his children. Their time was not an easy one, and Calvin's faith and humanness really comes out as they go through various difficulties, including the plague.
There are two other areas that come out in this book, which aren't part of the subtitle but seemed prominent to me. First of all, there is a great portrayal of Calvin as a Bachelor and second Calvin as a Matchmaker. Calvin's desire to encourage good matches for his friends really comes out here.
Calvin is slandered by his enemies, but even people who like him tend to pigeon-hole him into something he is not. Calvin was not a one-track theologian with nothing on his mind but predestination. He was not a cold, heartless exegete. He had a soft pastoral heart and a friendly, temperate disposition in many ways. One by one, Stauffer shows Calvin as a Husband, Father, Pastor, and Friend. To me, the most enlightening of these was "Friend". The book really shows through primary sources how Calvin came along side people, cared for them, and was fiercely loyal to them. And it was not just one or two friendships that he nurtured, instead Calvin sought a handful of friendships and really himself poured into them.
The section on Calvin as "Pastor" is also very good, showing the way he cared for his people and also his humble approach, even upholding the church leadership which overthrew his own, because he felt it was still a valid church. Calvin's pastoral heart really shines forth and refutes the idea which relegates Calvin to some sort of cold-hearted dictator. The portrayals of his sympathy and care for human suffering really dispels a lot of common misconceptions.
We also get a good glimpse into Calvin's married life, and how he cared for his children. Their time was not an easy one, and Calvin's faith and humanness really comes out as they go through various difficulties, including the plague.
There are two other areas that come out in this book, which aren't part of the subtitle but seemed prominent to me. First of all, there is a great portrayal of Calvin as a Bachelor and second Calvin as a Matchmaker. Calvin's desire to encourage good matches for his friends really comes out here.
John Calvin has been often been misrepresented as a cold, hard, unfeeling, detached man and responsible for the death of Michael Servetus. Nothing could be further from the truth and Richard Stauffer's, "The Humanness of John Calvin, The Reformer as Husband, Father, Pastor and Friend," dispels any ideas of these distortions be true. Not a new work, published in 1971, it is worth another look however as Calvin's life is back in the limelight with the anniversary of his birthday last year. The author, Richard Stauffer, (1921-1984), was an outstanding Reformation historian in his own right and his exquisite knowledge of the time period is revealed within this 96 page tome.
Stauffer threads his way through the highlights of Reformer's life and reveals intimate details, most through detailed knowledge of his letters, about Calvin the man; about his humanness. Dispelling many if not all of the unfair and inaccurate characterizations of the Reformer, we read of the kind, loving, deep feeling man that he was. For those who have been indoctrinated with the lies about Calvin, this book is for you. For those who want to know more about the man behind the theology, this book is also for you. I highly recommend it. It could be a first step to a greater understanding of Calvinism.
Stauffer threads his way through the highlights of Reformer's life and reveals intimate details, most through detailed knowledge of his letters, about Calvin the man; about his humanness. Dispelling many if not all of the unfair and inaccurate characterizations of the Reformer, we read of the kind, loving, deep feeling man that he was. For those who have been indoctrinated with the lies about Calvin, this book is for you. For those who want to know more about the man behind the theology, this book is also for you. I highly recommend it. It could be a first step to a greater understanding of Calvinism.
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