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Jul 10, 1509
Birth
He was born in Noyon, France. -
Jan 1, 1528
Sudden Conversation with God
Some point between 1528 and 1533, He experienced a "sudden conversion" and grasped Protestantism. "God subdued my soul to docility by a sudden conversion" was how Calvin described this experience. -
Jan 1, 1531
His Education
He was pressured by his father to study Law but his father died giving Calvin the freedom to resume his religious studies so he went to the College de France in Paris to study Greek. This college was noted for its Humanistic approach to learning. In fact, all the colleges that Calvin attended had Humanistic leanings and it was only natural that this influenced Calvin. He became an admirer of Erasmus. -
Mar 1, 1536
Publishing 'Institutes of the Christian Religion'
In March, he published the first edition of his 'Institutes of the Christian Religion'. The book, the first expression of his theology, contained a defense of his faith and a statement of the doctrinal position of the reformers. He later, expand the Institutes to include the sacraments, the Law, Faith, Prayer, Christian Liberty and Church government. -
Aug 1, 1536
William Farel and Geneva
In August, he was hired by William Farel to help reform the church in Geneva. The city council do not like their ideas, and both men were expelled in 1538. At the invitation of Martin Bucer, Calvin went to Strasbourg, France, where he became the minister of a church of French refugees. He continued to support the reform movement in Geneva. -
Sep 1, 1541
Back in Geneva
In September, he was eventually invited back in Geneva to lead its church. It then took Calvin 14 years before he could fully impose his version of liturgy, doctrine, organization of the church and moral behavior. He is made a citizen of Geneva in 1599. -
May 27, 1564
Death
He died in Geneva, Switzerland. -
Opening Schools
He had been working on a project but he died while doing it, his students and friends decided to finish it for him. They opened the doors to his schools; the College and the Academie. It marked an important date in the history of Geneva. The poor, modest city became, so to speak, the Protestant Rome. The running of its schools became a model for a large number of other academies.In less than 5 years they had grown to over a thousand students.
