John Calvin in Context

This volume pulls on the expertise of over forty scholars to present Calvin's social, cultural and intellectual worlds.

R. Ward Holder (Edited by)

9781108482400, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 5 December 2019

246 pages, 2 maps
23.5 x 15.8 x 3 cm, 0.93 kg

'The expert guidance provided by authors on such a wide range of topics in this admirable collection also highlights possibilities for further research. All contributions to this volume are supported by short reading lists to assist in that endeavour.' Graeme Murdock, The Journal of Ecclesiastical History

John Calvin in Context offers a comprehensive overview of Calvin's world. Including essays from social, cultural, feminist, and intellectual historians, each specially commissioned for this volume, the book considers the various early modern contexts in which Calvin worked and wrote. It captures his concerns for Northern humanism, his deep involvement in the politics of Geneva, his relationships with contemporaries, and the polemic necessities of responding to developments in Rome and other Protestant sects, notably Lutheran and Anabaptist. The volume also explores Calvin's tasks as a pastor and doctor of the church, who was constantly explicating the text of scripture and applying it to the context of sixteenth-century Geneva, as well as the reception of his role in the Reformation and beyond. Demonstrating the complexity of the world in which Calvin lived, John Calvin in Context serves as an essential research tool for scholars and students of early modern Europe.

Introduction. John Calvin in context R. Ward Holder
Part I. France and its Influence: 1. John Calvin's life G. Sujin Pak
2. French Christianity in the early 1500s Raymond A. Mentzer
3. The University of Paris during Calvin's life Greta Grace Kroeker
4. French humanism Olivier Millet
5. French religious politics Jonathan Reid
6. The French wars of religion Diane Margolf
Part II. Switzerland, Southern Germany, and Geneva: 7. The Swiss Confederation in the age of John Calvin Bruce Gordon
8. Strasbourg in the sixteenth century Steven Tyra
9. Geneva and its protectors Charles Parker
10. Daily life in Geneva Jill Fehleison
11. Reforming the city-state: government in Geneva William Naphy
12. Consistories and discipline Jeffrey Watt
13. Reformed education and the Genevan Academy Karin Maag
14. Worship, pastorale, and diaconate in early modern life Elsie A. McKee
Part III. Empire and Society: 15. The politics of the emperors Ute Lotz-Heumann
16. Judaism in Europe during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance David Price
17. Refugees Jesse Sponholz
18. Calvin and women Elizabeth A. Lehfeldt
Part IV. The Religious Question: 19. Western ideals of religious reform Brad Gregory
20. The Luther affair David M. Whitford
21. Religious colloquies Ronald Rittgers
22. The Council of Trent and the Augsburg Interirm Kathleen Comerford
23. Biblical scholarship Jon Balserak
24. The printed word Andrew Pettegree
25. Polemic's purpose Amanda Eurich
26. The style of theology: editions of the institutes Randall Zachman
27. Baptism Karen E. Spierling
28. The Eucharist Amy Nelson Burnett
29. Predestination in early modern thought Charles Raith, III
30. The challenge of heresy: Servetus and Stancaro Arnold Huijgen
31. Idolatry Carlos M. N. Eire
32. Trinitarian controversies Rebecca Giselbrecht
33. Nicodemism and libertinism Kenneth Woo
Part V. Calvin's Influences: 34. Calvin and Luther Christopher Boyd Brown
35. Calvin and Melanchthon Timothy Orr
36. Calvin and the Swiss and South German evangelicals Peter Opitz
37. Calvin's friends: Farel, Viret, and Beza Michael Bruening
38. Calvin's critics: Bolsec and Castellio Kirk Essary
39. Calvin's Lutheran critics Esther Chung-Kim
40. Calvin's Catholic critics Ralph Keen
41. Calvin and the Anabaptists Mirjam van Veen
Part VI. Calvin's Reception: Our Context: 42. International Calvinism Mack Holt
43. Calvin legends: hagiography and demonology Jennifer Powell McNutt
44. Calvin in the British Isles and the colonies Crawford Gribben
45. Calvin in the Netherlands and the Dutch Atlantic world Christine Kooi
46. Calvin in Asia Yudha Thianto
47. Calvin's theoretical legacy in the seventeenth-nineteenth centuries Keith Stanglin
48. Calvin's fortunes in the twentieth century Bruce Gordon
Conclusion. Calvin and Calvinism R. Ward Holder.

Subject Areas: Protestantism & Protestant Churches [HRCC9], Church history [HRCC2], History of religion [HRAX], Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH]