Reformation 500 WEEK 17 John calvin and Farel
After
the publication of the first edition of his Institutes in early 1536,
Calvin decided to go to the German-Swiss city of Strasbourg, to pursue the
quiet life of a scholar, and to partner with Martin Bucer. “However, because of
hostilities between Francis I and Charles V and troop movements resulting in
blocked roads” (DeMar, Reformation, 201), he took a detour; and “on a
warm day in August, 1536, arrived through the gates of Geneva [population then
about 10,000]” (Kuiper, 192).
“A
postcard-picture spot, Geneva nestles against a lake surrounded by mountains.
The city could boast inhabitants as far back as the days of Julius Caesar. (Nichols, Reformation, 75). “Near-by,
through a pass in the Alps, runs an important trade route connecting Italy,
German, and France” (Kuiper, 192).
“When
Calvin entered Geneva, he did not think anyone in that city knew of him. He himself was a total stranger there, and of
the situation in Geneva he knew little or nothing” (Kuiper, 193). He did not know
that William Farel (1489-1565), an old acquaintance from Paris, had come as an
exile to Geneva in 1532 and after much effort had convinced the citizens of
Geneva to forsake Catholicism in favor of the Reformation. “On May 21, 1536, the
General Assembly of the citizens voted in favor of the Reformation and made
Protestantism the official religion of Geneva” (Kuiper, 192).
“All
through this time, Geneva was in revolt against its bishop, and against its
lord, the Duke of Savoy. Farel was of a fiery temper, and gifted with eloquence
and a powerful voice. But he did not feel himself equal to the task of bringing
peace and order to the distracted city. Then he heard that Calvin had come to
Geneva [unknown to Calvin, his Institutes had already made him famous
all over Europe]. It came to Farel as a revelation that this young Frenchman of
twenty-seven was just the man for the place. Farel hurried to the inn where
Calvin was stopping for the night [hoping to convince him to remain and help with
reform efforts]” (Kuiper, 193). “Calvin protested, pleading his youth, his
inexperience, his need of further study, his natural timidity and bashfulness,
which made him unfit for public action” (Schaff, 8:348).
When
Calvin gave his final answer of “No!” Farel “rose from his chair, and,
straightening himself out to his full height as his long beard swept his chest,
he directed his piercing look full at the young man before him and thundered:
‘May God curse your studies if now in her time of need you refuse to lend your
aid to His Church’.” (Kuiper 193-94).
In
the Preface to his commentary on Psalms, Calvin describes his encounter
with Farel: “I had resolved to pass quickly by Geneva, without staying longer
than a single night in that city.” But Farel “strained every nerve to detain
me. And after having learned that my heart was set upon devoting myself to
private studies, for which I wished to keep myself free from other pursuits,
and finding that he gained nothing by entreaties, he proceeded to utter an imprecation
that God would curse my retirement, and the tranquility of my studies, if I
should refuse to give assistance, when the necessity was so urgent. By this
imprecation [which I felt to be as if God had from heaven laid His mighty hand
upon me to stop me] I was so stricken with terror, that I ceased from my
journey [to Strasbourg and agreed to stay in Geneva].”
NOTE: These Posts were written and designed as bulletin inserts by Pastor David Fagrey of the Grace Reformed Church of Rapid City, SD .
Link to this blog entry as a bulletin insert: Reformation 500 John Calvin and William Farel
For a double-sided PDF for easy printing: Reformation 500 Week 17
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