John Calvin

Political Theology French-Swiss 1509 – 1564 40 quotes

A French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation, whose theological system, Calvinism, emphasized predestination and influenced political thought in Geneva and beyond.

Quotes by John Calvin

To resist the magistrate is to resist God.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

The magistrate is a minister of God for good.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

Where there is no law, there is no transgression.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

Tyranny is a perversion of government.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

The magistrate is bound to enforce the laws of God.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

The Church is the pillar and ground of the truth.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

The laws of God are the rule of all justice.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

The Church is the body of Christ, and he is its head.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

The Church has no right to shed blood.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

The civil power ought to promote peace and order.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

The magistrate is to be a defender of the faith.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

All events are governed by God's secret plan.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

The human heart is a perpetual factory of idols.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

We must remember that Satan has his miracles, too.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1559

No man is free who is not master of himself.

Sermon 1540

Prayer is the chief exercise of faith.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

Tyranny is the abuse of sovereign power.

Letter 1554

Man's nature is a perpetual factory of idols.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

The sacraments are God's pledges to us.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536

The magistrate is the lieutenant of God.

Institutes of the Christian Religion 1536