Portrait of John Calvin

John Calvin

Protestant reformer

Early Modern influential 175 sayings

Sayings by John Calvin

God will not suffer his truth to be obscured, but will always raise up some to maintain it.

1548 — Commentary on Galatians 1:8
Biblical Unverifiable

Faith is a firm and certain knowledge of God's benevolence toward us, founded upon the truth of the freely given promise in Christ, both revealed to our minds and sealed upon our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

1559 — Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, Chapter 2, Section 7
Biblical Unverifiable

The true worship of God consists in obeying him.

1563 — Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:22
Biblical Unverifiable

All good things proceed from God, and all evil things from ourselves.

1551 — Commentary on James 1:17
Life & Death Unverifiable

Our salvation is assured, not by our own works, but by the election of God.

1548 — Commentary on Ephesians 1:4
Biblical Unverifiable

God's providence extends to all things, even to the least of them.

1559 — Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book I, Chapter 16, Section 1
Wisdom Unverifiable

The Word of God is the scepter by which he governs his church.

1551 — Commentary on Isaiah 2:3
Biblical Unverifiable

There is no other way to be saved than by the grace of God.

1552 — Commentary on Acts 15:11
Biblical Unverifiable

All who are truly godly desire to live a holy life.

1559 — Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, Chapter 6, Section 1
Biblical Unverifiable

The whole world is a theater of God's glory.

1559 — Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book I, Chapter 5, Section 8
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

The Christian life is a perpetual exercise of repentance.

1559 — Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, Chapter 3, Section 1
Wisdom Unverifiable

God uses wicked men as his instruments to execute his judgments.

1551 — Commentary on Isaiah 10:5
Biblical Unverifiable

The true knowledge of God consists in acknowledging him as our Father and Lord.

1559 — Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book I, Chapter 2, Section 1
Biblical Unverifiable

We are debtors to God, and can never pay the debt.

1555 — Commentary on Matthew 18:24
Wisdom Unverifiable

The church is the mother of all the godly.

1559 — Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Chapter 1, Section 4
Biblical Unverifiable

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation.

1540 — Commentary on Romans 1:16
Biblical Unverifiable

God's glory is the end of all things.

1559 — Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book I, Chapter 16, Section 9
Wisdom Unverifiable

Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

1549 — Commentary on Hebrews 11:6
Biblical Unverifiable

The most perfect way of worshiping God is to live a holy life.

1551 — Commentary on 1 Peter 1:15
Biblical Unverifiable

God's love is the fountain of all our blessings.

1553 — Commentary on John 3:16
Love & Relationships Unverifiable
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