John Calvin is one of the most important figures involved in the Protestant
             reformation. He devoted his life to bring about change in the church. His ideas on reform
             in the church brought about many changes that influenced Protestantism in Europe as
             On July 10, 1509, John Calvin was born in the city of Noyon in France to Girard
             Calvin, a lay administrator, and Jeanne Le Franc. His family was of the middle class. As
             a young boy, Calvin was well educated. At the age of twelve, Calvin received his first
             ecclesiastical benefice and he prepared to attend the university in Paris. In 1523, at the
             age of fourteen, Calvin entered the University of Paris where he was studying to become
             A few years later, his father decided his son should study to become a lawyer, so
             Calvin followed his fathers wishes and attended school in Orleans and Bourges. During
             this time, Calvin was exposed to a new movement among students which aimed to
             reform church and society by studying of the bible in its original languages. This left a
             strong mark on Calvin. When his father died in 1531, Calvin no longer felt any pressure
             to become a lawyer. He finished his degree in law and then returned to Paris to continue
             his studies in theology which included studying Greek, Hebrew, and Latin, the original
             While studying in Paris, John Calvin worked with the rector of the University of
             Paris, Nicholas Cop, on a statement of theological principle to be stated in a public
             speech. Shortly thereafter, the government became less tolerant of the reform movement,
             and Calvin was forced to flee Paris and live in Basel in Switzerland. In Basel, Calvin
             continued his studies and during this time he began to turn against the Roman Catholic
             this time he wrote what the first edition of the Institutes of Christian Religion and it was
             published in 1536. This book is considered to be the most important statement of the
             Protestant theology and gav...