Calvin and the Consolidation of the Genevan Reformation

by William G. Naphy

This book chronicles the history of the Protestant Reformation in sixteenth century Geneva under the leadership of John Calvin and is the best modern study of the Genevan Reformation available. The narrative of this work is enhanced by twenty-seven tables of extensive statistical data and eleven prosopographical appendices drawn from the author's extensive studies in the Geneva archives. His work shows the challenges faced by Calvin and his associates as they sought to proclaim and enact their Christian faith in a Genevan society that was facing severe problems with the influx of refugees from all over Europe.

Genres: History

288 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1994

About the author

Professor Naphy received his doctorate (in Reformation History) from the University of St Andrews in 1993. He was appointed a lecturer at the University of Manchester in 1993 and, in 1996, at Aberdeen where he was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1999. He was awarded a personal chair in 2007. He is the author of six books with translations into six languages (including an up-coming translation into Bosnian for an NGO raising awareness of homosexuality in Bosnia) as well as numerous edited volumes and articles in scholarly journals.

Reviews

[Joel Zartman]

“If Calvin’s goals had been confined to consolidating his hold on Genevan’s ecclesiastical structure, then by 1546 he would have been successful. The minsters and elders gathered around him were dramatically different from the body of men who had comprised Geneva’s religious establishment in the early years after his return. The city’s religious settlement was in the hands of a unified, determined, qualified body of men.

“For Calvin to complete his moves to change Geneva’s society and internal political structure, it was necessary either to change the make-up of the electorate or to eliminate substantial numbers of those opposed to his views. Throughout the last half of the 1540s Calvin’s opponents found themselves unable to secure absolute control over Genevan politics” (224).

The book details how Calvin gained control of the Consistory, then the town itself, and from there was able to look abroad. Too detailed a study to be riveting, but carefully argued.

[Kathleen]

Great insight into Calvin's role during the Reformation Period. The only reason I didn't rate a 5 was because he uses quotes in French and Latin (such as ". . . the matter needed another examination because " 'beaucoup des gens . . .'" (p187) What does that mean and how can it help me see his point if I don't know? There's quite a few instances like this in the book. His charts/tables helped and he doesn't always write in chronological order - covers more on a topic but has dates listed for what was going on and that makes it easy to see what was happening by topic and chronologically.
Basically, it shows how Calvin brought the true Reformation/Protestant changes to Geneva.

[Douglas Wilson]

Informative book.