The Humanness of John Calvin: The Reformer as a Husband, Father, Pastor & Friend

by Richard Stauffer, George Shriver (Translator)

Through the nearly 450 years since his death, John Calvin has been portrayed by his critics - Protestant as well as Catholic - as a cold, ruthless fanatic. This distorted characterization, for the most part, remains today. What was this man really like? An unfeeling, gloomy monster or a saint untouched by the common problems which beset lesser men? The author examines Calvin's personal correspondence and reveals him as a man capable of human mistakes and weaknesses, and yet, a deeply dedicated, sensitive individual undeserving of the years of vilification. This book, available here in English, for the first time in over 35 years, considers John Calvin from a personal standpoint. The excellent preface by Calvin-scholar John T. McNeill, carefully noted resources, brevity, readability, and human interest make this a biography for scholars and laymen alike. "This little book is one of a kind. Written by a careful historian and Swiss pastor, it draws on Calvin's correspondence and other records of the time to give a strong impression of what the reformer was like as a person, in his family life, in his close friendships, and in his sympathy and generosity as a pastor." - Rev. Sherman Isbell

Genres: Biography

100 pages, Paperback

First published April 8, 2008

Reviews

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brief, scholarly, and honestly/intentionally hagiographical vindication of the sympathetic human character of John Calvin. The introduction contains a helpful (though now somewhat out of date) literature review (historiography) of appraisals of Calvin since shortly after his death to the mid twentieth century.

In the chapter on Calvin as pastor, Stauffer draws the helpful observation that Calvin was:
1 - a completely devoted pastor (p. 84f)
2 - possessed the gift of sympathy, capable of being developed into genuine compassion (p. 87f)

Since he was intentionally correcting the unbalanced characterization of Calvin as overly severe, cold, clinical, legal, and anti-human, the monograph is a bit hagiographical. But Stauffer admits this to be the case, is careful to point out several times that Calvin saw himself as a sinner in need of God’s grace, and that this admission of fault/failure is an indicator of his genuine humanity.

[Mark Nenadov · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are at all interested in the Swiss Reformer John Calvin, I must heartily commend to you The Humanness of John Calvin: The Reformer as a Husband, Father, Pastor & Friend by Richard Stauffer. In a mere 100 or so pages, Stauffer does an excellent job of a painting a portrait of Calvin. It's probably a different portrait than what you may have in your mind, but its very accurate and corrects a lot of misconceptions of Calvin.

Calvin is slandered by his enemies, but even people who like him tend to pigeon-hole him into something he is not. Calvin was not a one-track theologian with nothing on his mind but predestination. He was not a cold, heartless exegete. He had a soft pastoral heart and a friendly, temperate disposition in many ways. One by one, Stauffer shows Calvin as a Husband, Father, Pastor, and Friend. To me, the most enlightening of these was "Friend". The book really shows through primary sources how Calvin came along side people, cared for them, and was fiercely loyal to them. And it was not just one or two friendships that he nurtured, instead Calvin sought a handful of friendships and really himself poured into them.

The section on Calvin as "Pastor" is also very good, showing the way he cared for his people and also his humble approach, even upholding the church leadership which overthrew his own, because he felt it was still a valid church. Calvin's pastoral heart really shines forth and refutes the idea which relegates Calvin to some sort of cold-hearted dictator. The portrayals of his sympathy and care for human suffering really dispels a lot of common misconceptions.

We also get a good glimpse into Calvin's married life, and how he cared for his children. Their time was not an easy one, and Calvin's faith and humanness really comes out as they go through various difficulties, including the plague.

There are two other areas that come out in this book, which aren't part of the subtitle but seemed prominent to me. First of all, there is a great portrayal of Calvin as a Bachelor and second Calvin as a Matchmaker. Calvin's desire to encourage good matches for his friends really comes out here.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a marvelous case study on how a historical figure can grow to have a certain popular (in this case unpopular) reputation when there is little to prove that reputation historically. The substance behind caricatures of Calvin are shown in his own writings to be false, however, this book goes a step further by addressing many of the unfair and at times grotesque characterizations that were made about Calvin while he was alive and which have, in some cases, grown to be popular thought today. Stauffer does not endeavor to "mythbust" by addressing the charges made about Calvin's coldness, for example, by focusing on the misperceptions. Rather, Stauffer focuses on a number of writings, primarily from Calvin's correspondances with his beloved friends and acquantainces, to paint the portrait of Calvin as was revealed in his own words and the words spoken about him by others. This is a great resource to give those who have interacted with Calvin's thought primarily through a lense informed by ad hominems and misconceptions. The work is short, accessible, and translated to make for an easy and enjoyable read.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good indeed. The man had a heart

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful look at Calvin who seems to have been as faithful a friend as he was a pastor.

[Theodore Zachariades · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply superb. If all you have heard about Calvin leads you to conclude he was a cold detached ivory tower theologue, then you must read this book. A stunning revelation of the real man!

[Jacob Hanby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great portrait of the real John Calvin. Stauffer draws from Calvin's personal correspondence to demonstrate who he was in in his roles as husband and father, friend, and pastor.