Calvin never intended to found something called ‘Calvinism’, and he hated the word. He spent his life fighting for what he believed was the mere orthodoxy of the early post-apostolic church, whereas the word ‘Calvinism’ suggested some new school of thought. However, something called ‘Calvinism’ did come into being, and its story would lead many to misunderstand the man himself. As a result, one of the most popular images of Calvin today is that of a man obsessed with God’s election of who will and who will not be saved.
