"Modesty, softness, and mildness"-such was John Calvin, in his own words. This brief self-portrait will surprise posterity, quick as it is to detect in Calvin a deeply passionate man of zealous action. Calvin adds elsewhere: "I acknowledge myself to be timid, soft, and cowardly by nature." He repeated the same idea feelingly on the eve of his death, calling himself "timid" and "fearful" before an astounded group of pastors who knew by experience that the old fellow could raise up storms. These various descriptions of Calvin strongly underline the vigor of a character that owed all its energy to God alone. At the same time, the apparent contradictions within Calvin's personality make it hard to capture his true nature. The large number of biographies attempted to date attest to this fact, many of which simply picture Calvin as a rigid fundamentalist or as a totalitarian who ruled Geneva with an iron hand. Such interpretations, however, are much too one-dimensional. This sterling new biography by Bernard Cottret opts for a Calvin "in movement," thus distinguishing itself from works that present Calvin as a man of relatively static character. The aim of this book is simply to recov
Calvin: A Biography
"Modesty, softness, and mildness"-such was John Calvin, in his own words. This brief self-portrait will surprise posterity, quick as it is to detect in Calvin a deeply passionate man of zealous action. Calvin adds elsewhere: "I acknowledge myself to be timid, soft, and cowardly by nature." He repeated the same idea feelingly on the eve of his death, calling himself "timid" and "fearful" before an astounded group of pastors who knew by experience that the old fellow could raise up storms. These various descriptions of Calvin strongly underline the vigor of a character that owed all its energy to God alone. At the same time, the apparent contradictions within Calvin's personality make it hard to capture his true nature. The large number of biographies attempted to date attest to this fact, many of which simply picture Calvin as a rigid fundamentalist or as a totalitarian who ruled Geneva with an iron hand. Such interpretations, however, are much too one-dimensional. This sterling new biography by Bernard Cottret opts for a Calvin "in movement," thus distinguishing itself from works that present Calvin as a man of relatively static character. The aim of th
Calvin, A Biography
A major new authoritative and comprehensive biography, shedding new light on the life and personality of the great Reformer - and the milieu in which he lived and worked. Cottret's Calvin is not the 'static' theologian of earlier biographies, but a man of enormous vigour, constantly on the move in his thinking as well as in his life.
Professor Cottret introduces the reader to the world into which Calvin was born, and follows him from childhood to humanistic and literary pursuits in Basel, to ministry in Geneva, to the halcyon Strasbourg years and finally back to Geneva. The vital issues of the day are encountered as it were through Calvin's eyes, as the author leads the reader through the dramatic upheavals of sixteenth-century Europe. A classic biography which will be an indispensable resource for students and scholars for years to come. Praise for Calvin:
'A tour de force Cottret has avoided the trap of painting a character who would have had, from the beginning, all of the traits of his later years, and endeavours to show how Calvin became Calvin Brilliant.'
--Le Monde
'This excellent book regards the French Reformer with new eyes Cottret mixes serio
Calvin: biographie
La 4ème de couv. indique : "Pourquoi un Picard attacha-t-il son nom à la cité de Genève ? Comment un humaniste français devint-il l'une des plus hautes figures de la Réforme ? Calvin, homme d'Eglise, fut-il aussi homme d'Etat ? Vers , Calvin se rallie à la Réforme. Il publie bientôt la somme théologique du protestantisme réformé : l'Institution de la religion chrétienne. A Strasbourg comme à Genève, où il est retenu, le jeune auteur manifeste des qualités d'organisateur qui vont le faire passer à la postérité. Mais très vite, ses exigences de rigueur suscitent l'opposition, l'hostilité et l'animosité. Car c'est un personnage contrasté que Jean Calvin. Il ne craint pas de polémiquer violemment - Servet, l'un de ses opposants, meurt sur le bûcher - et, dans le même temps, cherche à créer une catholicité évangélique, toujours actuelle. Ce Réformateur est essentiellement un conservateur qui manie aussi vivement la plus grande ouverture que la plus dure intolérance. Voilà donc un écrivain chrétien que son souci de restituer l'ancienne pureté de la foi place, paradoxalement, à l'aube du monde moderne et des idées nouvelles. C'est en historien que Bernard Cottr
Biographies you may also like
Uche ogah biography of martin garrix Martin Garrix (born 14 May ) is a Dutch DJ and producer. After rising to prominence with his chart-topping single ‘Animals’ Garrix has helped to reshape the global Missing: uche ogah.
Ann laura stuller biography of martin Haunted by Empire includes Ann Laura Stoler’s seminal essay “Tense and Tender Ties” as well as her bold introduction, which carves out the exciting new analytic and Missing: martin.
Harout balyan biography of martin garrix Martijn Garritsen (born 14 May ), better known by his stage name Martin Garrix (stylized Mar+in Garri×), is a Dutch DJ, composer, musician and record producer. He is currently Missing: harout balyan.
Angelos sikelianos biography of martin Angelos Sikelianos fue un reconocido poeta y dramaturgo griego, considerado una de las figuras más importantes de la literatura griega del siglo XX. Su obra se caracteriza por su estilo lírico Missing: martin.
El amir abdelkader biography in english He was a military and religious leader who founded the Algerian state and led the Algerians in their 19th-century struggle against the French domination. Emir Abdelkader is a leading figure .
Sachin khedekar biography Short Biography. Sachin Khedekar was born on in Mumbai in the state of Maharashtra, India. He is an Indian Film Actor, Film Director, Television Actor & Television .
Akaliza keza gara biography Akaliza Gara has been working since she was a teenager in a remarkable assortment of environments: from up-and-coming businesses to youth centres and from university cafeterias .