1. John Calvin the Reformer
Use the reading handout to complete this bell.
1. What is one statement that clearly states what predestination means? Write in quotes.
2. How does the secondary help to determine the “we?”
3. Calvin says that the Scripture clearly proves something. Why is this proving not possible, given this excerpt?
4. From the context, what does “immutable” mean?
1. What is one statement that clearly states what predestination means?
2. What is the source for learning about Calvin’s beliefs?
3. Why is this source alone insufficient to prove Calvin’s beliefs?
4. From the content, how would a person show others that she is a true Christian, accepting Calvin’s ideas?

2. Primary Source
John Calvin and Predestination
“By predestination we mean the eternal decree of God, by which he determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man. All are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation….
We say, then, that Scripture clearly proves this much, that God by his eternal and immutable counsel determined once for all those whom it was his pleasure one day to admit to salvation, and those whom, on the other hand, it was his pleasure to doom to destruction. We maintain that this counsel, as regards the elect, is founded on his free mercy, without any respect to human worth, while those whom he dooms to destruction are excluded from access to the life by a just and blameless…judgement.”
Secondary Source
John Calvin and Predestination
In 1536 Calvin published a book called the Institutes of the Christian Religion. This book describes Calvin’s ideas. It became very influential among Protestant churches, including the churches of Puritans and Presbyterians in England and Scotland.
Calvin’s main idea was that God’s will is absolute and decides everything in the world in advance. God has decided who will go to heaven and who will not. this belief is called predestination, meaning that no matter what people do, the outcome of their life is already planned.