Youth and studies

Calvin was born as Jean Cauvin. He latinized his name to Johannes Calvinus. Calvin was born in the French city Noyon on 10 July 1509. His father, Gérard Cauvin, the secretary to the bishop, wanted that he become a priest, but after he came in conflict with the clergy of Noyon, he sent him to the study law. After the dead of Calvin’s father, he changed his studies to languages and literature. Christian humanism had many followers in France. Jacques Lefèvre d’Etaples was a famous and important humanist. He studies the Scriptures and wrote commentaries on the books of the Bible. He was Reformation-minded. He wrote: ‘It is only God, Who grants this rigtheousness by faith, Who only by grace justifies to eternal life’. He made an important French translation of the Bible. d’Etaples was condemned as a heretic in 1521, but he managed to flee. Just as Erasmus, he don’t want to break with the Roman Catholic Church. During his studies in Paris, Calvin came into contact with followers of Christian humanism. In secret meetings, they studied the Bible and writings and writings of Luther. This was used by the Lord. A breakthrough came in his life in 1533.