John Calvin Quotes & Sayings

We are surrounded by God's benefits. The best use of these benefits is an unceasing expression of gratitude. — John Calvin

The vices of which we are full we carefully hide from others, and we flatter ourselves with the notion that they are small and trivial; we sometimes even embrace them as virtues. — John Calvin

Man's mind is like a store of idolatry and superstition; so much so that if a man believes his own mind it is certain that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain. — John Calvin

But, as a heathen tells us, [54] there is no nation so barbarous, no race so brutish, as not to be imbued with the conviction that there is a God. Even — John Calvin

The principle exercise which the children of god have is to pray. For in this way they give true proof of their faith. — John Calvin

Repentance is the true turning of our life to God, a turning that arises from a pure and earnest fear of Him; and it consists in the mortification of the flesh and the renewing of the Spirit. — John Calvin

The human heart has so many crannies where vanity hides, so many holes where falsehood works, is so decked out with deceiving hypocrisy, that it often dupes itself. — John Calvin

For the truth of God is sufficiently solid and certain in itself, and can receive no better confirmation from any other quarter than from itself; but our faith being slender and weak, unless it be supported on every side, and sustained by every assistance, immediately shakes, fluctuates, totters, and falls. — John Calvin

Unless we endeavor to do good to our neighbor, through our cruelty we transgress this law — John Calvin

We must remember that Satan has his miracles, too. — John Calvin

All the arts come from God and are to be respected as divine inventions — John Calvin

For Nazareth was ordained to be Christ's home, so that he might bear the name of Nazarene which was rightly his. — John Calvin

But if Abram bore his continual wanderings patiently, our fastidiousness is utterly inexcusable, when we murmur against God, if he does not grant us a quiet nest. — John Calvin

What then is the Word of God which gives us life; what but the law, the prophets, and the gospel? Anyone — John Calvin

the apostle teaches us that nothing from us will please God, unless we are purged by the blood of Christ. Since — John Calvin

For it is a moroseness too imperious, to wish that what we ourselves follow as right, and consonant with our duty, should be prescribed as a law to others. — John Calvin

Free will is an empty term. — John Calvin

Children, who are dealt with more generously and more liberally by their fathers, do not hesitate to show them unfinished projects that they have only begun, or even spoiled a little. Even if they have not succeeded in doing quite what they wanted, they are confident that their obedience and readiness of mind will be accepted. Such children we ought to be, trusting confidently that our most lenient Father will approve of them, however small, rough, or imperfect they may be. — John Calvin

Yet we flatter our strength unduly when we compare it even to a reed stick! For whatever vain men devise and babble concerning these matters is but smoke. Therefore Augustine with good reason often repeats the famous statement that free will is by its defenders more trampled down than strengthened. — John Calvin

The decree is dreadful indeed, I confess. — John Calvin

Our faith in doctrine is not established until we have a perfect conviction that God is its author. — John Calvin

To search for wisdom apart from Christ means not simply foolhardiness but utter insanity. — John Calvin

Our true wisdom is to embrace with meek docility, and without reservation, whatever the holy scriptures have delivered. — John Calvin

Let us fall before the majesty of our great God, acknowledging our faults, and praying that he will make us ever more conscious of them. — John Calvin

Faith is not a distant view, but a warm embrace of Christ. — John Calvin

Nobody seriously believes the universe was made by God without being persuaded that He takes care of His works. — John Calvin

If everything proceeded according to their wishes, they would not understand what it means to follow God. — John Calvin

ELet this point therefore stand: that those whom the Holy Spirit has inwardly taught truly rest upon Scripture, and that Scripture indeed is self-authenticated;16 hence, it is not right to subject it to proof and reasoning. — John Calvin

True faith is ever connected with hope. — John Calvin

The grace of God has no charms for men till the Holy Spirit gives them a taste for it. — John Calvin

God neither wills nor decrees anything without having long before directed it to its proper end. People — John Calvin

We must resist wandering thoughts in prayer. Raising our hands reminds us that we need to raise up our minds to God, setting aside all irrelevant thoughts. — John Calvin

The subject then of these chapters may be stated thus, - man's only righteousness is through the mercy of God in Christ, which being offered by the Gospel is apprehended by faith. — John Calvin

The knowledge of faith consists in assurance rather than in comprehension ... We add the words "sure and firm" in order to express a more solid constancy of persuasion. — John Calvin

Humility is the beginning of true intelligence. — John Calvin

A man will be justified by faith when, excluded from righteousness of works, he by faith lays hold of the righteousness of Christ, and clothed in it, appears in the sight of God not as a sinner, but as righteous ... — John Calvin

The whole life of Christians ought to be an exercise of piety, since they are called to sanctification. It is the office of the law to remind them of their duty and thereby to excite them to the pursuit of holiness and integrity. But when their consciences are solicitous how God may be propitiated, what answer they shall make, and on what they shall rest their confidence, if called to his tribunal, there must then be no consideration of the requisitions of the law, but Christ alone must be proposed for righteousness, who exceeds all the perfection of the law. — John Calvin

When the Bible speaks, God speaks. — John Calvin

for when any one understands this Epistle, he has a passage opened to him to the understanding of the whole Scripture. — John Calvin

He makes this favor common to all, because it is propounded to all, and not because it is in reality extended to all; for though Christ suffered for the sins of the whole world, and is offered through God's benignity indiscriminately to all, yet all do not receive him. — John Calvin

The Jews were continually warned not to look for the reason for their adoption elsewhere than in God's free favor. He had seen fit to choose them; this alone was the source of their security. — John Calvin

When our faith is tested by suffering "as gold is tried in a furnace" and we depend with confidence on God and rely entirely on his help, we will be granted the most excellent gift of patience and through faith we may victoriously persevere to the end. — John Calvin

We may rest assured that God would never have suffered any infants to be slain except those who were already damned and predestined for eternal death. — John Calvin

Hence the unskilful rashly infer, that man did not sin by free choice. — John Calvin

Things that are seen are temporal; things that are unseen are eternal. — John Calvin

Faith is ultimately a firm and certain knowledge of God's benevolence toward us, founded upon the truth of the freely given promise in Christ, both revealed to our minds and sealed upon our hearts by the Holy Spirit — John Calvin

If God contains the fullness of all good things in Himself like an inexhaustible fountain, nothing beyond Him is to be sought by those who strike after the highest good and all the elements of happiness. — John Calvin

And this is the evidence of faith that we never allow ourselves to be torn away from Christ and the promises we have in him. The — John Calvin

Did not God assist us, we should not only not be able to conquer, but not able even to fight. — John Calvin

God tolerates even our stammering, and pardons our ignorance whenever something inadvertently escapes us - as, indeed, without this mercy there would be no freedom to pray. — John Calvin

Whensoever God's truth is defaced or when any man turns away from the pure simplicity of the Gospel, we must not in any wise spare him, but although the whole world should set itself against us, yet must we maintain the case with invincible constancy, without bending for any creature. — John Calvin

The whole gospel is contained in Christ. — John Calvin

As far as sacred Scripture is concerned, however much froward men try to gnaw at it, nevertheless it clearly is crammed with thoughts that could not be humanly conceived. Let each of the prophets be looked into: none will be found who does not far exceed human measure. Consequently, those for whom prophetic doctrine is tasteless ought to be thought of as lacking taste buds. — John Calvin

When we recognize the rod of a father, should we not show ourselves docile children rather than rebelliously desperate men who have been hardened in their evil doings? — John Calvin

Besides, as men were created to occupy the earth, so we ought certainly to conclude that God has mapped, as with a boundary, that space of earth which would suffice for the reception of men, and would prove a suitable abode for them. Any inequality which is contrary to this arrangement is nothing else than a corruption of nature which proceeds from sin. In the meantime, however, the benediction of God so prevails that the earth everywhere lies open that it may have its inhabitants, and that an immense multitude of men may find, in some part of the globe, their home. — John Calvin

Therefore, as Paul testifies, election, which is the cause of good works, does not depend upon men. — John Calvin

because life is not stable except by faith. Let — John Calvin

The gospel is not a doctrine of the tongue, but of life. It cannot be grasped by reason and memory only, but it is fully understood when it possesses the whole soul and penetrates to the inner recesses of the heart. — John Calvin

There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice. — John Calvin

It behooves us to accomplish what God requires of us, even when we are in the greatest despair respecting the results. — John Calvin

We shall never be fit for the service of God, if we look not beyond this fleeting life. — John Calvin

Give what is absolutely free, because he sees nothing in us that can be a ground of salvation. — John Calvin

When pain and suffering strike, our faith is well founded if it is standing on the promises of God. For all of God's promises have strong confirmation in Christ. — John Calvin

Then let every one of us, being warned by this sentence of the angel, acknowledge that he as yet cleaves to first principles, or, at least, does not comprehend all those things which are necessary to be known; and that therefore progress is to be made to the very end of life: for this is our wisdom, to be learners to the end. — John Calvin

The Lord commands us to do good unto all men without exception, though the majority are very undeserving when judged according to their own merits ... [The Scripture] teaches us that we must not think of man's real value, but only of his creation in the image of God to which we owe all possible honor and love. — John Calvin

It is the Spirit of God alone who opens the gate of heaven to the elect. Further, — John Calvin

We must not think that [God] takes no notice of us, when He does not answer our wishes: for He has a right to distinguish what we actually need. — John Calvin

Creatures are so governed by the secret counsel of God, that nothing happens but what he has knowingly and willingly decreed. — John Calvin

God is not limited to any person, but calls freely whomsoever He pleases, and bestows on those who are called whatever rewards He thinks fit. — John Calvin

See how our works lie under the curse of the law if they are tested by the standard of the law. — John Calvin

This is how we can distinguish true religion from superstition: when the Word of God directs us, there is true religion; but when each man follows his own opinion, or when men join together to follow an opinion they hold in common, the result is always concocted superstition. — John Calvin

God orders what we cannot do, that we may know what we ought to ask of him. — John Calvin

The Human heart is an idol factory. — John Calvin

It is only the goodness of God sensibly experienced by us which opens our mouth to celebrate His praise. — John Calvin

The sufferings of Christ are the means of forgiveness of sin and eternal glory — John Calvin

Seeing God hath thus set us at liberty, what rashness it is for worms of the earth to make new laws; as though God had not been wise enough. — John Calvin

Thus it is that we may patiently pass through this life with its misery, hunger, cold, contempt, reproaches, and other troubles - content with this one thing: that our King [Jesus] will never leave us destitute, but will provide for our needs until, our warfare ended, we are called to triumph. — John Calvin

It must be plain also that we should not anxiously strive for riches and honors by relying on our own diligence or cleverness or by depending on the favor of men or by trusting in the notion of good luck, but that we should always expect the Lord to direct us to the lot he has provided for us. — John Calvin

And truly, God does not make known his will to us, that the knowledge of it may perish with us; but that we may be his witnesses to posterity and that they may deliver the knowledge received through us, from hand to hand, (as we say,) to their descendants. — John Calvin

Again I ask whence it happened that the fall of Adam involved, without remedy, in eternal death so many nations, together with their infant children, except because it so seemed good to God? A decree horrible, I confess, and yet true. — John Calvin

The Fanaticism which discards the Scripture, under the pretense of resorting to immediate revelations is subversive of every principle of Christianity. For when they boast extravagantly of the Spirit, the tendency is always to bury the Word of God so they may make room for their own falsehoods. — John Calvin

Because I know that I am not my own master, I offer my heart as a true sacrifice to the Lord. — John Calvin

Where is our acknowledgement of God if our thoughts are fixed on the glamour of our garments? — John Calvin

It is certain that man never achieves a clear knowledge of himself unless he has first looked upon God's face, and then descends from contemplating him to scrutinize himself. — John Calvin

For what is idolatry if not this: to worship the gifts in place of the Giver himself? — John Calvin

We are in no position to rely upon God's promises unless we obey his commandments. Now, — John Calvin

And this is the main difference between the gospel and philosophy: for though the philosophers speak excellently and with great judgment on the subject of morals, yet whatever excellency shines forth in their precepts, it is, as it were, a beautiful superstructure without a foundation; for by omitting principles, they offer a mutilated doctrine, like a body without a head. — John Calvin

For nothing is more dangerous than to live where the public license of crime prevails; yea, there is no pestilence so destructive, as that corruption of morals, which is opposed neither by laws nor judgments, nor any other remedies. — John Calvin

So long as we are adopted by God in Christ, we are destined for slaughter. If — John Calvin

From the power of God we are naturally led to consider his eternity since that from which all other things derive their origin must necessarily be selfexistent and eternal. Moreover, — John Calvin

But a most pernicious error widely prevails that Scripture has only so much weight as is conceded to it by the consent of the church. As if the eternal and inviolable truth of God depended upon the decision of men! — John Calvin

It is not fitting that God, before whose tribunal we must all finally stand, be subjected to our judgment - or rather to our foolish temerity. God — John Calvin

For earthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against God, and are unworthy to be reckoned among the number of mankind. We ought, rather, to spit upon their heads than to obey them. — John Calvin

God works in his elect in two ways: inwardly, by his Spirit; outwardly, by his Word. — John Calvin

How childish is the attempt to meet this argument by the following sophism! "We were chosen because we were worthy, and because God foresaw that we would be worthy." We — John Calvin

Therefore, it is blasphemous to give the title Son to anyone but Christ. — John Calvin

If we are proud of our talents we betray our lack of gratitude to God. — John Calvin

Without the Gospel everything is useless and vain. — John Calvin

How can it be said that the weakness of the human will is aided so as to enable it to aspire effectually to the choice of good, when the fact is, that it must be wholly transformed and renewed? — John Calvin

Concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, we must also be aware that he is our Advocate, and that without him we cannot approach God. — John Calvin