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John Calvin said what?

John Calvin really said that?

Dave Hunt: “There is no denying that Calvin was abusive, derisive, contemptuous, insulting, disparaging, harsh, and sarcastic in his writings and opinions expressed of others. Nor was this only in his language but frequently in his actual treatment of many who dared to disagree with him….” (What Love is This?, p.90)

John Calvin was extremely abusive towards others. Note the language he used in demeaning others in his book, Concerning the Eternal Predestination of God:

Here is a sample of what he calls two Christians, Pighius and Georgius:

Ignorant (p.54)

Worthless fellow (p.54)

Stupid (p.54)

Monsters (p.54)

Imposter (p.56)

Trite prattle of a schoolboy (p.55)

Cyclops (p.76)

Furious cyclops (p.77)

Stupid trifler (p.144)

Miserable man (p.144)

John Calvin: “Now some space must be given to Georgius of Sicily also. Everything about this man is so insipid that I feel ashamed to spend time on his refutation.” (Concerning the Eternal Predestination of God, p.143)

John Calvin: “Nothing is left for this worthless fellow, except to babble that Jacob while in his mother’s womb obtained the honour of election by his industry and stood possessed of it to the end by his constancy.” (Concerning the Eternal Predestination of God, p.160)

John Calvin: “No one can disprove the doctrine I have expounded except he who pretends to be wiser than the Spirit of God.” (Concerning the Eternal Predestination of God, p.161)

Compare with the words of the apostle Paul: “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1st Corinthians 13:4-7)

Additionally, Paul writes: “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” (2nd Timothy 2:24-26)

Instead, John Calvin defends his hostility and animosity as follows:

John Calvin: “Formerly when the prophet Ezekiel saw certain old prophetesses deluding the people, he was not ashamed to declare war on women (Ezek. 13:17). Therefore, if we would serve Christ, let us not be grieved to engage and disperse any that try to throw their chaff into the granary of the Lord.” (Concerning the Eternal Predestination of God, p.143)

Calvin adds: “Now it is right that the monk Georgius should come into the picture, and that we should see the fine arguments which he adds to those of Pighius, for ruining the election of God with regard to the faithful. I should not deign to amuse myself with such trash, were it not that I see the devil taking advantage of it to trouble greatly the poor ignorant and weak among us, and that by this means he greatly harms the Church, ect. ... We see that St Paul was not ashamed to address himself to a smith who pitted himself against the Gospel.” (Concerning the Eternal Predestination of God, p.143)

It is revealing that John Calvin did not instead, specifically cite Paul’s clearly stated counsel.