This research paper, written by Jackson Dean Lee at Reformed Theological Seminary – Charlotte, explores how John Calvin’s humanist education shaped his theology and reform efforts. Lee examines how Calvin’s early exposure to classical studies, language, and rhetoric influenced his later biblical interpretation and theological precision.
Through analysis of Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion and other writings, the paper shows how humanism provided Calvin with the intellectual tools to express Reformation truth with clarity and conviction. Rather than rejecting humanism, Calvin refined it—redirecting its focus from human achievement to divine grace.
Lee concludes that Calvin’s humanist foundation helped bridge the gap between Renaissance scholarship and Reformation theology, making his work both intellectually rigorous and spiritually transformative.
HT5200: History of Christianity II — Spring 2025