Calvinism

Calvinism (also called the Reformed tradition, Reformed Christianity, Reformed P

rotestantism or the Reformed faith) is a major branch of Protestantism that foll
ows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice of John Calvin and
other Reformation-era theologians.
Calvinists broke with the Roman Catholic Church but differed from Lutherans on t
he real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, theories of worship, and the use of
God's law for believers, among other things.[1][2] The term Calvinism can be mi
sleading, because the religious tradition it denotes is and has always been dive
rse, with a wide range of influences rather than a single founder. The movement
was first called Calvinism by Lutherans who opposed it, and many within the trad
ition would prefer to use the word Reformed.[3][4]
Early influential Reformed theologians include Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, Mart
in Bucer, William Farel, Heinrich Bullinger, Peter Martyr Vermigli, Theodore Bez
a, and John Knox. In the twentieth century Abraham Kuyper, Herman Bavinck, B. B.
Warfield, Karl Barth, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Cornelius Van Til, and Gordon Clark w
ere influential, while contemporary Reformed theologians include J. I. Packer, R
. C. Sproul, Timothy J. Keller, John Piper, and Michael Horton.
Reformed churches may exercise several forms of ecclesiastical polity, but most
are presbyterian or congregationalist with some being episcopalian. Calvinism is
largely represented by Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, and Congregationalis
t traditions. The biggest Reformed association is the World Communion of Reforme
d Churches with more than 80 million members in 211 member denominations around
the world.[5][6] There are more conservative Reformed federations like the World
Reformed Fellowship and the International Conference of Reformed Churches, as w
ell as independent churches.
Calvinism (also called the Reformed tradition, Reformed Christianity, Reformed P
rotestantism or the Reformed faith) is a major branch of Protestantism that foll
ows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice of John Calvin and
other Reformation-era theologians.
Calvinists broke with the Roman Catholic Church but differed from Lutherans on t
he real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, theories of worship, and the use of
God's law for believers, among other things.[1][2] The term Calvinism can be mi
sleading, because the religious tradition it denotes is and has always been dive
rse, with a wide range of influences rather than a single founder. The movement
was first called Calvinism by Lutherans who opposed it, and many within the trad
ition would prefer to use the word Reformed.[3][4]
Early influential Reformed theologians include Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, Mart
in Bucer, William Farel, Heinrich Bullinger, Peter Martyr Vermigli, Theodore Bez
a, and John Knox. In the twentieth century Abraham Kuyper, Herman Bavinck, B. B.
Warfield, Karl Barth, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Cornelius Van Til, and Gordon Clark w
ere influential, while contemporary Reformed theologians include J. I. Packer, R
. C. Sproul, Timothy J. Keller, John Piper, and Michael Horton.
Reformed churches may exercise several forms of ecclesiastical polity, but most
are presbyterian or congregationalist with some being episcopalian. Calvinism is
largely represented by Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, and Congregationalis
t traditions. The biggest Reformed association is the World Communion of Reforme
d Churches with more than 80 million members in 211 member denominations around
the world.[5][6] There are more conservative Reformed federations like the World
Reformed Fellowship and the International Conference of Reformed Churches, as w
ell as independent churches.
Calvinism (also called the Reformed tradition, Reformed Christianity, Reformed P
rotestantism or the Reformed faith) is a major branch of Protestantism that foll
ows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice of John Calvin and

other Reformation-era theologians.

Calvinists broke with the Roman Catholic Church but differed from Lutherans on t
he real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, theories of worship, and the use of
God's law for believers, among other things.[1][2] The term Calvinism can be mi
sleading, because the religious tradition it denotes is and has always been dive
rse, with a wide range of influences rather than a single founder. The movement
was first called Calvinism by Lutherans who opposed it, and many within the trad
ition would prefer to use the word Reformed.[3][4]
Early influential Reformed theologians include Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, Mart
in Bucer, William Farel, Heinrich Bullinger, Peter Martyr Vermigli, Theodore Bez
a, and John Knox. In the twentieth century Abraham Kuyper, Herman Bavinck, B. B.
Warfield, Karl Barth, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Cornelius Van Til, and Gordon Clark w
ere influential, while contemporary Reformed theologians include J. I. Packer, R
. C. Sproul, Timothy J. Keller, John Piper, and Michael Horton.
Reformed churches may exercise several forms of ecclesiastical polity, but most
are presbyterian or congregationalist with some being episcopalian. Calvinism is
largely represented by Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, and Congregationalis
t traditions. The biggest Reformed association is the World Communion of Reforme
d Churches with more than 80 million members in 211 member denominations around
the world.[5][6] There are more conservative Reformed federations like the World
Reformed Fellowship and the International Conference of Reformed Churches, as w
ell as independent churches.