John (or, more properly, "Jean," since he was French) was born in Noyon on July 10, 1509. Although he started his studies intending to enter the priesthood, his father wanted him to become a lawyer, so he switched to the study of law. During his studies at the University of Paris, he became interested in the new "humanist" movement in scholarship. Not to be confused with what we mean by "humanism" today, 16th-century humanism was a movement committed to the study of classical texts in their original languages. Inspired by this movement, Calvin began to study Greek and to read both classical Greek authors and the New Testament. When his father died in 1531, he gave up his studies of law and turned to the study of classics and theology.

By this time, he had experienced a conversion to Protestantism. Here's his own explanation of that conversion:

And at first, whilst I remained thus so obstinately addicted to the superstitions of the papacy that it would have been hard indeed to have pulled me out of so deep a quagmire by sudden conversion, [God] subdued and made teachable a heart which, for my age, was far too hardened in such matters. Having thus received some foretaste and knowledge of true piety, I was straightway inflamed with such great desire to profit by it, that although I did not attempt to give up other studies I worked only slackly at them. And I was wonderstruck when, before the year was out, all those who had some desire for the true doctrine ranged themselves around me to learn, although I was hardly more than a beginner myself. [Preface to Commentary on the Psalms]

In 1533, one of Calvin's good friends gave a public speech which was heard as supporting Luther's reforms. Although the speech was not actually all that extreme, it created enough of a stir that the authorities began to crack down on people known to be sympathetic to Protestantism. Calvin left Paris and eventually ended up an exile in Switzerland.

Although he longed for a quiet life of scholarship, Calvin was repeatedly drawn into leadership in the new Reformed churches. He is particularly associated with the city of Geneva, where he served from 1536 to 1538 and again from 1541 until his death.

Works by Calvin:

Calvin's most famous work is his systematic summary of theology: Institutes of the Christian Religion. The first edition of this work was published in 1536, but Calvin kept editing and adding to it for years after. The final edition was not published until 1559.

A useful summary of this work is Calvin's Institutes: A New Compend, edited by Hugh T. Kerr.

Calvin also wrote commentaries on many of the books of the Bible.

Works about Calvin:

Two recent biographies of Calvin are:

John Calvin: A Sixteenth Century Portrait by William J. Bouwsma

The Christian Classics Ethereal Library has many of Calvin's works online: http://www.ccel.org/index/author-C.html

Our very own Meeter Center (located on the 4th floor of the library) is an internationally recognized center for Calvin studies. Here's their web site: http://www.calvin.edu/meeter/