Did Calvin Murder Servetus?

[heymikey80]

As I understand it, some of Calvin's worst enemies voted to condemn Servetus to death.

Servetus was abusive of the trial authorities, and clearly hoped to foment revolution in Geneva by attacking the authorities there.

Not simply Catholics, but also Lutheran leaders praised Geneva for their actions against Servetus. Only a tiny minority of Reformed theologians thought the sentence was excessive.

Calvin didn't particularly like the sentence, though of course he was pleased with the verdict as were the rest. They considered Servetus a dangerous revolutionary.

 

[spiritual warrior]

Whether or not Calvin had a part in the actual killing of this man, according to his own words and history, he condemned the man and took pleasure in his execution.

Neither Jesus, nor Paul, nor any of the Apostles taught us to kill anyone, and the very fact that Calvin had any part or agreeable feelings towards the outcome demonstrate that the man, in my opinion, was no more a Christian than the modern day christians today who sit in church pews but do not practice Christianity.

Our churches are full of such people. Our Christian Seminaries are full of such "theologians" and the like...ever learning but never coming to the living knowledge of the truth.

The man is no more worthy of his place some give him in history than my next door neighbor...

 

[heymikey80]

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' 45Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matt 25

 

[drstevej]

Whether or not Calvin had a part in the actual killing of this man, according to his own words and history, he condemned the man and took pleasure in his execution.

Neither Jesus, nor Paul, nor any of the Apostles taught us to kill anyone, and the very fact that Calvin had any part or agreeable feelings towards the outcome demonstrate that the man, in my opinion, was no more a Christian than the modern day christians today who sit in church pews but do not practice Christianity.

Our churches are full of such people. Our Christian Seminaries are full of such "theologians" and the like...ever learning but never coming to the living knowledge of the truth.

The man is no more worthy of his place some give him in history than my next door neighbor...

Do you take pleasure in condemning Calvin?

 

[cajunhillbilly]

taking this approach we should say Luther was not a Christian because of his intolerance of Anabaptists. So do you have any group of people who you have an intolerence towards? If we are honost with ourselves, we all do. Does that make us all unbelievers? No. Just believers who are still in the process of being sanctified with huge areas of our lives that we need to be sanctified. We are ALL products of our own times. That is why we need to study Scripture in light of the total consensus of the church, and not just writers we agree with. Sevetus was an Unitarian. He denied the Trinity and the deity of Christ. He taught political revolution and was dangerous. Does that mean he should have been executed? Not sure. But he was dangerous.

 

[Blueforest]

Yes, Calvin arranged his enemy's murder.

 

[nobdysfool]

We cannot judge any historical figure by 21st century standards (not even speaking of how twisted and PC those standards have become). Society and the world was different in those days, and I would venture to say that most of us would not be able to survive in such a world. It is the height of arrogance and hubris to sit here today, and sniff that "Of course, Calvin was clearly wrong, and thus his works are all only fit to be burned". Pot. Kettle. Black.

 

[prophecyistrue]

7 years before the incident
Written by John Calvin in a letter to Farel Feb. 13, 1546


During the incident
Again Calvin writes Farel in a letter dated Aug 20th 1553 where he has Servetus arrested.


After the incident:


the quote below is a recorded statement from Calvin on the Servetus affair is a 1561 letter from Calvin to the Marquis Paet, high chamberlain to the King of Navarre:


Matthew 5:21-22


1 John 3:15



John Calvin himself states that he killed Michael Servetus...
so, in answering this question: Did Calvin Murder Servetus?

i will let John Calvin speak for himself:




for more on this subject, read "Did Calvin murder Servetus?" by Stanford Rives

And for this reason I always check the history of a denomination, one that has evil roots will never bear good fruit, this is found in many false apostles, such as Joseph Smith, Ellen G White, Charles Russel, Mary Baker, and the history of others simply speak for themselves, Catholicism has volumes of errors in its beginnings, and even today we see that perversion is running rampant through its hiarchy. The worst thing about all these churches founded by false teachers and prophets, is they sucked in some of the best Christians the world has ever seen, and that too is what deceives even more to come into fellowship, I mean its truly bizarre that anyone with a small morsel of common sense would know Christians are not supposed to kill our enemies but in fact the direct opposite is commanded. wake up you people who have flocked with wolves, wolves kill sheep......that is the clue to finding a wolve. any denomination that has taken part in murderous acts, GET OUT there wolves!

 

[Tzaousios]

Yes, Calvin arranged his enemy's murder.

Let's follow the logic here.

"I hate the theology of Calvinism. Historical context does not matter to me in the same way it does not matter in my reading of the Old Testament. Therefore, Calvin arranged his enemy's murder."

 

[drstevej]

Yes, Calvin arranged his enemy's murder.

Define arranged for...

I suppose you arrange for the sun to rise daily? After all, you are for it and rejoice when it happens.

 

[drstevej]

And for this reason I always check the history of a denomination, one that has evil roots will never bear good fruit, this is found in many false apostles, such as Joseph Smith, Ellen G White, Charles Russel, Mary Baker, and the history of others simply speak for themselves, Catholicism has volumes of errors in its beginnings, and even today we see that perversion is running rampant through its hiarchy. The worst thing about all these churches founded by false teachers and prophets, is they sucked in some of the best Christians the world has ever seen, and that too is what deceives even more to come into fellowship, I mean its truly bizarre that anyone with a small morsel of common sense would know Christians are not supposed to kill our enemies but in fact the direct opposite is commanded. wake up you people who have flocked with wolves, wolves kill sheep......that is the clue to finding a wolve. any denomination that has taken part in murderous acts, GET OUT there wolves!

Servetus called the Trinity a three-headed dog. It that the pack you want to run with?

I also note you list yourself as a Christian-Seeker.Having problems finding a perfect group to associate with?

 

[cajunhillbilly]

That is why we need to have all the facts. Sevetus was a heretic who denied the Trinity. In those days the avarage Christian believed heretics should be put to death. Different times. Today the same heretic should at least be excommunicated.

 

[heymikey80]

And for this reason I always check the history of a denomination, one that has evil roots will never bear good fruit, this is found in many false apostles ...

Yeah, Jesus was a descendant of those Jews, just look at his ancestors in churc-- er, I mean, Temple. Horrors.

 

[rockytopva]

It would be a shame for a man to dedicate such time in the word of God only to go to hell for having blood on his hands.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I haven't read all the posts on this thread, so someone might have already stated this, but the history that I read stated that although Calvin was a member of the council that determined Severus's guilt he did not want the death penalty and said so, but he was overruled. Once the death penalty was given, Calvin, in order not to rebel against the legal authority of the council, supported the majority vote of the members. I am willing to be corrected on this if someone has better knowledge than I have.

Burning at the stake might appear barbaric and cruel to us these days, but for those in the 16th Century, this was the standard execution method for heretics and blasphemers. What is certain, however, was that Serverus was arraigned by the legal authority, found guilty and condemned to death. Calvin did not decide this by himself even though he might not have agreed to the sentence or voted for it. But once the sentence was given, he would be obligated to abide by it and put his private views aside.

 

[mrmccormo]

At the very least, can we agree that Calvin disregarded Proverbs 24:17?

 

[rockytopva]

Calvin thought he came to the mastery... In which as Chaucer said..

Love wol nat been constreyned by maistrye;
Whan maistrie comth, the God of Love anon
Beteth hise wynges, and farewel, he is gon!
Love is a thyng as any spirit free

Reading the story you will find that the God of Love long ago departed the heart of the notorious 'know it all' John Calvin.

 

[drstevej]

Calvin thought he came to the mastery... In which as Chaucer said..

Love wol nat been constreyned by maistrye;
Whan maistrie comth, the God of Love anon
Beteth hise wynges, and farewel, he is gon!
Love is a thyng as any spirit free

Reading the story you will find that the God of Love long ago departed the heart of the notorious 'know it all' John Calvin.

You are the first to quote Chaucer in regards this issue. WOW, quite a mind-bender.

BTW, notice how you freely judge Calvin for judging Servetus?

"Ful wys is he that kan himselve knowe." -- Chaucer

 

[rockytopva]

Dr. stevej... As a dispensationalist I believe that all have had their issues with the Lord down through the seven church ages (the video is on my signature link)... And there were also virtues. As the Sardis is a gem it is hard (shelled) but also elegant... As a guy brought up Baptist I have oftentimes missed the decency... But not the hard doctrinal stance.

 

[drstevej]

I happen to be a dispensationalist as well, but your comment is not clear.