Pious pastors: Calvin's theology of sanctification and how it shaped the teaching and practices of the Genevan Academy, 1559-1564

John Calvin had a driving passion to develop godly pastors in order to build the Reformed Church in France. Calvin also possessed a very refined understanding of progressive sanctification and what precisely would cause its advance in the life of believers. He brought together his understanding of the process of sanctification and the desire to develop a new generation of pious pastors in the institution of the Genevan Academy. In part one of this thesis, Calvin’s theology of sanctification is expounded, and a taxonomy of core principles of his theology of sanctification is suggested. In part two the principles of sanctification are used to examine the teaching and educational structures of the Genevan Academy, demonstrating Calvin’s approach to enhancing the holiness of his pastoral students.