The Man Considered by Many Church Historians the Greatest Theologian After Augustine.John Calvin (509-564) has few equals in church history. Creative, devoted, and provocative, Calvin was superbly educated. Setting forth his beliefs in The Institutes of the Christian Religion, he built a far-reaching doctrinal system that highlights God's glory and sovereignty. Born in France, Calvin is best defined by his work in Switzerland, where he shaped his enduring ideals for Christian faith, government, and lifestyle.A readable, one-evening biography of a Christian thinker whose teachings have influenced every aspect of modern Christian faith and life.