Knowing God: Insights from John Calvin’s ‘Institutes of the Christian Religion’
Knowing God is not just about acknowledging His existence. It’s about understanding how knowing Him brings glory to Him and benefits our lives.
In this post, we’ll explore key insights from John Calvin’s famous work, ‘Institutes of the Christian Religion,’ and reflect on how knowing God is deeply connected with knowing ourselves.
The Legacy of John Calvin’s ‘Institutes of the Christian Religion’
At just 26 years old, John Calvin published ‘Institutes of the Christian Religion’ in 1536. This book became one of the most significant works in Christian literature, valued for its deep intellectual and spiritual insights.
Unlike Martin Luther, whose writings sparked the Protestant Reformation, Calvin’s ‘Institutes’ helped shape the Reformation into a global movement.
In the first edition and throughout the 23 years of revision, Calvin remained committed to explaining the sovereignty of God and the authority of Scripture.
His primary goal was to present a clear, systematic understanding of Christian doctrine so that people could easily grasp the foundations of their faith.
Calvin’s writing is not just a collection of doctrines—it’s a practical guide to knowing God more deeply through Scripture.
Knowing God and Knowing Ourselves: Two Inseparable Truths
In the opening of ‘Institutes,’ Calvin explains that all true wisdom comes in two parts: knowledge of God and knowledge of ourselves.
He writes,
“All true and sound wisdom consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and the knowledge of ourselves.”
These two are deeply connected. To truly know ourselves, we must first recognize our need for God. And to truly know God, we must understand our own limitations and brokenness.
Calvin stresses that without an understanding of our own misery, we cannot fully seek after God.
The more we understand our weaknesses and sin, the more we are drawn to the greatness of God. Calvin beautifully sums this up: “Without knowledge of self, there is no knowledge of God, and without knowledge of God, there is no knowledge of self.”
A Personal Reflection: How Knowledge of One Leads to Knowledge of the Other
This relationship between knowing God and knowing ourselves can be compared to how we understand people.
From my experience, the more I learn about women, the more I understand men, and vice versa. Korean philosopher Kim Yong-ok once said:
“The problem of women is the problem of men. Women see themselves through men, and men see themselves through women.”
This complementary relationship helps us see how understanding one aspect of humanity deepens our understanding of the other.
In the same way, knowing God helps us know ourselves better, and knowing ourselves helps us understand more about God.
These two forms of knowledge—of God and of self—are inseparable and lead us into a deeper understanding of life itself.
The Sense of Divinity in Every Human Heart
Calvin writes that there is an undeniable sense of divinity in every human heart. In the third chapter of ‘Institutes,’ he states,
“There is within the human mind, and indeed by natural instinct, an awareness of divinity.”
This means that no matter how hard people try to deny or suppress this awareness, they cannot completely escape it.
However, when humans don’t recognize this knowledge of God, they stray from the order of creation.
Calvin explains that the ultimate happiness of the soul comes from becoming more like God. When our souls grasp the knowledge of God, we are transformed into His image.
Through this transformation, we long for eternal life and the desire to worship God, which is what sets humans apart from animals.
The Corruption of God’s Knowledge Through Ignorance
In the fourth chapter, Calvin discusses how humanity has corrupted its knowledge of God through ignorance and wickedness.
Even though God has planted the seed of religion in every heart, people often misuse their imaginations and create false ideas about Him. This leads to misunderstandings of who God truly is.
Calvin argues that while humans are naturally inclined to know God, many people ignore or distort this knowledge.
Instead of seeking God as He truly is, they imagine Him as they wish, creating false images of divinity. This corruption of knowledge leads to spiritual blindness.
God’s Creation: A Visible Reflection of His Power
In the fifth chapter, Calvin emphasizes that the knowledge of God is most clearly seen in His creation and in His continued governance of the universe.
He references the paradox we see when observing the night sky—what we see is only a small fraction of what exists.
This is often referred to as ‘Olbers’ Paradox.’ While we may only see 10% of the stars, this small portion makes us think about the 90% we cannot see.
Calvin’s point is that God’s creation reflects His wisdom and power, and if we only focus on what we can see, we miss out on understanding the full picture.
This truth applies to both believers and non-believers. We may not be able to understand everything about God, but we are called to seek Him and His truth in every part of life.
Even if we don’t study the stars, we can see God’s handiwork in the human body. Calvin says, “Man is endowed with faculties that declare the glory of God.” Our bodies are filled with such incredible design and complexity, pointing us to the Creator’s brilliance. The harmony and beauty we see in nature and within ourselves should naturally lead us to praise God.
Conclusion: Seeking Knowledge of God Leads to True Wisdom
As Calvin explains, the ultimate goal of human life is to know God. But knowing God is deeply connected to understanding ourselves.
The more we seek to know God, the more we understand our purpose and our limitations. The more we understand our brokenness, the more we realize our need for God.
Even with the evidence of God’s creation and His redemptive work all around us, we often fail to recognize Him.
But this failure isn’t due to a lack of evidence—it’s due to our pride and ignorance. Calvin reminds us that God has given us the ability to know Him, and it’s through knowing Him that we find our true purpose in life.
So, let’s continually seek the knowledge of God, not only in what we see but in the deeper truths He reveals to us through His Word and creation.
