--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: John Calvin's theology emphasizes the…" description: "\"John Calvin's theology emphasizes the sanctity of conscience, the sanctity of companionate marriage, and the obligation of those in power to attend to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/marilynne-robinson-602_conscience_john-calvin-s-theology-emphasizes-the-sa_1270238.jpg" --- # John Calvin's theology emphasizes the sanctity of… ![“John Calvin's theology emphasizes the sanctity of conscience, the sanctity of companionate marriage, and the obligation of those in power to attend to the well-being of the people in general, especially the poor. Interestingly, for the interpretation of Hamlet, for example, he forbids even the…” quote by Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/marilynne-robinson-602_conscience_john-calvin-s-theology-emphasizes-the-sa_1270238.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/marilynne-robinson-602_conscience_john-calvin-s-theology-emphasizes-the-sa_1270238.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/marilynne-robinson-602_conscience_john-calvin-s-theology-emphasizes-the-sa_1270238.jpg) > “John Calvin's theology emphasizes the sanctity of conscience, the sanctity of companionate marriage, and the obligation of those in power to attend to the well-being of the people in general, especially the poor. Interestingly, for the interpretation of Hamlet, for example, he forbids even the thought of revenge. This is not the Calvin of myth, but when the Elizabethans read him there was no such myth, nor would there be now, if he were read.” [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Calvinist ethics stress conscience, marital sanctity, and leaders’ duty to care for all, especially the poor, while rejecting personal vengeance. **In simple terms:** Calvinist thought values conscience, marriage, and social responsibility, rejecting revenge. Key Takeaway Prioritize empathy and social duty over retaliation. Themes ethics social responsibility marriage conscience poverty Mood reflective serious Type theological ethical When to use this quote - policy making - community leadership - personal moral decisions - marital counseling Key Concepts Calvinism theology social justice Questions to Reflect On - How does conscience guide modern leadership? - What role should leaders play in alleviating poverty? A Different Perspective Complex historical context may limit direct applicability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Interpretation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interpretation/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Sanctity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctity/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) [Well being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-being/) ## Related quotes > [“Only a misunderstanding of Calvin’s theology could prompt the question Why pray if God is sovereign? The Reformer himself might turn the question back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/only-a-misunderstanding-of-calvin-s-theology-could-prompt-the/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“the five points of Calvinism were not formulated in that way by Calvin himself. Certainly we can see the five points in his theology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-five-points-of-calvinism-were-not-formulated-in-that-way-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indifference to all the refinements of life--it's really shocking. Just Calvinism, that's all. Calvinism without the excuse of Calvin's theology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/indifference-to-all-the-refinements-of-life-it-s-really-shocking-just/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [I like major theology. I like Karl Barth, and I like John Calvin, and I like Martin Luther. The scale of thinking and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/i-like-major-theology-i-like-karl-barth-and-i-like-john-calvin-and-i/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [ I had been reading about \[John\] Calvin for years and had been studying the English Renaissance for many more years, and it had never… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/i-had-been-reading-about-john-calvin-for-years-and-had-been-studying/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“No man that ever lived, not John Calvin himself, ever asserted either original sin, or justification by faith, in more strong, more clear and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/no-man-that-ever-lived-not-john-calvin-himself-ever-asserted-either/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [ Reading \[John\] Calvin is a breath of fresh air. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/reading-john-calvin-is-a-breath-of-fresh-air/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [No person, no matter how clever and deceitful, can indefinitely hide a character that is rotten and out of tune with God. John Calvin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/no-person-no-matter-how-clever-and-deceitful-can-indefinitely-hide-a/) [John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [A silk dress in four sections, and shoes with high heels that would have broken the heart of John Calvin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/a-silk-dress-in-four-sections-and-shoes-with-high-heels-that-would/) [Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/) > [ \[John Calvin\] writes clearly, directly, without artifice, and gets straight to the practical heart of the matter. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/john-calvin-writes-clearly-directly-without-artifice-and-gets/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [“THE LAW “THE THIRD, AND PRINCIPAL USE, WHICH PERTAINS MORE CLOSELY TO THE PROPER USE OF THE LAW, FINDS ITS PLACE AMONG BELIEVERS IN…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jones/the-law-the-third-and-principal-use-which-pertains-more-closely-to/) [Mark Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jones/) > [I think everyone who has an interest in Reformed theology, or just in Christian theology more generally, should read John Calvin Institutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/i-think-everyone-who-has-an-interest-in-reformed-theology-or-just-in/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [ \[John Calvin's\] treatment of the person and work of Christ, of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, of prayer and liturgy,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/john-calvin-s-treatment-of-the-person-and-work-of-christ-of-the-holy/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [“Finally, the Reformers also agreed that worship should be in the vernacular and that the twofold structure of Word and sacrament be maintained. Zwingli…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-webber/finally-the-reformers-also-agreed-that-worship-should-be-in-the/) [Robert E. Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-webber/) > [I read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox and John Calvin. Imagine a dialogue between a pestilence and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-read-the-other-day-an-account-of-a-meeting-between-john-knox-and/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## More by Marilynne Robinson > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [For our purposes as human beings, the mind is the center of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/for-our-purposes-as-human-beings-the-mind-is-the-center-of-everything/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“I think sometimes there might be an advantage in making people aware how worn and stale these old transgressions are. 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A man can know his father, or his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/you-can-know-a-thing-to-death-and-be-for-all-purposes-completely/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [I listen to Bach a great deal. In general I like to listen to hymns and liturgical music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/i-listen-to-bach-a-great-deal-in-general-i-like-to-listen-to-hymns/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Every writer I know, when asked how to become a writer, responds with one word:Read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/every-writer-i-know-when-asked-how-to-become-a-writer-responds-with/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Faith for her was habit and family loyalty, a reverence for the Bible which was also literary, admiration for her mother and father. 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So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [My morals are important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/my-morals-are-important-to-me/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another ones belief. 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