--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: John Calvin said that we pray, as it…" description: "\"“John Calvin said that we pray, as it were, through Jesus’ mouth.”\" — Michael Reeves" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/michael-reeves-23589_john-calvin_john-calvin-said-that-we-pray-as-it-were_2884684.jpg" --- # John Calvin said that we pray, as it were, through Jesus’… ![“John Calvin said that we pray, as it were, through Jesus’ mouth.” quote by Michael Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/michael-reeves-23589_john-calvin_john-calvin-said-that-we-pray-as-it-were_2884684.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/michael-reeves-23589_john-calvin_john-calvin-said-that-we-pray-as-it-were_2884684.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/michael-reeves-23589_john-calvin_john-calvin-said-that-we-pray-as-it-were_2884684.jpg) > ““John Calvin said that we pray, as it were, through Jesus’ mouth.”” [Michael Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reeves/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He humorously cites Calvin’s view of prayer as speaking through Jesus, highlighting theological nuance. **In simple terms:** Prayer is speaking through Jesus. Key Takeaway Prayer uses Jesus as a voice. Themes theology humor faith communication Mood lighthearted thoughtful Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - church services - personal prayer - debates Key Concepts religion language philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does this view affect personal prayer? - What are the limits of metaphor in theology? A Different Perspective Simplification may miss deeper doctrine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calvin Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calvin-said-2491516/) [Jesus Mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus-mouth-2032115/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-calvin/) [Pray Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray-jesus-1840497/) [Said Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-pray-514374/) ## Related quotes > [“John Calvin said he constantly “studied to be simple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-chapell/john-calvin-said-he-constantly-studied-to-be-simple/) [Bryan Chapell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-chapell/) > [“John Calvin said: "It is the nature of faith that we want to bring others to share eternal life with us when we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-d-phillips/john-calvin-said-it-is-the-nature-of-faith-that-we-want-to-bring/) [Richard D. 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Do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/how-did-all-this-happen-isn-t-it-wonderful-i-feel-as-though-i-were-2/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“The funny thing is,' Calvin said, 'I thought I'd been breathing underwater this whole time, but I guess I've been drowning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/the-funny-thing-is-calvin-said-i-thought-i-d-been-breathing/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“You’re good in school. Everybody likes you.” “For all the most unimportant reasons,” Calvin said. “There hasn’t been anybody, anybody in the world I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/you-re-good-in-school-everybody-likes-you-for-all-the-most/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Can I kill him?” Calvin said it so seriously. It just about melted her panties right off. 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My hope is in you, Father—for me and for all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-smith/i-do-and-i-will-yet-praise-you-my-savior-and-my-god-my-hope-is-in-you/) [Scotty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-smith/) > [If you miss one of your family that had past away all you got to do is pray to JESUS OUR GOD!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-thomas/if-you-miss-one-of-your-family-that-had-past-away-all-you-got-to-do/) [Lizzie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-thomas/) > [We pray when there's nothing else we can do; Jesus wants us to pray before we do anything at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-pray-when-there-s-nothing-else-we-can-do-jesus-wants-us-to-pray/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## More by Michael Reeves > [“Clearly the salvation of this God is better even than forgiveness, and certainly more secure. Other gods might offer forgiveness, but this God welcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reeves/clearly-the-salvation-of-this-god-is-better-even-than-forgiveness-and/) [Michael Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reeves/) > [Keep your happiness where it can't be hurt: in Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reeves/keep-your-happiness-where-it-can-t-be-hurt-in-christ/) [Michael Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reeves/) > [“we don’t need to try to ‘fit’ God into each day, that is to see our prayer life as something different from the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reeves/we-don-t-need-to-try-to-fit-god-into-each-day-that-is-to-see-our/) [Michael Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reeves/) > [“In Christ the Word, we exchange darkness for light as we think of God. 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Was he not the one who made the Greek New Testament available, so providing the coals for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reeves/yet-is-all-this-fair-to-erasmus-was-he-not-the-one-who-made-the-greek/) [Michael Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reeves/) > [“The Father loves his Son, and so hates sin, which ultimately is rejection of the Son; he loves his children, and so hates their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reeves/the-father-loves-his-son-and-so-hates-sin-which-ultimately-is/) [Michael Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reeves/) > [Men sometimes have strange motives for the things they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reeves/men-sometimes-have-strange-motives-for-the-things-they-do/) [Michael Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reeves/) > [If you want to be anxious today, pretend you're in control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reeves/if-you-want-to-be-anxious-today-pretend-you-re-in-control/) [Michael Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reeves/) > [“Knowing God as our Father not only wonderfully gladdens our view of him; it gives the deepest comfort and joy. The honour of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reeves/knowing-god-as-our-father-not-only-wonderfully-gladdens-our-view-of/) [Michael Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reeves/) > [“We cannot choose what we love, but always love what seems desirable to us. Thus we will only change what we love when something proves itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reeves/we-cannot-choose-what-we-love-but-always-love-what-seems-desirable-to/) [Michael Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reeves/) > [Traditional ads placed into digital just shout at the consumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reeves/traditional-ads-placed-into-digital-just-shout-at-the-consumer/) [Michael Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reeves/) [Explore all 25 Michael Reeves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reeves/) ## More John Calvin quotes > [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/) > [“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/) > [ \[John Calvin's\] 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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [ \[John Calvin\] 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [ 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 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/) > [We talk about predestination because the Bible talks about predestination. If we desire to build our theology on the Bible, we run head on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-talk-about-predestination-because-the-bible-talks-about/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [ 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/) > [“How, as John Calvin put it, “without knowledge of self there is no knowledge of God.” “For”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-morgan-cron/how-as-john-calvin-put-it-without-knowledge-of-self-there-is-no/) [Ian Morgan Cron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-morgan-cron/) > [“The Swiss theologian John Calvin, in his commentaries on the Hebrew prophets, says that God so identifies with the poor that their cries express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-j-keller/the-swiss-theologian-john-calvin-in-his-commentaries-on-the-hebrew/) [Timothy J. 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Seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/john-calvin-comment-on-2-cor-5-20-this-is-why-paul-upholds-the/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) [Browse all 40 John Calvin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-calvin/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“John Calvin said that we pray, as it were, through Jesus’ mouth.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Reeves" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reeves/john-calvin-said-that-we-pray-as-it-were-through-jesus-mouth/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "John Calvin" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reeves/john-calvin-said-that-we-pray-as-it-were-through-jesus-mouth/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/michael-reeves-23589_john-calvin_john-calvin-said-that-we-pray-as-it-were_2884684.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/michael-reeves-23589_john-calvin_john-calvin-said-that-we-pray-as-it-were_2884684.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/michael-reeves-23589_john-calvin_john-calvin-said-that-we-pray-as-it-were_2884684.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“John Calvin said that we pray, as it were, through Jesus’ mouth.” — Michael Reeves", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael Reeves", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reeves/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“John Calvin said that we pray,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reeves/john-calvin-said-that-we-pray-as-it-were-through-jesus-mouth/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reeves/john-calvin-said-that-we-pray-as-it-were-through-jesus-mouth/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```