War and Providence: John Calvin on Armed Resistance

This thesis argues that some important parts of Calvin's doctrine, especially his just-war theory and concept of Providence, can provide a basis for theories of resistance more radical than his direct teachings on this issue. This thesis does not aim to portray Calvin as a radical revolutionary, but argues that later Calvinists did not merely pick out the parts of Calvin's theory that were favorable to their resistance; on the contrary, they did, to some extent, further develop a significant portion of Calvin's thought politically. This thesis will illustrate this point through an examination of Calvin's direct political teachings, theology, and other materials, as well as a brief survey of his successors.