Apology to John Calvin

I have made comments about the theology of John Calvin, for which I owe him an apology.  In the last few years, I have become more theologically sympathetic than I once was.  Today, I found myself thinking about his doctrine of "total depravity."  I find my own theological anthropology has become less optimistic.  To my surprise, I found myself saying, "Calvin was right about us."

John Calvin’s doctrine of total depravity is foundational to his theological vision and shapes his view of humanity’s need for God’s grace. By “total depravity,” Calvin doesn’t mean that humans are as wicked as they could possibly be, but rather that sin affects every dimension of our being—mind, will, heart, and body. Sin permeates the human condition so wholly that nothing within us remains untouched or unscathed.

For Calvin, this pervasive effect of sin means that we cannot reach out to God or achieve righteousness if left to our own resources. Even the good we do, whether acts of kindness or generosity, often bears traces of self-interest or, at the very least, falls short of pure intention. This view of depravity speaks to Calvin’s larger theological purpose: to underscore that our relationship with God must begin and continue through divine grace alone. Sin has created a profound separation between us and God, a chasm too vast to cross by our own power. Without God’s grace, we remain in this divided state, unable to fulfill our purpose of glorifying and delighting in God.

In developing this doctrine, Calvin drew heavily from Augustine’s understanding of original sin. He argued that Adam’s disobedience in Eden introduced sin not only into his own life but into the fabric of humanity itself. This corrupted nature passed down through the generations, inclines us naturally toward sin rather than righteousness. Calvin’s emphasis on total depravity is ultimately a reflection of his belief in the sovereignty of God. Only by God’s grace, he insists—through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit—can a person come to faith, repent, and live a life oriented toward God’s purposes.

In The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Calvin expounds on this theme to highlight our profound dependence on God’s grace. Since our fallen nature prevents us from initiating our salvation, Calvin argues that it must come as a gift from God. This understanding of depravity connects directly to his teachings on election, grace, and justification, which rest on the sovereignty of God’s choice rather than human merit or initiative.

Later, Reformed theologians summarized Calvin’s doctrines in what’s known as the “TULIP” acronym, with total depravity as its starting point. It’s a reminder that from beginning to end, every step of salvation rests upon grace, drawing us from our own inability to God's boundless mercy and power.