Calvin was a Frenchman, born in 1509 and died at 55 in 1564, who lived during the Reformation of the Church, a contemporary of Martin Luther. He was converted from Roman Catholicism early in his life, "by a sudden conversion," he tells us in his preface to his commentary on the Psalms, "since I was too obstinately devoted to the superstitions of Popery to be easily extricated from so profound an abyss of mire," and laboured on behalf of the Protestant Faith all the rest of his life.
Si Calvin ay isang Pranses, isinilang noong 1509 at pumanaw sa gulang na 55 noong 1564, na nabuhay noong panahon ng pagrereporma ng Iglesia, at kasabayan ni Martin Luther. Siya ay nabago mula sa pagiging Romano Catolico noong kanyang kabataan, "sa isang biglaang pagbabago," sinasabi niya sa atin sa paunang salita ng kanyang komentaryo sa mga Salmo, "yamang ako’y lubos na determinadong nakadeboto sa mga pamahiin ng sistema ng Papa at madaling nasagip mula sa malalim na hukay na putikan," at nagsikap para sa Pananampalatayang Protestante sa buong nalalabing buhay niya.