John Calvin’s faithful friend and successor in Geneva and notable Reformer in his own right was born in Vezelay, France on this day in 1519. John Calvin writing in 1551 in a letter to a French woman had this to say about his dear friend and successor: “God has endowed him with excellent gifts. And he uses these gifts for the good of the church, so that we might well call him a pearl...All who are interested in the glory of God praise this man as a treasure.”
It can be said of Theodore Beza that he is really the son of “three fathers.” First, he had is biological father whom he stayed in contact with while his father was alive trying to convince him of the truth of the Christian faith. Second, his spiritual father was Melchoir Wolmar whom Beza went to live with when he was nine years old and who is the one who introduced the young Beza to the great Reformer himself and his “third father” — John Calvin.
Theodore Beza was a faithful disciple of John Calvin and it is due to Beza’s love for Calvin that we have the record of the last hours of Calvin’s life. Beza never left the side of Calvin’s bed the last week of his life during which Calvin was not able to get out of bed. However, on the day that Calvin died Beza had gone out of the home for a moment due to the fact that Calvin appeared to be feeling better. When it looked as if Calvin was taking a turn for the worst, his servants were sent out to look for Beza. Upon finding him and summoning him to come back Beza reported, “I returned as quickly as I could, but only to establish that he had died.” Beza reported that there was a great peace over Calvin. “And, thus, the splendid light for God’s church was taken from us to heaven, as the sun was setting.”
A month before Calvin’s death Beza was elected to succeed Calvin as the moderator of the Company of Pastors of Geneva. Calvin was confident in his successor as they had spent six years together in Geneva. Calvin instructed all the other pastors of Geneva to support Beza because “He has a willing spirit and will do all he can,” to further reform in the country. Calvin also sent him to France and Germany as a representative and diplomat of the Reformation in Geneva on his behalf, as he trusted Beza as a leader in this important work they were doing together.
Thanks to Beza we have the first biography of John Calvin written from one who personally knew him. Additionally, it was Beza who not only told the story of Calvin’s life, but he began the preparations for publishing Calvin’s correspondence in order to lay a foundation that others could build upon.
Beza, like Calvin left no physical descendants, but like his mentor, Beza has many spiritual descendants through his role as head of the Genevan Academy, through which he continued the work of Reform in Geneva for forty years after Calvin died. Theodore Beza is remembered and memorialized on the International Memorial to the Reformation or also known as the “Reformation Wall” in Geneva as one of the great Reformers and promoters of Calvinism along with John Knox, John Calvin, and William Farel.
So as we prepare to celebrate the 500 Birthday of John Calvin in a couple of weeks let us not forget one of the men who stood with Calvin and was one of his most faithful disciples for promoting the Reformation.