Letters of John Calvin III: John Knox, Queen Mary, and Reformational Clarity

This week, the Media Gratiae team is back at work. We are grateful for the patience and kindness many of you showed as we navigated the aftermath of the recent ice storm.

In this episode, we continue our series on the letters of John Calvin. Last time, we looked at a letter Calvin wrote directly to John Knox. This week, Knox again stands at the center of the discussion, though the letter itself is addressed to William Cecil, the chief advisor to Queen Elizabeth I, written in 1559.

Knox had published a book forcefully opposing female monarchs during the reign of Queen Mary. Because of Calvin’s well-known friendship with Knox, the English court assumed Calvin shared Knox’s views. In this letter, Calvin carefully clarifies his own position regarding female rulers and explains why he believed Knox was unwise to publish the book at all. Writing with pastoral restraint and theological clarity, Calvin seeks to correct a serious misunderstanding without inflaming an already fragile situation.

This letter provides a valuable example of how to address misrepresentation—whether directed at ourselves, our friends, or our beliefs. It also serves as a thoughtful case study in speaking truth without unnecessary offense, and in knowing when secondary matters should not be elevated to defining battles. Finally, it stands as a sober reminder to weigh our words carefully. Are the things we publish truly glorifying to Christ and genuinely edifying to those who read them?

We pray this episode is a help and encouragement to you.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly updates, or listen / subscribe on: iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify