A Definition of Calvinism:

Calvinism unfortunately is too often misunderstood, and all too often we Calvinists are not very helpful in clearing up the misconceptions. Here are some common misconceptions that need clarification:

1. Calvinism is far bigger than 5 points

The five points of Calvinism was a response to a five point manifesto "The Five Articles of Remonstrance" which were given by the followers of Jacobus Arminius in the 17th century.We should be careful not to distill incredibly rich doctrines down into 5 bullet points that can mislead and cause division.The five points have their place, but they should not define us.

2. Calvinism extends far beyond the Sovereignty of God in Salvation.

Calvinism is a way of interpreting scripture and life that understands that God seeks to glorify Himself in all things, and is sovereign over all things and works all things according to his plan and good pleasure to achieve the most glorification for Himself.

3. Calvinists are not followers of John Calvin.

John Calvin is simply the greatest apologist of reformed theology, which predates Calvin by centuries.

Instead of attempting to come up with a cogent definition on my own, I will depend on those who have written with far better precision than I. Below is the best definition of Calvinism that I have ever read by the imminent theologian, J.I. Packer:

"Calvinism is a whole world-view, stemming from a clear vision of God as the whole world's Maker and King. Calvinism is the consistent endeavor to acknowledge the Creator as the Lord, working all things after the counsel of His will. Calvinism is a theocentric way of thinking about all life under the direction and control of God's own Word. Calvinism, in other words, is the theology of the Bible viewed from the perspective of the Bible- the God-Centered outlook which sees the Creator as the source, and means, and end, of everything that is, both in nature  and in grace. Calvinism is thus theism (Belief in God as the ground of all things), religion (dependence on God as the giver of all things), and evangelicalism (trust in God through Christ for all things), all in their purest and most highly developed form. And Calvinism is a unified philosophy of history which sees the whole diversity of processes and events that take place in God's world as no more, and no less, that the outworking of His great preordained plan for his creatures and His church . The five points assert no more than that God is sovereign in saving the individual, but Calvinism, as such , is concerned with the much broader assertion that He is sovereign everywhere."

-J.I. Packer from the introductory Essay of The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, by John Owen.