The Burning Bush - Far Eastern Bible College

THE LEGACY OF JOHN CALVIN IN THEBIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHJeffrey KhooReformed and Presbyterian churches this year celebrate the 500 thyear of John Calvin who was born on July 10, 1509 in Noyon, Picardy,France, and who died on May 27, 1564 in Geneva, Switzerland. Calvinwas the great French Reformer of the 16 th Century ProtestantReformation. All Reformed and Presbyterian churches trace theirancestry and theology back to him, and the Bible-Presbyterian (B-P)Church is no different.What is Calvin’s legacy in the B-P Church? What are the lessons tobe drawn for the present and future as we strive to be a faithful churchuntil the Lord returns? Let us look at the history and theology of the B-PChurch in Singapore and how we are what we are because of Calvin andother great men of God.HistoryThe B-P Church in Singapore has sevenhistorical roots, according to the Rev DrTimothy Tow—her late founding pastor (seehis book, The Singapore B-P Church Story).Out of the seven roots, five of them (1 st , 2 nd ,3 rd , 6 th and 7 th ) are Reformed or Presbyterianroots.John CalvinThe B-P Church is a Protestant Church.We remain part of the 16 th Century ProtestantReformation movement which opposed thetyranny and the errors of the Roman CatholicChurch. Although many Protestants and Evangelicals (e.g. Evangelicalsand Catholics Together 1994, and Lutheran World Federation in 1999)have capitulated to the ecumenical pressure to reunite with the Roman1