Knowledge of the sciences is so much smoke apart from the heavenly science of Christ.

Meaning of the quote

All the knowledge in the world is meaningless if it doesn't help us understand and connect with God. True wisdom comes from learning about Jesus and His teachings, not just from studying other subjects. No matter how much we know, it's useless if we don't use that knowledge to grow closer to God.

About John Calvin

John Calvin was a French theologian and reformer who played a key role in the Protestant Reformation. He developed the theological system known as Calvinism, which includes the doctrines of predestination and God’s absolute sovereignty. Calvin was a prolific writer and his ideas have had a lasting impact on various Christian denominations around the world.

More about the author

More quotes from John Calvin

You must submit to supreme suffering in order to discover the completion of joy.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

We must remember that Satan has his miracles, too.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

For there is no one so great or mighty that he can avoid the misery that will rise up against him when he resists and strives against God.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

There is no worse screen to block out the Spirit than confidence in our own intelligence.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

The torture of a bad conscience is the hell of a living soul.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

Man’s mind is like a store of idolatry and superstition; so much so that if a man believes his own mind it is certain that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

Augustine does not disagree with this when he teaches that it is a faculty of the reason and the will to choose good with the assistance of grace; evil, when grace is absent.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

Seeing that a Pilot steers the ship in which we sail, who will never allow us to perish even in the midst of shipwrecks, there is no reason why our minds should be overwhelmed with fear and overcome with weariness.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

God tolerates even our stammering, and pardons our ignorance whenever something inadvertently escapes us – as, indeed, without this mercy there would be no freedom to pray.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

No man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is set open unto all men: neither is there any other thing which keepeth us back from entering in, save only our own unbelief.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

There is no work, however vile or sordid, that does not glisten before God.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

Is it faith to understand nothing, and merely submit your convictions implicitly to the Church?

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

God preordained, for his own glory and the display of His attributes of mercy and justice, a part of the human race, without any merit of their own, to eternal salvation, and another part, in just punishment of their sin, to eternal damnation.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

I consider looseness with words no less of a defect than looseness of the bowels.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

Every one of us is, even from his mother’s womb, a master craftsman of idols.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God’s truth is attacked and yet would remain silent.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

All the blessings we enjoy are Divine deposits, committed to our trust on this condition, that they should be dispensed for the benefit of our neighbors.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

Yet consider now, whether women are not quite past sense and reason, when they want to rule over men.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)

Knowledge of the sciences is so much smoke apart from the heavenly science of Christ.

John Calvin

French Protestant reformer (1509-1564)