Man created in God image:

1. Humanity as created: One of the most basic principles of Calvin’s

anthropology, on which he repeatedly insists, is the distinction between
human nature as originally created by God and as it has now become in
its present fallen state. Human nature is in a sad condition not because
god made it that way but because of the fall.1
2. The image of God in man: A strong proof of this point may be gathered
from its being said, that man was created in the image of God. For though
the divine glory is displayed in man’s outward appearance, it cannot be
doubted that the proper seat of the image is in the soul. Only let it be
understood, that the image of God which is beheld or made conspicuous
by these external marks, is spiritual. Extending the image of God
indiscriminately as well to the body as to the soul confounds heaven with
earth. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit placed their image in man,
because, even though Adam had stood entire, Christ would still have
become man.2

we must now treat of the creation of man, not only because he shows the most
noble and remarkable specimen of the divine justice, wisdom and goodness,
among all the works of God. That God created human consist of soul and body,
ought not to be controverted. By the “soul” according Calvin an immortal, yet
created essence, which is the nobler part of him. 3

3. Intellect and will: Calvin divided the soul into two parts; intellectual and
will. The role of the intellect is to distinguish between good and evil, that
of the will is to choose the former and reject the latter. Thus the intellect
is the leader and governor of the soul and the will is always mindful of it,
awaiting it judgment. But the will does not in fact always follow the
dictates of the intellect. Before the fall Adam’s choice was under the
control of his will, which was “capable of being bent to one side or the
other” and in fact freely chose evil rather than good. A for fallen
humanity, even the philosophers recognized the difficulty of submitting
to reason’s rule.4

1
Herman J. Selderhuis Eds. The Calvin Handbook (Cambridge: William B. Eerdmans,2009), 275.
2
John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion Translated by Nenry Beveridge (USA; Hendrickson, 2008), 106.
3
Hugh T. Kerr Eds. A Compend of The Institutes of The Christian Religion By John Calvin (Philadelphia: The
Westminster, 1964), 30.
4
Herman J. Selderhuis Eds. The Calvin Handbook (Cambridge: William B. Eerdmans,2009), 276..
 Total depravity of man:

4. That is born of the flesh is flesh: the argument of our Lord is that man
must be born again, because he is flesh. Therefore, everything in man that
is not spiritual is according to this mode of reasoning, denominated
carnal. But we have nothing of the spirit, except by regeneration.
Whatever, therefore, we have from nature is carnal.5
5. There in none righteous, no not one: He does not declaim against the
depraved manners of one or another age, but accuses the perpetual
corruption of our nature. For his design in that passage is not simply to
rebuke men, in order that they may repent, but rather to teach us that all
men are overwhelmed with an inevitable calamity, from which they can
never emerge unless they are extricated by the mercy of God.6

5
Hugh T. Kerr Eds. A Compend of The Institutes of The Christian Religion By John Calvin (Philadelphia: The
Westminster, 1964), 48.
6
Hugh T. Kerr Eds. A Compend of The Institutes of The Christian Religion By John Calvin (Philadelphia: The
Westminster, 1964), 48.