Thoughts on Scripture and life
for the glory of Jesus Christ
The Black Plague in Geneva, Theodore Beza's Treatise, and COVID-19
In 1542, the world was decidedly pre-modern. It would be at least 100 more years until the invention of the first microscope and over 250 years until the first vaccine. The cause of the black plague, a bacillus called Yersina pestis, wouldn’t be discovered for another 350 years.3 In those days, ‘medicine’ meant blood-letting, drinking ground unicorn horn,4 and consuming concoctions of lead and mercury.
But pre-modern or not, in the fall of 1542, the black plague came to Geneva. At the time, the renowned John Calvin, reformer of Geneva and de facto leader of the Company of Pastors (the group of pastors for the entire city of Geneva), was just 33 years old. The Reformation was just reaching maturity, having been accidentally kicked off by Martin Luther 25 years earlier. Mary I of England (who came to be known as Bloody Mary for burning Protestants at the stake), was still 11 years from the throne.5
Weekly Roundup: COVID-19, Part 2
With the world practicing social distancing to prevent spreading COVID-19—which, for anyone not living in 2020, basically means we’re all stuck in our houses—lots of Christian bloggers have taken to writing. When it becomes impossible to practice the usual forms of ministry—Sunday service, small groups, meet ups, etc., bloggers put pen to paper (er, fingers to keyboard) and write!
Weekly Roundup: COVID-19, Part 1
The whole world is talking, writing, posting, worrying, preparing, and responding to the COVID-19, also called Coronavirus Disease 2019. This post is not meant to share medical information about the virus, or discuss what ought to be done, but instead to curate some of the pastoral responses and the encouraging stories that don’t make it on the major news outlets.
May we respond to such a time as this with faith, not fear, with courage and trust, not despair, for our gracious God is with us and reigns as King forevermore.