
Letters of John Calvin IV: On a Royal Conversion
From The Whole Counsel by Media Gratiae
February 26, 2026 · 12 min · Episode 529
About this episode
Dr. John Snyder explores John Calvin's letter to the Queen of Navarre, discussing her conversion and the lessons of faith amidst wealth and turmoil.
What happens when a queen discovers Christ in the midst of wealth, luxury, and political turmoil? John Calvin’s letter to the Queen of Navarre offers timeless wisdom for every believer. In this episode of the Whole Counsel Podcast, Dr. John Snyder explores a 1561 letter from John Calvin to a recently converted queen. Learn how God’s mercy transformed her life and the lessons Calvin shares for all who seek to walk faithfully with Christ. This week Dr. John Snyder continues our series on the letters of John Calvin. We have seen him write to friends with both admonishment and encouragement, and we have seen him write to royalty to clarify matters of faith. But this time, Calvin writes to a recently converted queen of a bygone kingdom, offering guidance and counsel during a time of both personal and political upheaval. The Kingdom of Navarre existed from 834 to 1841, its former territory now divided between France and Spain. During Calvin’s lifetime, it was a small but vibrant kingdom, and its queen had come to faith in Christ. She possessed every human comfort: wealth beyond measure, endless distractions, and every luxury a princess could desire. Yet in the midst of worldly…
People in this episode
Host: Dr. John Snyder
Topics covered
- conversion
- faith
- Christianity
- royalty
- wisdom
- God's mercy
Keywords
- John Calvin
- Queen of Navarre
- conversion
- Christian faith
- God's mercy
- political turmoil
- wealth
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Navarre, Geneva
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