Marco Baretti

The research examines the development of John Calvin’s ecclesiological thought during the formative years in Strasbourg (1538–1541). Starting from the critical edition and analysis of selected letters from Calvin’s correspondence of this period, the study seeks to reconstruct the intellectual and theological context in which key elements of his understanding of the Church gradually took shape. Particular attention is given to Calvin’s exchanges with reformers, pastors, and political authorities, which reveal how practical pastoral concerns, institutional challenges, and theological reflection interacted in shaping his ecclesiology. The Strasbourg years represent a decisive phase in Calvin’s intellectual maturation, during which his reflections on church discipline, ministry, and the relationship between ecclesiastical and civil authority became more clearly articulated. By focusing on the epistolary sources, the research aims to highlight the dynamic and dialogical character of Calvin’s thought, showing how his ecclesiology emerged not only from systematic theological writing but also from concrete pastoral and political circumstances.