Some of the most glaring distortions of Calvin’s ministry and doctrine are related to his understanding of the law. First, there is the question of the law and society: Was Calvin an ayatollah, dedicated to making Geneva a revived theocracy? Second, did Calvin embrace or depart from Luther with respect to the relation of law and gospel? Third, what, according to Calvin, is the main purpose of the law today in the lives of Christians? I can’t hope to do justice to those questions here, but will limit myself to this task: namely, to offer a brief summary of Calvin’s answers on the basis of both the Institutes and his commentaries.