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The Doctrine of Predestination is a central concept in John Calvin's theology. Calvin posited that God has preordained certain individuals for salvation and others for damnation, emphasizing God's sovereignty and grace in the process of salvation. This idea asserts that human actions have no bearing on one's ultimate fate, as it has already been determined by divine will before birth.

Calvin's teachings on predestination shaped much of Reformed theology and influenced various Protestant denominations, highlighting his belief in the power and authority of God in the salvation process. This doctrine stands in contrast to other theological points such as transubstantiation, which pertains to the nature of the Eucharist, and the notion of salvation through indulgences, which was heavily criticized by the reformers, including Calvin. Universalism, which posits that all souls will ultimately be saved, also diverges from Calvin's focus on the binary of the elect and the reprobate inherent in predestination.