The Protestant The Protestant ReformationReformation

Early Calls for ReformEarly Calls for Reform

1616thth Century Crisis in Theology Century Crisis in Theology

A New Version of Church and A New Version of Church and StateState

The Early ReformersThe Early Reformers

John Wycliffe, John Wycliffe, John Huss, Girolamo John Huss, Girolamo Savonarola,Savonarola,Thomas à Kempis, Desiderius Thomas à Kempis, Desiderius

ErasmusErasmus

Thomas à KempisThomas à Kempis• Thomas Hammerken (or Hammerlein -- both mean "little Thomas Hammerken (or Hammerlein -- both mean "little

hammer") was born at Kempen in Germany c.1380hammer") was born at Kempen in Germany c.1380• Educated by and later joined Brethren of the Common Educated by and later joined Brethren of the Common

Life Life • Wrote a manual of spiritual advice known as Wrote a manual of spiritual advice known as The The

Imitation of ChristImitation of Christ • True enlightenment comes from self-knowledge and True enlightenment comes from self-knowledge and

knowledge of and trust in Godknowledge of and trust in God• After plague ravaged Cologne, He and the Brothers left After plague ravaged Cologne, He and the Brothers left

their seclusion and moved into the city to give what their seclusion and moved into the city to give what comfort they could- by then Thomas was now known as comfort they could- by then Thomas was now known as a saintly mana saintly man

• He hated this reputation because he did not want to be He hated this reputation because he did not want to be considered particularly holy considered particularly holy

• Wished to return to the basics in Christianity- "Disdain Wished to return to the basics in Christianity- "Disdain that which is superficial, dedicate yourself to your inner that which is superficial, dedicate yourself to your inner being and you shall see that the Kingdom of God grows being and you shall see that the Kingdom of God grows inside you." (II,1,1f.) inside you." (II,1,1f.)

John WycliffeJohn Wycliffe• During the calamitous 14During the calamitous 14thth

century Wycliffe criticized abuses century Wycliffe criticized abuses and false teachings in the Churchand false teachings in the Church

• 1382 he translated the Bible into 1382 he translated the Bible into English; it was the first European English; it was the first European translation in over 1,000 yearstranslation in over 1,000 years

• Formed the Lollards who were Formed the Lollards who were itinerant preachers that traveled itinerant preachers that traveled throughout England in order to throughout England in order to start a spiritual revolution start a spiritual revolution

• Lollardy didn’t last long – He was Lollardy didn’t last long – He was expelled Wycliffe from his expelled Wycliffe from his teaching position at Oxfordteaching position at Oxford

• After he died, the Pope had his After he died, the Pope had his bones exhumed and burned while bones exhumed and burned while intense persecution stamped out intense persecution stamped out his followers and teachings his followers and teachings

John HussJohn Huss• Peasant origin- born in Husinec, Bohemia Peasant origin- born in Husinec, Bohemia • Studied theology at Univ. of Prague, was Studied theology at Univ. of Prague, was

ordained a priest c.1400 ordained a priest c.1400 • Influenced by the writings of John WycliffeInfluenced by the writings of John Wycliffe• Attacked the abuses of the clergy, Attacked the abuses of the clergy, • Angry priests turned the archbishop of Prague Angry priests turned the archbishop of Prague

against himagainst him• He had the support of Wenceslaus IV (HRE) He had the support of Wenceslaus IV (HRE)

who made him rector of the universitywho made him rector of the university• Bishops banned his books and ordered them to Bishops banned his books and ordered them to

be burnedbe burned• He spoke out against antipope John XXIII and He spoke out against antipope John XXIII and

denounced indulgencesdenounced indulgences• Was excommunicated, found guilty of heresy Was excommunicated, found guilty of heresy

and burned in 1414 and burned in 1414

Girolamo SavonarolaGirolamo Savonarola• Nobleman from Ferrara- b.1452Nobleman from Ferrara- b.1452• Became a Dominican Friar in 1474Became a Dominican Friar in 1474• Preached at San Marco, Florence on the sinfulness, Preached at San Marco, Florence on the sinfulness,

materialism and apostasy of the citymaterialism and apostasy of the city• A great popular triumph, and by some he was hailed as an A great popular triumph, and by some he was hailed as an

inspired prophet inspired prophet • Under Lorenzo the Magnificent art and literature had felt Under Lorenzo the Magnificent art and literature had felt

the humanist revival of the 15th century, whose spirit was the humanist revival of the 15th century, whose spirit was utterly at variance with Savonarola's conception of utterly at variance with Savonarola's conception of spirituality and Christian morality – bonfires of the vanitiesspirituality and Christian morality – bonfires of the vanities

• His preaching began to point plainly to a political revolution His preaching began to point plainly to a political revolution as the divinely-ordained means for the regeneration of as the divinely-ordained means for the regeneration of religion and moralityreligion and morality

• The republic of Florence was to be a Christian The republic of Florence was to be a Christian commonwealth, of which God was the sole sovereign commonwealth, of which God was the sole sovereign

• 1497- excommunication from Rome 1497- excommunication from Rome • Brought to trial for falsely claiming to have seen visions, Brought to trial for falsely claiming to have seen visions,

false prophecies, religious error, and sedition false prophecies, religious error, and sedition • May 23, 1498- he and two Dominican disciples were hanged May 23, 1498- he and two Dominican disciples were hanged

and burned, still professing their adherence to the Church.and burned, still professing their adherence to the Church.

Desiderius ErasmusDesiderius Erasmus• leader of German humanism- born in Holland-c.1466; died in leader of German humanism- born in Holland-c.1466; died in

Switzerland 1536Switzerland 1536• Ordained priest in 1492; Became Doctor of Divinity in Turin 1506Ordained priest in 1492; Became Doctor of Divinity in Turin 1506• In Italy he was honored by the most distinguished humanistsIn Italy he was honored by the most distinguished humanists• His literary works made him the intellectual father of the His literary works made him the intellectual father of the

Reformation Reformation • Saw Scholasticism as the greatest perversion of the religious Saw Scholasticism as the greatest perversion of the religious

spirit; spirit; – Stemming from primitive Christological controversies, which Stemming from primitive Christological controversies, which

caused the Church to forget its simplicity and become the caused the Church to forget its simplicity and become the victim of endless philosophizing, which culminated in victim of endless philosophizing, which culminated in Scholasticism Scholasticism

– Thought the church had moved from salvation of soulsThought the church had moved from salvation of souls• Wanted to replace complex tradition with the simplicity of Wanted to replace complex tradition with the simplicity of

scripture, the interpretation of which should be left to the scripture, the interpretation of which should be left to the individual individual

• Ordinances of the Church, fasts, pilgrimages, veneration of saints, Ordinances of the Church, fasts, pilgrimages, veneration of saints, the prayers of the Breviary, celibacy, and religious orders were the prayers of the Breviary, celibacy, and religious orders were considered the perversities of a formalistic Scholastic Traditionconsidered the perversities of a formalistic Scholastic Tradition

• Epitome of the Renaissance spirit Epitome of the Renaissance spirit

From Renaissance From Renaissance to Reformto Reform

CausesCauses• Rooted in the 14Rooted in the 14thth century century

– Church in declineChurch in decline– Abuses by the clergyAbuses by the clergy– Early reformersEarly reformers

• Development of a National ConsciousnessDevelopment of a National Consciousness• Popes in the 15Popes in the 15thth made concessions to the civil made concessions to the civil

authorities.authorities.– Later ecclesiastical affairs were thought to be Later ecclesiastical affairs were thought to be

within their domainwithin their domain– Church was seen as subordinateChurch was seen as subordinate

• Humanism clashed with scholasticismHumanism clashed with scholasticism– Returned to the Bible and the early church fathers Returned to the Bible and the early church fathers

Leo X and IndulgencesLeo X and Indulgences• Promoted literature, science, and art extensivelyPromoted literature, science, and art extensively• Rome became more than ever the centre of the Rome became more than ever the centre of the

literary world. literary world. • "From all parts", wrote Cardinal Riario in 1515 "From all parts", wrote Cardinal Riario in 1515

to Erasmus at Rotterdam, "men of letters are to Erasmus at Rotterdam, "men of letters are hurrying to the Eternal City, their common hurrying to the Eternal City, their common country, their support, and their patroness." (country, their support, and their patroness." (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09162a.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09162a.htm))

• Got involved with wars and drained the treasury.Got involved with wars and drained the treasury.• He began preaching a crusade against the TurksHe began preaching a crusade against the Turks

– England and Germany turned their backsEngland and Germany turned their backs– Wolsey in England began to defame the popeWolsey in England began to defame the pope

• Most importantly- He was selling indulgences at Most importantly- He was selling indulgences at an increased pace in order to build St. Peter’s in an increased pace in order to build St. Peter’s in RomeRome

St Peter’sSt Peter’s

Martin LutherMartin Luther

• Unhappy with abuses by the clergyUnhappy with abuses by the clergy• Upset about the sale of indulgencesUpset about the sale of indulgences• Led by his own views regarding the Led by his own views regarding the

salvation of the soulsalvation of the soul• Nails the 95 Theses- Wittenberg 1517Nails the 95 Theses- Wittenberg 1517• Spearheads a movementSpearheads a movement

– Justification by faith aloneJustification by faith alone– Merit of good worksMerit of good works– Hierarchical priesthoodHierarchical priesthood– Bible as the sole source of faithBible as the sole source of faith

Luther’s BreakLuther’s Break

• Terrified at the possibility of his damnationTerrified at the possibility of his damnation– Understood that salvation depended on faith, works, Understood that salvation depended on faith, works,

and grace (received through the sacraments)and grace (received through the sacraments)– Yet he still felt damned and read the bible for solaceYet he still felt damned and read the bible for solace

• ““He who is righteous through faith shall live” Romans 1:17He who is righteous through faith shall live” Romans 1:17• ““They are justified by his grace as a gift through the They are justified by his grace as a gift through the

redemption which is Christ Jesus” Romans 3:24redemption which is Christ Jesus” Romans 3:24• Concluded that no amount of works can save; faith aloneConcluded that no amount of works can save; faith alone

– In 1521 this put him at odds with Charles V, Holy In 1521 this put him at odds with Charles V, Holy Roman EmperorRoman Emperor• This also served as ammo for those princes that were trying This also served as ammo for those princes that were trying

to break from Charles and from Italian dominationto break from Charles and from Italian domination• Charles was involved with a war with France and the Charles was involved with a war with France and the

Ottoman Turks so he could not subdue the princesOttoman Turks so he could not subdue the princes• Peace of Augsburg (1555)Peace of Augsburg (1555)

– Cuius Regio, Eius Religio Cuius Regio, Eius Religio

SwitzerlandSwitzerland• Zwingli- more radical than Luther but Zwingli- more radical than Luther but

maintained same basic beliefsmaintained same basic beliefs– Focused heavily on the restructuring of the mass.Focused heavily on the restructuring of the mass.– Catholics were expelled from Zurich’s public affairs Catholics were expelled from Zurich’s public affairs

and Catholic masses were outlawedand Catholic masses were outlawed• John Calvin promotes his own Protestantism in John Calvin promotes his own Protestantism in

GenevaGeneva– Met French Lutherans and became converted, then Met French Lutherans and became converted, then

fled France to Switzerland fled France to Switzerland – he began writing commentaries on the Bible and he began writing commentaries on the Bible and

finished his massive account of Protestant doctrine, finished his massive account of Protestant doctrine, The Institutes of the Christian ChurchThe Institutes of the Christian Church

– insistence on the literal reading of Christian insistence on the literal reading of Christian scriptures scriptures

– Pastors, Teachers, Elders, DeaconsPastors, Teachers, Elders, Deacons– Predestination: Since God knew the future, did that Predestination: Since God knew the future, did that

mean that salvation was predestined? mean that salvation was predestined? • Dedication to God was a sign of salvationDedication to God was a sign of salvation

FranceFrance

• Protestantism was illegal in FranceProtestantism was illegal in France• The protestant minority (Huguenots) formed an The protestant minority (Huguenots) formed an

organized underground movementorganized underground movement– Some were under the protection of powerful noblesSome were under the protection of powerful nobles– They began to challenge King Henry II and the GuiseThey began to challenge King Henry II and the Guise– 1562 civil war erupted (one of the most brutal 1562 civil war erupted (one of the most brutal

religious wars)religious wars)• 1572 St Bart’s day massacre1572 St Bart’s day massacre

– When Henry Navarre became Henry IV he had to When Henry Navarre became Henry IV he had to convert to Catholicismconvert to Catholicism• 1598 Edict of Nantes1598 Edict of Nantes• 1685 Edict Revoked1685 Edict Revoked

EnglandEngland

• Henry VIII- from defender of the faith to Henry VIII- from defender of the faith to the head of the church in Englandthe head of the church in England– Wolsey, Cranmer, Cromwell- all Wolsey, Cranmer, Cromwell- all

sympathetic to the Lutheran Movementsympathetic to the Lutheran Movement– Edward VI, Mary, and Elizabeth IEdward VI, Mary, and Elizabeth I

• Puritanism- Militant, bible-based Puritanism- Militant, bible-based CalvinismCalvinism– Purification of the church from all of its Purification of the church from all of its

RomanismRomanism– Felt that Elizabeth hadn’t gone far enough.Felt that Elizabeth hadn’t gone far enough.