an introduction to the (protestant) reformation life fellowship october 30, 2015

An Introduction to the (Protestant) ReformationLIFE FELLOWSHIP

OCTOBER 30, 2015

Overview of the ReformationHistorical background, contributing factors

Pre-Reformation reformers: e.g. Wycliffe, HusEvents & Reformers

“Magisterial” Reformers – e.g. Luther“Radical” ReformersThe English Reformation

Theological issues

The Protestant Reformation

Schism from Roman Catholicism in the 1500s Resulted in emergence of Protestant Christianity

in Europe

A process, not a single event Occurred over several decades

Multiple different leaders in multiple geographic locations

Admixture of religious, social, & political factors

Historical Background

The Roman Catholic Church in the late Middle Ages (1200s-1500s) Dominant form of Christianity in western Europe

East-West schism in 1054 Eastern Orthodox Church

Led by the Pope, with church hierarchy Closely interwoven relationships with secular political

powers (kings, emperors, etc.)

Secular powers often meddled in church affairs

Popes exerted power over rulers via excommunication


The Roman Catholic Church in the late Middle Ages (1200s-1500s) Papal power peaked in early 1200s, then

declined due to increasing corruption and schisms

Enforcement of celibacy among clergy immorality

Growing wealth of the papacy via various methods

Growing resentment against the clergy

Power struggles within the church and with secular rulers


Papal wealth & corruption Multiple methods for extracting money

“Annates” – gift by bishop or priest of 1st year income when appointed to a new office

“Collations” – shifting bishops around to get more annates

“Dispensations” – pardons for violations of church law through payment of money

“Indulgences” – reducing the punishment due for sins by payment of money

“Simony” – sale of a church office


Papal wealth & corruption “Babylonian captivity of the church” (1317-

1377) Papal headquarters moved from Rome to

Avignon (France), under control of French kings

Papal schism (1378-1417) Attempts to move papal HQ back to Rome

resulted in establishment of 2 (or 3) rival popes

Undermined confidence in the Roman Catholic church & its leadership


Impact of the Renaissance Renaissance - “rebirth” Crusades introduced many to a new world

Renewed interest in ancient Greek & Roman culture

Growth of humanism Movement aimed at developing the full

potential of the individual education

Interest in studying ancient texts, including Hebrew & Greek texts of the Bible


Impact of the Renaissance Development of the printing press (in

the west) Johannes Gutenberg (~1440s)

Enabled rapid printing & dissemination of Bibles and literature

Early Reform Movements

Various reform movements emerged (1200s-1400s) Multiple movements scattered across Europe

Mostly poorly documented

Existence known largely through RC documents condemning them for heresy

e.g. Waldensians Started by Peter Waldo in France in late 1100s

Many similar beliefs to Reformers

Sole authority of the Bible

Denial of Purgatory, trans-substantiation

Condemned as heretical by the RC church in 1184


John Wycliffe (1320-1384) & the Lollards Had many conflicts with the church

Attacked the church over 6 years (popes, friars, monks, cardinals, and clergies) in writings

In 1381, established doctrine of the Lord’s supper

Passed away in 1384


John Wycliffe (1320-1384) & the Lollards May 4th, 1415, Wycliffe was called a heretic

Body and books were burned years later

Followers did not leave many pictures or writings of him after


John Wycliffe (1320-1384) & the Lollards Holding to scripture being the only authority

Understood the importance of the bible

Paved the road for a reformation

Translating the bible into English for ordinary people to read


John Hus (aka Jan Hus) (~1368-1415) Leader of reform movement in Bohemia Strongly influenced by Wycliffe Preached against papal abuses (e.g. indulgences,

simony) Condemned by the Council of Constance

Burned at the stake in 1415

Death resulted in the Hussite wars (1420-30s)

The Protestant Reformation The Reformation was a diverse movement

Many different leaders in different locations

Diverse theological views

Different views regarding the relationship between Church & State

The Reformers

“Magisterial” reformers Used (secular) governmental authority to reform

doctrine & practices of the church

Examples include Martin Luther

Ullrich Zwingli

John Calvin

John Knox

The Reformers

“Radical” reformers Diverse group with a spectrum of theological views

including some considered heretical by both Roman Catholics and Protestants

Persecuted by both Catholics & Protestants

Sometimes referred to “Anabaptists” (“re-baptizers”) Many rejected infant baptism

The Reformers

“Radical” reformers Rejected the secular governmental authority over the

doctrine & practices of the church

Examples include Menno Simons Mennonites

Jacob Hutter Hutterites

Felix Manz & Conrad Grebel Swiss Brethren Swiss Mennonites


Martin Luther was born in 1483

His prayer answered cause him to change

Driven by fear of God’s wrath and hell

Luther discovered through studying scripture

The Protestant Reformation October 31, 1517

Martin Luther nails the 95 theses to Wittenberg church door

Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences

Disputing

The appropriateness of the sale of indulgences

The effectiveness of indulgences for their supposed purpose (decreasing time in Purgatory)


Further attacked papacy

Met with the Diet of Worms

Edict of worms

Began a new church, Lutheranism


Luther was known for: Desiring for people to be closer to God

Translating the bible for ordinary people to interpret

Drastically changed relationship of church leaders and followers

Making a breakthrough in the protestant reformation

Reformation - Germany

1517: 95 theses

1520: Luther excommunicated

1521: Luther’s defense at the Diet of Worms

1546: Luther dies

1546: Schmalkaldic war begins

Pope Paul III declares Crusade against Protestant princes

1555: Peace of Augsburg concedes right of Lutheranism to exist

Reformation - Switzerland Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531)

1519: appointed as cathedral preacher in Zurich

1523: Public debate against RC authorities

67 articles of faith include authority of Scripture, salvation by grace through faith; rejection of RC view of sacraments, purgatory, etc.

Zwingli’s reforms impact other Swiss & southern German cities

Reformation - Switzerland Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531)

1529: meets with Luther to discuss co-operation Shut down by Luther over issue of the nature of

Communion

1531: dies in battle against Swiss Catholic armies

Reformation - Switzerland John Calvin (1509-1564) 1536: Publishes 1st edition of the Institutes of

the Christian Religion (at age 27!)

1536: arrives in Geneva to help Farel with reforms

Expelled from Geneva in 1538

1541: returns to Geneva & implements reforms

not just in church life, but in governance of the city

1553: Prosecutes Michael Servetus for heresy

1564: Dies in Geneva

Reformation - Switzerland Following Calvin’s death, Calvinism spreads

through various parts of Europe France – Huguenots

Netherlands – Dutch Reformed Church

Scotland – Presbyterianism

The Counter-Reformation

Response of the Roman Catholic church to counteract the Protestant Reformation ~1540-1648

Implemented reforms within the RC church

The Counter-Reformation

The Council of Trent (1545-1564) Recommended various reforms of the RC clergy

Condemned Protestant doctrines & clarified Catholic doctrines on disputed points

particularly re: justification by faith alone

The Counter-Reformation The Council of Trent (1545-

1564) Defended & defined the 7

sacraments

Affirmed that the Bible and Church tradition to be equally authoritative

Affirmed the (RC) Church to be the interpreter of Scripture

Included the Apocrypha in the canon of Scripture

The Counter-Reformation Various religious wars (Catholics vs. Protestants) for

almost 100 years

Peace of Westphalia (1648) Ends Thirty Years War

Recognizes civil & religious rights of Lutherans, Calvinists, and Roman Catholics

Theological Issues

The 5 “solas” Summary of the main theological issues underlying

the Reformation

Sola Scriptura – Scripture alone Sola Fide – Faith alone Sola Gratia – Grace alone Solus Christus – Christ alone Soli Deo Gloria – Glory to God alone

Theological Issues Sola scriptura

“Scripture alone” is the supreme authority on all matters on which it speaks

All matters pertaining to salvation & godliness

Scripture interprets itself

The “formal principle” of the Reformation The source from which Reformation theology derives

Implications The authority of Scripture supersedes that of Church

tradition, the Pope, etc.

Theological Issues

Sola scriptura “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason -

I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me.”

Martin Luther, at the Diet of Worms, 1521

Theological Issues

Sola fide “faith alone”

Justification is received through faith alone

Good works are not required for, nor a means of, salvation

The “material principle” of the Reformation The central doctrine of Reformation theology

“The doctrine by which the church stands or falls”

Theological Issues Sola fide

ImplicationsContrary to RC doctrine of justification, which is

based on faith & worksRC doctrine requires faith, but not faith alone

Denies the necessity of the Sacraments (including baptism & Communion) for salvation

RC doctrine: “If any one saith, that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary unto salvation… and that, without them… men obtain of God, through faith alone, the grace of justification… let him be anathema.” - Council of Trent

Theological Issues

Sola gratia “grace alone”

Justification is received by God’s grace alone

Our good works merit nothing towards salvation

Implications Participation in sacraments, pilgrimages, etc. are not

meritorious towards salvation

We cannot purchase or earn salvation

Theological Issues Solus Christus

“Christ alone” Salvation is in Christ alone

Christ alone is the mediator between God and Man

Implications We trust in Christ alone for salvation, not “Christ +

…”

Denies the effectiveness of penance, indulgences, for securing forgiveness

No need for another mediator (priests, saints, Mary) between us and God

Theological Issues

Soli Deo Gloria “Glory to God alone”

God alone deserves the glory in all things (including our salvation)

Implications Calls into question veneration of the saints, Mary,

popes, etc.

Our lives to be lived to the glory of God

Reformation – Summary

Schism from Roman Catholicism in the 1500s resulting in emergence of Protestantism A process, not a single event

Preceded by various different reform movements e.g. Wycliffe, Hus

Multiple different leaders in multiple locations e.g. Luther – Germany

Zwingli, Calvin - Switzerland

Admixture of religious, social, & political contributing factors

God’s sovereignty over all things

Reformation - Summary

Key theological issues summarized in the “5 solas”

Sola Scriptura – Scripture alone

Sola Fide – Faith alone

Sola Gratia – Grace alone

Solus Christus – Christ alone

Soli Deo Gloria – Glory to God alone


Relevance for today?

an introduction to the (protestant) reformation life fellowship october 30, 2015

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