THE REFORMATION

Causes of The Reformation Renaissance Secular Humanism. Guttenberg’s Printing Press. European prince’s resentment of Papal authority. Merchants and lay people resentment of church taxes.

Problems in the Church of Rome Papal corruption Financial moral spiritual Corruption within the priesthood Poorly educated Married Gamblers and drunkards

Early Calls for Reform John Wycliffe (1324 – 1384) The Morning Star of the Reformation Translated the Bible from the Latin Vulgate to English. Rejected the doctrine of transubstantiation Bible sole standard for Christian doctrine Rejected the authority of the Pope upon the grounds of Scripture The Council of Constance declared Wycliffe (on 4 May 1415) a stiff-necked heretic and under the ban of the Church. It was decreed that his books be burned and his remains be exhumed. The latter did not happen till twelve years afterward, when at the command of Pope Martin V they were dug up, burned, and the ashes cast into the river Swift that flows through Lutterworth.

Early Calls cont’d Jan Hus (1369-1415) – The Link between Wycliffe and Luther His movement in Bohemia was based on Wycliffe’s writings. Rector of University of Prague and Priest of Bethlehem Chapel. 1409 –formal charges of heresy were brought by Pope Alexander V Wycliffism deemed heretical Outlawed public preaching July 1, 1415 – Council of Constance - Huss declared heretic and burned at the stake.

Huss’ Final Declaration I, Jan Hus, in hope a priest of Jesus Christ, fearing to offend God, and fearing to fall into perjury, do hereby profess my unwillingness to abjure all or any of the articles produced against me by false witnesses. For God is my witness that I neither preached, affirmed, nor defended them, though they say that I did. Moreover, concerning the articles that they have extracted from my books, I say that I detest any false interpretation which any of them bears. But inasmuch as I fear to offend against the truth, or to gainsay the opinion of the doctors of the Church, I cannot abjure any one of them. And if it were possible that my voice could now reach the whole world, as at the Day of Judgment every lie and every sin that I have committed will be made manifest, then would I gladly abjure before all the world every falsehood and error which I either had thought of saying or actually said! I say I write this of my own free will and choice. Written with my own hand, on the first day of July.

Early Calls cont’d Girolamo Savonarola (Sept 21, 1452 – May 23, 1498) Dominican Priest Preached against Renaissance humanism Burned books Destroyed art Lorenzo di Medici Pope Alexander V Excommunicated, burned at the stake, and ashes thrown into the Arno River .

Martin Luther November 10, 1483 – February 18, 1546 Son of a miner (Hans Luter) Entered law school in Erfurt at the age of 22 In 1505 he was caught in a thunderstorm, prayed to God, and vowed to St. Anne that he would become a monk. (Entered the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt two weeks later, to the disappointment of his father). Besieged by his guilt of sin, Luther found no peace within the traditions (example: his visit to Rome in 1510, the confessional system of the Church, etc…) of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1517, Luther decided to take a stand against the friar Johann Tetzel and his selling of indulgences (or pardons), indorsed by the Church for the raising of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nails his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. Attacks the “pardon merchants” and the general ideology of indulgences. By posting his Theses, he calls for debate on the subject. The 95 Theses were copied and printed to be distributed throughout Germany, thus beginning the Protestant Reformation. Soon Luther went far beyond criticizing indulgences, for he wanted full reform within the Church. His teachings (as did future Reformers) rested on five main ideas.

The Five Solas Sola Gratia – “grace alone”. It is by God’s grace, not any man’s (pope, priest, king, etc…) decree, that sinners are pardoned and redeemed. Sola Fide – “faith alone”. Man is saved by his faith in the promises of God and the faith in the works of Jesus Christ. Sola Scriptura – “Scripture alone” – The words contained in the Bible are the word of God and they are the only true authority on Christian life and theology. Solis Christos – “Christ alone” – Jesus is the only (not pope, priest, or king) mediator (go between) between God and man. Soli Deo Gloria – “the glory of God alone” – all of life should be lived to the glory of God and not the acceptance of man.

Response to Luther Luther/Eck Debate – Leipzig 1519 – Luther argued that the pope should be obeyed under most circumstances, but when in contradiction with Scripture, must be disobeyed. Luther also question the wisdom of the Council of Constance. 1520 – Luther issues pamphlets calling on German princes to support the Reformation. June 15, 1520 -Pope Leo X formally denounces Luther with a papal bull – Exsurge Domine – “Rise up O Lord and judge thy cause. A wild boar has invaded they vineyard.” July 10 – Luther responds – “As for me, the die is cast; I despise alike the favor and fury of Rome; I do not wish to be reconciled with her; or even to hold any communication with her. Let her condemn and burn my books; I, in turn, unless I can find no fire, will condemn and publicly burn the whole pontifical law, that swamp of heresies.”

Responses (cont’d) January 3, 1521 – Luther formally excommunicated by Leo X. April 17, 1521 – Diet of Worms is called by Charles V (HRE) for Luther to stand trial. Called for Luther to recant (deny) his books and teachings. Luther asked for 24 hours to think and pray about it. Luther’s response "Since your Majesty and lordships desire a simple reply, I shall answer without distinctions....Unless I shall be convinced by the testimonies of the Scriptures or by clear reason (I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other) my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I neither can nor will make any retraction, since it is neither safe nor honourable to act against conscience. God help me. Amen."

The Fallout The Edict of Worms – Charles V decrees that Luther is an outlaw and a heretic, no one was to give him food or shelter. Luther is kidnapped (for his own protection) by Frederick the Wise and taken to Wartburg Castle where he translates the Bible into German. The Peasants’ Revolt – 1524 – applying the religious writings of Luther to social matters. Peasants within Germany revolted, violently, against landowners and nobles. Luther wrote against the peasants and called on the nobles to show no restraint in battling them back. 1547 – Charles V goes to war with the pro-Luther German princes and defeats them. Although unable to return them to the RCC. 1555 – Peace of Augsburg – religion of German states decided on by its ruler.