The Protestant Reformation Early Calls for Reform 16 th Century Crisis in Theology A New Version of Church and State

The Early Reformers John Wycliffe, John Huss, Girolamo Savonarola,Thomas à Kempis, Desiderius Erasmus

Thomas à Kempis Thomas Hammerken (or Hammerlein -- both mean "little hammer") was born at Kempen in Germany c.1380Thomas Hammerken (or Hammerlein -- both mean "little hammer") was born at Kempen in Germany c.1380 Educated by and later joined Brethren of the Common LifeEducated by and later joined Brethren of the Common Life Wrote a manual of spiritual advice known as The Imitation of ChristWrote a manual of spiritual advice known as The Imitation of Christ True enlightenment comes from self-knowledge and knowledge of and trust in GodTrue enlightenment comes from self-knowledge and knowledge of and trust in God After plague ravaged Cologne, He and the Brothers left their seclusion and moved into the city to give what comfort they could- by then Thomas was now known as a saintly manAfter plague ravaged Cologne, He and the Brothers left their seclusion and moved into the city to give what comfort they could- by then Thomas was now known as a saintly man He hated this reputation because he did not want to be considered particularly holyHe hated this reputation because he did not want to be considered particularly holy Wished to return to the basics in Christianity- "Disdain that which is superficial, dedicate yourself to your inner being and you shall see that the Kingdom of God grows inside you." (II,1,1f.)Wished to return to the basics in Christianity- "Disdain that which is superficial, dedicate yourself to your inner being and you shall see that the Kingdom of God grows inside you." (II,1,1f.)

John Wycliffe During the calamitous 14 th century Wycliffe criticized abuses and false teachings in the ChurchDuring the calamitous 14 th century Wycliffe criticized abuses and false teachings in the Church 1382 he translated the Bible into English; it was the first European translation in over 1,000 years1382 he translated the Bible into English; it was the first European translation in over 1,000 years Formed the Lollards who were itinerant preachers that traveled throughout England in order to start a spiritual revolutionFormed the Lollards who were itinerant preachers that traveled throughout England in order to start a spiritual revolution Lollardy didn’t last long – He was expelled Wycliffe from his teaching position at OxfordLollardy didn’t last long – He was expelled Wycliffe from his teaching position at Oxford After he died, the Pope had his bones exhumed and burned while intense persecution stamped out his followers and teachingsAfter he died, the Pope had his bones exhumed and burned while intense persecution stamped out his followers and teachings

John Huss Peasant origin- born in Husinec, BohemiaPeasant origin- born in Husinec, Bohemia Studied theology at Univ. of Prague, was ordained a priest c.1400Studied theology at Univ. of Prague, was 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 against himAngry priests turned the archbishop of Prague against him He had the support of Wenceslaus IV (HRE) who made him rector of the universityHe had the support of Wenceslaus IV (HRE) who made him rector of the university Bishops banned his books and ordered them to be burnedBishops banned his books and ordered them to be burned He spoke out against antipope John XXIII and denounced indulgencesHe spoke out against antipope John XXIII and denounced indulgences Was excommunicated, found guilty of heresy and burned in 1414Was excommunicated, found guilty of heresy and burned in 1414

Girolamo 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, materialism and apostasy of the cityPreached at San Marco, Florence on the sinfulness, materialism and apostasy of the city A great popular triumph, and by some he was hailed as an inspired prophetA great popular triumph, and by some he was hailed as an inspired prophet Under Lorenzo the Magnificent art and literature had felt the humanist revival of the 15th century, whose spirit was utterly at variance with Savonarola's conception of spirituality and Christian morality – bonfires of the vanitiesUnder Lorenzo the Magnificent art and literature had felt the humanist revival of the 15th century, whose spirit was utterly at variance with Savonarola's conception of spirituality and Christian morality – bonfires of the vanities His preaching began to point plainly to a political revolution as the divinely-ordained means for the regeneration of religion and moralityHis preaching began to point plainly to a political revolution as the divinely-ordained means for the regeneration of religion and morality The republic of Florence was to be a Christian commonwealth, of which God was the sole sovereignThe republic of Florence was to be a Christian commonwealth, of which God was the sole sovereign excommunication from Rome1497- excommunication from Rome Brought to trial for falsely claiming to have seen visions, false prophecies, religious error, and seditionBrought to trial for falsely claiming to have seen visions, false prophecies, religious error, and sedition May 23, he and two Dominican disciples were hanged and burned, still professing their adherence to the Church.May 23, he and two Dominican disciples were hanged and burned, still professing their adherence to the Church.

Desiderius Erasmus leader of German humanism- born in Holland-c.1466; died in Switzerland 1536leader of German humanism- born in Holland-c.1466; died in Switzerland 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 ReformationHis literary works made him the intellectual father of the Reformation Saw Scholasticism as the greatest perversion of the religious spirit;Saw Scholasticism as the greatest perversion of the religious spirit; –Stemming from primitive Christological controversies, which caused the Church to forget its simplicity and become the victim of endless philosophizing, which culminated in Scholasticism –Thought the church had moved from salvation of souls Wanted to replace complex tradition with the simplicity of scripture, the interpretation of which should be left to the individualWanted to replace complex tradition with the simplicity of scripture, the interpretation of which should be left to the individual Ordinances of the Church, fasts, pilgrimages, veneration of saints, the prayers of the Breviary, celibacy, and religious orders were considered the perversities of a formalistic Scholastic TraditionOrdinances of the Church, fasts, pilgrimages, veneration of saints, the prayers of the Breviary, celibacy, and religious orders were considered the perversities of a formalistic Scholastic Tradition Epitome of the Renaissance spiritEpitome of the Renaissance spirit

From Renaissance to Reform

Causes Rooted in the 14 th centuryRooted in the 14 th century –Church in decline –Abuses by the clergy –Early reformers Development of a National ConsciousnessDevelopment of a National Consciousness Popes in the 15 th made concessions to the civil authorities.Popes in the 15 th made concessions to the civil authorities. –Later ecclesiastical affairs were thought to be within their domain –Church was seen as subordinate Humanism clashed with scholasticismHumanism clashed with scholasticism –Returned to the Bible and the early church fathers

Leo X and Indulgences Promoted literature, science, and art extensivelyPromoted literature, science, and art extensively Rome became more than ever the centre of the literary world.Rome became more than ever the centre of the literary world. "From all parts", wrote Cardinal Riario in 1515 to Erasmus at Rotterdam, "men of letters are hurrying to the Eternal City, their common country, their support, and their patroness." ( all parts", wrote Cardinal Riario in 1515 to Erasmus at Rotterdam, "men of letters are hurrying to the Eternal City, their common country, their support, and their patroness." ( 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 backs –Wolsey in England began to defame the pope Most importantly- He was selling indulgences at an increased pace in order to build St. Peter’s in RomeMost importantly- He was selling indulgences at an increased pace in order to build St. Peter’s in Rome

St Peter’s

Martin 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 salvation of the soulLed by his own views regarding the salvation of the soul Nails the 95 Theses- Wittenberg 1517Nails the 95 Theses- Wittenberg 1517 Spearheads a movementSpearheads a movement –Justification by faith alone –Merit of good works –Hierarchical priesthood –Bible as the sole source of faith

Luther’s Break Terrified at the possibility of his damnationTerrified at the possibility of his damnation –Understood that salvation depended on faith, works, and grace (received through the sacraments) –Yet he still felt damned and read the bible for solace “He who is righteous through faith shall live” Romans 1:17“He who is righteous through faith shall live” Romans 1:17 “They are justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption which is Christ Jesus” Romans 3:24“They are justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption 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 Roman Emperor This also served as ammo for those princes that were trying to break from Charles and from Italian dominationThis also served as ammo for those princes that were trying to break from Charles and from Italian domination Charles was involved with a war with France and the Ottoman Turks so he could not subdue the princesCharles was involved with a war with France and the Ottoman Turks so he could not subdue the princes Peace of Augsburg (1555)Peace of Augsburg (1555) –Cuius Regio, Eius Religio

Switzerland Zwingli- more radical than Luther but maintained same basic beliefsZwingli- more radical than Luther but maintained same basic beliefs –Focused heavily on the restructuring of the mass. –Catholics were expelled from Zurich’s public affairs and Catholic masses were outlawed John Calvin promotes his own Protestantism in GenevaJohn Calvin promotes his own Protestantism in Geneva –Met French Lutherans and became converted, then fled France to Switzerland –he began writing commentaries on the Bible and finished his massive account of Protestant doctrine, The Institutes of the Christian Church –insistence on the literal reading of Christian scriptures –Pastors, Teachers, Elders, Deacons –Predestination: Since God knew the future, did that mean that salvation was predestined? Dedication to God was a sign of salvationDedication to God was a sign of salvation

France Protestantism was illegal in FranceProtestantism was illegal in France The protestant minority (Huguenots) formed an organized underground movementThe protestant minority (Huguenots) formed an organized underground movement –Some were under the protection of powerful nobles –They began to challenge King Henry II and the Guise –1562 civil war erupted (one of the most brutal religious wars) 1572 St Bart’s day massacre1572 St Bart’s day massacre –When Henry Navarre became Henry IV he had to convert to Catholicism 1598 Edict of Nantes1598 Edict of Nantes 1685 Edict Revoked1685 Edict Revoked

England Henry VIII- from defender of the faith to the head of the church in EnglandHenry VIII- from defender of the faith to the head of the church in England –Wolsey, Cranmer, Cromwell- all sympathetic to the Lutheran Movement –Edward VI, Mary, and Elizabeth I Puritanism- Militant, bible-based CalvinismPuritanism- Militant, bible-based Calvinism –Purification of the church from all of its Romanism –Felt that Elizabeth hadn’t gone far enough.