500 year Anniversary of Martin Luther & the Protestant Reformation
Context and forerunners
Context of Reformation…..Forerunners • 95 Thesis- first official public act • Context is very key: Political, social, and economic conditions, decline of papacy, intellectual movements in the middle ages • Church History is a subcategory of Doctrine of Providence 1. Church Unity
2. Political Climate/Changes
Centralization: Shifts in political power. Monarchs were consolidating power during the 16th-17th century's Kings power was checked and restrained during the middle ages. Nationalism: identify with their people
Germany: not a country The town of Wittenberg was in the region of Saxony.
Fredrick of Saxony Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Emperor: Charles V Very cosmopolitan (spoke many languages) Claimed Spain as home Grandparents were Ferdinand and Isabella France: Very centralized under Francis I Great power, but thorn to Charles
3. Cities and Social Change
• Population is growing • Economy and capitalism: Upward social mobility • Centers for new ideas (very important for the protestant reformation)
4. Printing Press
• Able to form public opinion in a stable form • Produce information to hand out in short period • Luther seems to have an instinctive use of the press
5. Decline of the Papacy
• “Babylonian captivity” and “Great Schism.” – Innocent III (1161-1216)- papacy reached its highest level of power – Pope Boniface VIII- attempted to have same level of power and influence. Unum Sanctum (pope is head of Church and ALL kings and rulers) submission of king’s is necessary for salvation. • Phillip “the fair” of France Throws Phillip in Prison. He is released but dies a month later. – Pope Clement V: sees how things worked out for Boniface. Is more passive to Phillip. • Phillip encourages Clement to move Papacy to France • Pope under the thumb of Phillip. • Papacy stays in France for 70 years. – Pope Gregory (1377): returned papacy to Rome – Pope Gregory dies • College of Cardinals (16) elects Urban VI to Pope in 1378 • 4 months later 12 of 16 Cardinals change their vote (11 of the 12 were French!) because they said they were coerced by the Roman citizens. • State that Urban is invalid and elect Clement VII – Clement VII goes to France- now there are 2 popes (and later there will be 3!) 2 popes are elected by same college of cardinals! People now had to choose their Pope. – Schism lasted 40 years until 1417
6. Corruption in the Church
Economic (Simony): buying and selling Church offices Indulgences
Sexual sin in the clergy Some Popes had fathered children 1/3 of priests in Germany had concubines 1/4 of priest in the Netherlands had concubines “hush money” for sexual sin Indulgences
• Doctrine of purgatory begins in early church • Clement VI 1343 Papal bull “Unigenitus” • POPE SIXTUS IV 1476 : “SALVATOR NOSTER” • Selling of indulgences during Luther's time becomes the spring board for the 95 Thesis • By 16th century linked to penance
7. Intellectual movements of 1200-1500
Scholasticism: the “schoolmen”
Humanism Scholastics
Emphasis on rational justification/ systematic presentation. • Tried to organize theology into categories • Method of fine distinctions They called themselves theologians, but were negatively referred to as the “scholastics” by the humanists (who coined the term) Crucial issue of Scholastics (and there was much disagreement): • Relationship of Faith to Reason/revelation to reason • Grace and Free will /Grace and Human Merit
Scholastics
• Famous scholastics are: Aquinas (1224-1274), Anselm (1033- 1109), Duns Scotus (1266-1308), William of Ockham (1280- 1349)
• Via Antiqua: Aquinas/Anselm • Via Moderna: Duns Scotus/ William of Ockham Intrinsic Merit Extrinsic Merit Gregory of Rimini ~1300-1358
Large influence on Luther Via Augustine • Original sin • Affirmed Authority of Scripture • Primacy of Grace in Salvation • Strong predestination
Rise of Humanism
• Starts in Italy….gives way to city States • Need to develop politically and make a historical pedigree. Desire to build roots lends to the Love of the Classics…this takes off • Ad fontes: “to the sources” • By time of reformation, body of literature that’s devoted to the Ancient texts • Very committed to reform of THE Church
Johanne Reuchlin Desiderius Erasmus Forerunners of Luther
• Jacque Lefèvre
• Jon Huss
Jacque Lefèvre Commentary on Romans 3:19-20 Let every mouth be stopped; let neither Jew nor Gentile boast that he has been justified by himself or by his own works…….. for it is God alone who provides this righteousness through faith and who justifies by grace alone [sola gratia] unto life eternal (p. 74). John Wycliffe (1320s or 30’s – 1384)
John Wycliffe’s positions
• Christ is the only head of the Church • Called the pope Antichrist • Church is the Elect of God • Attacked Celibacy
John Wycliffe
1381 Wrote about the Lord’s supper • Rejects Transubstantiation…Christ is NOT bodily present • Called it recent innovation • Brings no benefit if not present with Love and real conversion (not “Ex opere operato”) • Pope condemned him and he was sent to prison, but was never executed.
Jon Hus Jon Hus (1370-1415)
Teaching on Lords supper and position on pope got him in trouble Wrote a famous work on the church Council of Constance • Was given safe passage • Was condemned as a heretic • After condemnation verdict told “no promise given to a heretic will stand” • Burned at the stake July 1415