THE REFORMATIONChapter 12

The Reformation had been in the works for centuries.

People had made attempts to reform what they perceived as wrong teachings and practices in the Roman Catholic Church, but none of those efforts ever had a major impact.

In the 16th century, the corruption among the clergy became so open and pervasive

and the selling of indulgences to raise money for the church

just became too much for godly people to continue to tolerate.

The corruption coupled with more exposure of individuals to the Bible combined to set the background for the Protestant Reformation

Forerunners of the Reformation

John Wycliffe: Morning Star of the Reformation

Englishman (1320?-1384)

Preacher, scholar, patriotic leader, teacher, lecturer, theologian

Associated with University of Oxford

Wycliffe's Teachings

God’s Word changes people.

Roman Church had strayed from its original purity in doctrine and practice.

He opposed the wealth and power of the Church.He wanted to get rid of corrupt clergy.He denounced monastic orders.He criticized confessing sins to a priest.He denied the doctrine of transubstantiation.

Wycliffe’s times

•Wycliffe lived during the time of the Great Schism when the Pope resided in France and was influenced by the French nobility.

•The Hundred Years’ War was going on, so the French and English were hostile.

•Therefore, as an Englishman, to support the Pope was to support the French.

Since Wycliffe was a critic of the corrupt clergy, he gained the support of John of Gaunt, an English nobleman who wanted to get wealth by seizing the property of the church.

Wycliffe’s beliefs The Bible is the

supreme authority for all believers.

Every Christian should study the Bible.

Knowledge of Scripture would exposes the errors in teaching and practice.

He translated the Bible into English. (1382)

http://www.explore-parliament.net/playMovie.htm?nssMovieName=0187

Wycliffe Wycliffe also trained laymen to preach the gospel.

He and his followers met with much opposition.

He was branded a heretic by church leaders.

He died in 1384 of a stroke.

His followers, called Lollards, were imprisoned, tortured, and burned at the stake.

Lollards’ Tower, used as a prison

John Huss 1369?-1415 From Bohemia Opposed the

worldliness of the Church.

Summoned to Council of Constance, promising imperial protection.

Imprisoned, tried, found guilty of heresy.

Huss

Condemned to die at the stake. Officials asked him to recant to spare his

life. His response: “I shall die with joy today

in the faith of the gospel which I have preached.”

His strong faith in the face of death drew other Bohemians to stick to his teachings even though they also faced persecution.

Although neither Wycliffe nor Huss were able to initiate widespread reform in the church, they had called attention to the spiritual condition of the church.

They were “reformers before the Reformation” and prepared the way for the Protestant Reformation.

Examine the “Chaucer & Wycliffe” inset on page 279.

Chaucer uses a metaphor:“That if gold rust, what

shall iron do?”What do gold and iron

symbolize?

In the Canterbury Tales, Chaucer pokes fun of real people of his day. Whom do you think he was referencing as “a good man was there of religion…”?

The Beginning of the Reformation

Martin Luther

Martin Luther German scholar

whose father wanted him to be a lawyer.

Caught in a fearsome thunderstorm, he prayed to a saint to spare his life with a bargain: he would become a monk.

He joined the Augustinian order and was ordained a priest.

He lived in a monastery trying to earn salvation by doing good works.

Although he taught Bible at Wittenberg university, he had lots of doubts about whether he would go to heaven when he died.

Through his Scriptural studies, he learned that he could never perform enough good deeds to be justified before God: justification came by faith alone.

Solas of the Reformation

Sola fide – Justification is by faith alone. Sola scriptura – The “Scripture alone” is

necessary, sufficient, authoritative, and clear for man.

Sola Christo – Man is justified by the finished work of “Christ alone.”

Soli deo gloria – The focus of salvation and the Christian life is “glory to God alone.”

“In Christ Alone”- Phillips, Craig, & Dean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zun

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Controversy Pope Leo X (Giovanni

de Medici, son of Lorenzo de Medici who purchased a cardinal’s position for him) wanted to raise funds to renovate St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

The papal treasury was depleted because of the lavish spending of Renaissance popes.

Indulgences Leo sent agents to

sell indulgences, which granted pardon for sins.

In 1517, Johann Tetzel was sent to Wittenberg.

Luther’s parishioners began enthusiastically purchasing them.

People were led to believe that they could purchase a relative out of purgatory and into heaven.

The church had taught that the saints had done more good works than necessary and had extra to share with others, hence there was a “treasury of saints.” The pope served as “treasurer.”

Since Luther believed and taught that salvation was a gift, he was upset that people were being misled into believing that they could purchase salvation.

Luther’s Break with Rome

Oct. 31, 1517 Martin Luther posted

a list of 95 statements which he wished to discuss in a scholarly debate to the Wittenberg Church door.

His 95 Theses quickly became a symbol of defiance against the corruption and hypocrisy of Rome, challenging the system of Roman Catholicism.

Printed copies were circulated and many people agreed with Luther.

Motives: some were disgusted with what amounted to extortion by the church; others wanted to stop German money from flowing to Rome.

The Church’s Response

Denounced Luther as a heretic. Engaged him in debates to show Luther

he was wrong.

Leipzig Debate Johann Eck

Luther was holding views similar to the condemned heretic John Huss.

Papal authority is legitimate (the primacy of Peter).

Martin LutherPope had human

authority, not divinePope was fallibleScripture was only

reliable authorityNot all of Huss’

teachings were heretical

Church councils could err

The Diet of Worms The Pope issued a

papal bull against Luther, condemning him for heresy and demanding he recant.

Luther publicly tossed the bull into the fire, refusing.

The Emperor, Charles V, grandson of Ferdinand & Isabella, commanded that Luther appear at a hearing before the German diet, the German legislature made up of noblemen.

Worms

Instead of being allowed to defend himself, Luther was asked to recant his heresy.

Read Luther’s response on page 283. …here I stand… Emperor declared Luther an outlaw,

banned his writings, and demanded his arrest and subsequent death for heresy.

Frederick the Wise protected Luther. He lived on for 25 years, writing and

preaching.

Progress in Germany

The doctrines of the Reformation continued to spread.

Pamphlets and sermons helped. Luther translated New Testament into

German. The Shorter Catechism explains

Reformation principles in Q & A form. Music

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk8U58vfOoc&feature=related

The Augsburg Confession

An official statement of Lutheran beliefs

Written by Philipp Melanchthon

Politics Charles V was

preoccupied fighting elsewhere in Europe.Francis I – FranceSuleiman – Turks

By the time he paid attention, 20 years passed, and Lutheranism was firmly entrenched.

Ultimately the prince of each German territory was allowed to decide whether his kingdom would be Roman Catholic or Lutheran.

The people of the principality would have to decide whether they would accept the religion of the king or move somewhere else.

Spread of the Reformation

Switzerland

Ulrich Zwingli – a Roman Catholic priest in Zurich who recognized the corruption in the Roman church and became an outspoken critic.

He was exposed to the writings of Martin Luther and began to make changes in his church.

Zwingli’s Teachings:Bible is the basis of faithNo transubstantiationPriests don’t need to be celibate.Purgatory doesn’t exist.The pope is not so important.Christ is the only way to salvation.

Zwingli was killed in a battle between Protestants and Catholics in 1531.

Anabaptists – “baptize again” Switzerland Opposed infant baptism People had to be re-baptized. Only true believers should be members of

the local church. Separation of church and state. Christians should not fight against anyone.

(Pacifism) Mennonites & Amish are descendants of

Anabaptists.

Calvin

John Calvin – From France but moved to Geneva, Switzerland.

Influenced by Luther and searched the Scriptures.

1533 he converted and became a Protestant.

Persecuted by the Catholic King of France.

Calvin Wrote The Institutes of the Christian

Religion (a systemic document of Christian beliefs).

Belief in the sovereignty of God. Believed that God “predestines” all things

according to His will. God “foreordains” and “predestines” who

will be saved. “Reformed churches” – Presbyterians

follow John Calvin’s teachings.

England

Wycliffe, Lollards No dominant leader in the Reformation Reformation in England is shaped by

English translation of the BibleInvolvement of English Rulers

King Henry VIII – at first said Luther was a heretic.

Wanted to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon

Pope refused the divorce. Act of Supremacy – make king the head

of the church in England. Church of England breaks from Rome.

Henry’s Successors

Edward VI – sympathetic to protestants, died at 16.

Mary I, daughter of Catherine, became queen. She was very Catholic and persecuted Protestants. (Bloody Mary)

Mary died after 5 years of rule. Elizabeth I, daughter of Anne Boleyn,

became queen.

Elizabeth I

Reigned for 45 years Strong & determined Never married Restored Protestantism to England Anglican Church – doctrine very similar

to Roman Catholic Church, but the monarch was the head instead of the Pope.

Elizabeth I

War with Spain Philip II – King of Spain, Catholic Spanish Inquisition targets Protestants Philip had been married to Elizabeth’s

sister Mary when Mary was queen. Mary died with no heir. Elizabeth became queen. Philip II wanted to rule England, tried to

marry Elizabeth.

Elizabethan England

Elizabeth had her sea captains plunder Spanish merchant vessels.

She helped the Dutch fight against their Spanish ruler.

Philip plotted to overthrow Elizabeth. Then he tried to invade England.

The Spanish Armada He launched the “Invincible Armada” from

Spain with the Pope’s blessing to attack England.

Storms in the English Channel Big Spanish ships lacked maneuverability England’s Sir Francis Drake annihilated the

Spanish fleet. This weakened Spain’s sea power and

strengthened England as a power on the high seas.

Puritans

Protestantism in England Church of England is still too Catholic for

some. Puritans - desire to “purify” the church Separatists – think the church is too

corrupt and they must separate

Scotland

John Knox – leader of the Protestant Reformation in Scotland

Influenced by John Calvin Scotland becomes Protestant.

Netherlands

Philip of Spain rules. (Catholic) Persecutes the Protestants in the

Netherlands. Armed revolt in 1568. William of Orange – Protestant leader

France

Influenced by Luther and Calvin. 2000 Protestant congregations Ruled by Catholics Huguenots – French Protestants Huguenots are fiercely persecuted by

the Catholic rulers.

France

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre – 20,000 Huguenots massacred by Catholics with the praise of King Phillip II of Spain

Increases tension between French Catholics & Protestants

Civil War Henry of Navarre, a Protestant becomes

king.

France

Majority of French people are Catholic and don’t want a Protestant king.

Henry becomes a Catholic but is tolerant toward the Protestants.

Edict of Nantes

The Counter Reformation

Protestantism is spreading across Northern and Eastern Europe.

Protestants in England and France. Roman Catholic Church begins some

Reforms within the church.

These reforms within the Catholic Church are called the “Counter Reformation.”

Protestants were protesting against the false doctrines of the church.

The Counter Reformation focused on outward moral problems in the church.

Jesuits

The Society of Jesus promote the Counter Reformation.

Ignatius Loyola – founder Take a special vow of obedience to the

Pope. Purpose: to suppress heresy and

promote Roman Catholic education.

Jesuits

Jesuits tended to believe the “end justifies the means.”

What does this mean?

Inquisition

Pope Paul III reorganized the Inquisition to combat the spread of Protestantism.

Assumed anyone ACCUSED of heresy was GUILTY until proved INNOCENT.

What is the inherent logical problem with this assumption?

Inquisition would try to elicit a confession.

If no confession, punishment. Torture, burned at the stake. Family would lose property.

Index of Prohibited Books Catholic censorship of Protestant

literature. Printing press Books had to have a license from the

church to be published.

Council of Trent

Meeting of Catholic leaders Important because

1. It condemned the biblical principles upon which Protestantism is based.

2. It rejected the doctrines of sola fide and sola Scriptura.

What are these doctrines?