Reformation History

The Beginnings of Religious Reforms

Corrupt PriesthoodMoral Decay of the ChurchDecline of Papal PowerPeople of the Reformation

Immorality of the Clergy. Celibacy for clergy became

Roman Church law in 1079. This mandate tempted all kinds of immorality. The abodes of the

clergy were often dens of corruption. It was a common

sight to see priests frequenting the taverns, gambling, and

having orgies with quarrels and blasphemy. Many of the clergy kept mistresses, and convents became houses of ill fame. In many places the people were

delighted at seeing a priest keep a mistress, that the married

women might be safe from his seductions.

“Salvation, taken from the hands of God, fell into those of the priests, who set themselves in the place of

our Lord. Souls thirsting for pardon were no more to look to heaven, but to the Church, and

above all to its pretended head. To these blinded souls the Roman

pontiff was God. Hence the greatness of the popes - hence

unutterable abuses”

Peter Waldus

12th Century Reformer

Followers attempted to reduce the ecclesiastical government in their lives

Considered every Christian qualified and authorized to instruct and exhort

Confession to a priest not necessary

Prayer for the dead useless and vain

John Wycliffe (1320-1324)Opposed the Pope—two officers in the Church: elders and deaconsFormed societies to preach to the poor— “Lollards”Scriptures were the only source of authority

May 4, 1415 the Council of Constance declared him a hertic and commanded his books to be burned and his body exhumed and burned12 years later this was carried out and his ashes were thrown in the river Swift.Translated Bible into English

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Challenged authority of pope

Luther was angered by the sale of indulgences led to nailing 95 theses to the church door

Bible is the only infallible source of religious authority

All baptized Christians are a universal priesthood

Luther declared early church had no pope1522 published the N.T. in German

John Calvin (1509-1564)

Literal interpretation of Scripture

Church organization

Pastors

Teachers

Elders

Deacons

Invited to build Reformed church in Geneva

Imposed a strict morality

Thrown out of Geneva

Moved to Strasbourg were he began writing commentaries on the Bible

Invited back to Geneva

Calvin’s doctrine accepted by the masses

Practically all denomuinational churches are Calvinist to some degree

Predestination the core of Calvin’s belief

Calvinism can be seen in the acrostic “Tulip”

T- Total Depravity

U – Unconditional Election

L – Limited Atonement

I – Irresistible Grace

P- Perseverance of the Saints