The Early Reformers PRPC Adult Sunday School, Fall 2009.
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Transcript of The Early Reformers PRPC Adult Sunday School, Fall 2009.
The Early Reformers
PRPC Adult Sunday School, Fall 2009
Pre-Reformers?
• Traditional Historical Narrative– Early Church: Good– Medieval Church: Bad,
Dark– Pre-Reformers:
Morningstar– Luther: Dawn
• Is this right?– Is anyone who exhibits
“reformed tendencies” in the Middle Ages then a Pre-Reformer?
Semper reformanda
• Always being reformed• The church always
needed some reform (still does!)
• The church had mechanisms in place to effect that reform– Local bishops and leaders– Gregory VII– Innocent III– Canon Law– Papal Power
Corruption of Leadership
• What happens when the structures which are in place to reform have themselves become corrupt and recalcitrant?
• Papacy• Pope
• Curia (Court of Rome)
• Cardinals
– Investiture– Councils– Laws– Adjudication
Voices for Reform
• Many Voices Calling for Reform
• Who will hear these voices?– Pope? Bishop?
• They tried
– Council?• They tried
– Kings/Princes?• Yes.
Kings, Queens, and Princes
• So the stage is set. Kings and Princes and their local, non-Prelate church leaders would have to serve as the leaders of the Reform, at a great risk to themselves because of their opposition to the powers-that-be– Wycliffe/Edward Wales, John
of Gaunt– Hus/Vaclav – Luther/Frederick III– Cranmer/Henry VIII– Bucer/von Sickingen– Calvin/Francis?, Genevan City
Council– Knox/Lairds
Wycliffe and Hus
• Story of two local reformers who tried to make their voices heard– Anti-Papacy– Pro-Scripture– Early Church
emphasis– Local over Roman
John Wycliffe – 1330-84• Oxford Theologian and Pastor
– Robert Grosseteste – 1170-1253
• Bishop of Lincoln• Oxford Theologian
– Bonaventure – 1221-74• Paris Theologian• Cardinal Bishop of Albano• Minister General OFM
• These types were able to be bishops at this time– RG Clashed w/pope over local
appointments– RG believed Pope was the
problem with the church– Emphasis on pastoral care
• Training parish pastors
Local Royal Support
• By Wycliffe’s time men of his mindset were no longer able to be bishops– Challenge Papacy– Local Emphasis
• So he needed support from local rulers– Edward Wales– John of Gaunt
• These local powers protected Wycliffe and allowed him to preach his message of reform
Wycliffe’s Reform Agenda
• Royal Authority over the local church
• Common Language• Scripture• Parish Education
– Chaucer connection
• Eucharist• Philosophical Realism
14th Century Prague
• Czech Nationalism• Charles IV HRE• Prague Reform
• Patron: Charles
– Preaching– Liturgy– Bible Translation– Utraquism– Frequent Communion– Paedocommunion– Morals
Jan Hus – c1370-1415
• Luther to the Czechs• Educated in Prague
– Heir to the Prague Reform
– Deeply influenced by Wycliffe
• University Theologian and Pastor– Rector of Prague U.– Pastor of Bethlehem
Chapel
Bethlehem Chapel
• Founded by patrons of the Prague Reform
• Obtained a special charter from the Church– Allowed preaching in
vernacular on a regular basis
Bethlehem Chapel
• Founded by patrons of the Prague Reform
• Obtained a special charter from the Church– Allowed preaching in
vernacular on a regular basis
– In Hus’ time served like a regular Parish Church with full vernacular liturgy and Eucharist
Bethlehem Chapel
• Founded by patrons of the Prague Reform
• Obtained a special charter from the Church– Allowed preaching in
vernacular on a regular basis– In Hus’ time served like a
regular Parish Church with full vernacular liturgy and Eucharist
– Largest Chapel in all of Europe
• Like PRPC in many ways– Example of the kind of local
church I’ve been talking about
Hus’ Theology
• Against the abuses of church leadership– Papacy– Bishops
• Utraquism• Vernacular Liturgy• Preaching• Frequent Communion• Training young pastors• Love of Czech people• Pastor’s heart
The Murder of the Prophets:The Devil’s Council
• Council of Constance (1414-1418)• Met to solve the Great Western
Schism• Also on the agenda was to deal
with the voices of reform• Hus was called to the council,
promised safe conduct– It was a lie
• Immediately arrested upon arrival• Tried at a kangaroo court
– Though Hus had support from Czech Nobles, his King, Vaclav, was a degenerate
• Condemned falsely. Burned at the stake
– July 6, 1415• Wycliffe was condemned
posthumously, exhumed and burned in Britain
Hus’ Impact• Hussites
– Nearly won freedom from Church/Empire
– Poland, Bohemia, and Moravia
• Reformers– Looked to Hus as a hero
and example– Much of the life of Hus is
repeated in Luther
• Cirkev Bratska• Vatican II • His Martyr Blood