The Reformation

1. Chapter 12 The Reformation

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

5. Forerunners of the Reformation

6. John Wycliffe: Morning Star of the Reformation • Englishman (1320?-1384) • Preacher, scholar, patriotic leader, teacher, lecturer, theologian • Associated with University of Oxford

7. God’s Word changes people. Wycliffe's Teachings • 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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…”?

16. Martin Luther The Beginning of the Reformation

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.”

20. “In Christ Alone”- Phillips, Craig, & Dean • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zunQ--S7RM

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. The Church’s Response • Denounced Luther as a heretic. • Engaged him in debates to show Luther he was wrong.

27. Leipzig Debate • Johann Eck • Luther was holding views similar to the condemned heretic John Huss. • Papal authority is legitimate (the primacy of Peter). • Martin Luther • Pope had human authority, not divine • Pope was fallible • Scripture was only reliable authority • Not all of Huss’ teachings were heretical • Church councils could err

28. 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.

29. 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.

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

31. 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

32. A Mighty Fortress is Our God http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk8U58vfOoc&feature=related

33. The Augsburg Confession • An official statement of Lutheran beliefs • Written by Philipp Melanchthon

34. Politics • Charles V was preoccupied fighting elsewhere in Europe. • Francis I – France • Suleiman – Turks By the time he paid attention, 20 years passed, and Lutheranism was firmly entrenched.

35. 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.

36. Spread of the Reformation

37. 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.

38. Zwingli’s Teachings: • Bible is the basis of faith • No transubstantiation • Priests 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.

39. 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.

40. 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.

41. 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.

42. England • Wycliffe, Lollards • No dominant leader in the Reformation • Reformation in England is shaped by • English translation of the Bible • Involvement of English Rulers

43. 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.

44. 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.

45. 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.

46. 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.

47. 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.

48. 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.

49. 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

50. Scotland • John Knox – leader of the Protestant Reformation in Scotland • Influenced by John Calvin • Scotland becomes Protestant.