The Reformation

by W. BUNTING | Category: The Reformation | Jan 1964

In view of current trends in ecclesiastical circles towards unity, it seems desirable to look again at some of the remarkable events which took place during the sixteenth century and, in particular, what is referred to as the Reformation.

We shall first consider briefly the men who were in the forefront of that tremendous movement. We shall then look at some of the great truths for which the Reformers contended, and lastly, some modern trends towards unity.

THE MEN

Luther - Martin Luther, the son of a miner, was born at Eisleben, Saxony, Germany, on 10th November, 1483. He was a graduate of Erfurt University, and later entered a monastery. In 1508, at the age of 25, he became a professor at Wittemberg University. Shortly afterwards he visited Rome as a pilgrim, and as he climbed up the stairs of Pilate on his knees the truth of the words, "The just shall live by faith", dawned upon him and the great truth of justification by faith opened up. The Bible in Latin was all that was available at that time, but Luther turned to the Greek and Hebrew Scriptures and became well versed in these. He remained a monk for some time after his conversion. He was a man of dauntless courage and disputed with the papal representatives regarding the supremacy of the Pope and contended that the Scriptures were the only sure guide. In 1519 he shook off the authority of the Pope and preached that the word of God was the only rule of faith. He was later proclaimed a heretic by Pope Leo, and excommunicated in 1521. His writings and his preaching roused Germany. He declared that every Christian was a priest, but that the clergy handle the word and sacraments. Luther denied transubstantiation, but held to consubstantiation (Transubstantiation is an erroneous doctrine of the R.C. church, that the bread and wine of the Remembrance are changed into the flesh and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Consubstantiation holds that the bread indeed remains bread and the wine remains wine, but that in some mysterious way the real body of Christ is in the bread and the real blood of Christ is in the wine. This doctrine also is erroneous.). He was largely responsible for' the establishment of the Lutheran Church throughout Germany and elsewhere. One of his greatest achievements was the translation of the Bible into German.

Luther died at Eisleben on the 18th February, 1546, at the age of 62. He was amongst the greatest of the sons of men, but, like all others, had his faults.

Melanothon - Born 1497. He became Professor of Greek at Wittemberg and shared Luther's views. They became fast friends. He was a man of calm judgement and gentleness; in contrast, Luther was bold and passionate.

Melancthon was an indefatigable writer and in his publications he advocated Scripture as the only authority in matters of religion. He challenged the Romish doctrines of priesthood and transubstantiation. One of his great works was issued in 1521 under the title "Common Places", and ran to sixty editions. It was compiled directly from the Scriptures and is regarded as the oldest system of Protestant theology. When Luther died in 1546, Melancthon became the leader of the movement in Germany.

Ulrich Zwingle - One of the great men of the Reformation, if not the greatest. He was born in 1484 in the canton of St. Gall, Switzerland. He became a priest in 1506, and studied carefully the Hebrew Bible and the Greek Testament. His practice was to trace back to the Scriptures every doctrine that he held. He was in advance of Luther in his gospel preaching and in his understanding of many truths then coming to light.

In Zurich cathedral he expounded his views which were contrary to the Romish Church. He exposed such dreadful practices as the selling of indulgences to raise money for the Papal See. Under this practice sinners buying an indulgence were promised instant pardon, and exemption thereafter from the pains of purgatory. He taught that Christ by His death made sufficient atonement for all, that there is no need for any other sacrifice for sin. He also held that what is called the Lord's Supper is a simple commemoration of His death, and that the elements are merely symbols of the body and the blood.

In 1524 the reformed worship was set up in Zurich and this was probably the first step in the development of what are known today as the Reformed Churches. This term is used to distinguish them from the Lutherans. Zwingle differed little from Luther save that the latter held the view of consubstantiation which Zwingle rejected. In 1531 Zwingle was slain in battle. He was then forty-eight.

John Calvin was a Frenchman, born in Picardy in 1509. He was following a course of study in law when he read the writings of Luther. At the age of twenty-one he renounced the Romish Church and became a Protestant. His preaching in Paris roused persecution and he was forced to flee and take refuge in Switzerland.

Calvin's name is closely linked with the city of Geneva, where he acted as Professor of Theology in the Academy. He emphasized the doctrine of predestination and when taken to task for this, his reply was, "Nothing shall ever hinder me from openly avowing what I have learned from the word of God; it is my only guide". He was a prolific writer and an eloquent preacher, and thus spread the light of truth over Europe. His views on worship and church government form the basis of the Reformed Churches brought into existence about that time. He did much to combat the errors and practices of the Church of Rome, and he has an honoured place amongst the great men of the Reformation. He died in 1564 at the age of 55.

Patrick Hamilton - In Scotland the cruelty of the Roman Catholic bishops, the demands of the clergy, and the frauds of the monks did much to bring the Romish church into disrepute and contempt.

Patrick Hamilton visited Wittemberg in Germany and made contact with the reformers. He returned to Scotland and denounced the corruptions of the Romish church, and, in consequence, the powerful Cardinal Beaton ordered his death. He was burned at St. Andrews in 1528. He was probably the earliest martyr in Scotland in the cause of Protestantism, and his death did much to stir up the spirit of inquiry as to the teaching and practice of the Romish Church.

George Wishart - It was under the preaching of George Wishart that John Knox was reached with the message of the gospel. Wishart's name is closely linked with the city of Dundee. He denounced the teaching of the Romish church regarding purgatory, private confession and the mass. He was burned at the stake on 1st March, 1546, by Archbishop Beaton, nephew and successor of Cardinal Beaton.

John Knox - Scotland was ripe for religious freedom, but needed a leader. John Knox met that need. A native of Haddington, East Lothian, he had been a priest for ten years when he was converted under the preaching of George Wishart.

He was for a time a prisoner aboard the French galleys and later a refugee in Germany. For four years he was pastor of the English congregation at Geneva. In 1559 he returned to Scotland and his arrival was the signal for a religious revolution. The nation threw off the yoke of the Church of Rome and accepted Protestantism. Queen Mary and the Court of Holyrood bitterly opposed Knox, but he was firm. On the 25th August, 1560, the Papal religion in Scotland was largely abolished, attendance at mass forbidden, and the reformed faith sanctioned by law. Knox died in 1572. Twenty years after his death in 1592 the Scottish' Parliament ratified the government of the Church of Scotland as established under the teaching of John Knox.

John Wychffe - (known as the morning star of the Reformation). Born about 1324. He was an accomplished Latin scholar. Parish priest of Lutterworth, he denounced the doctrines and practices of the priests of the Romish church. His constant appeal was to the word of God. He claimed that The Sacred Scriptures are the property of the people", and he strove to give them the Scriptures in their own language.

After nearly 15 years' labour, he completed in 1388 the translation of Jerome's Latin version of the Bible into the English language. This was about 70 years before the invention of printing. There are several copies of Wycliffe's Bible in the principal libraries today one in the British Museum is believed to have been written by Wycliffe himself. The Papal authorities denounced him because of his work and for the fact that the Bible was being rapidly dissemina+ed throughout the land. "Master John Wycliffe, " said they, "by translating the Gospel into English hath rendered it more acceptable and more intelligent to laymen and to women than it hath hitherto been to learned and intelligent clerks. The Gospel pearl is everywhere cast out and trodden under foot of swine. It is heresy to speak of Holy Scriptures in English. Let the people learn to believe in the Church rather than the Gospel." Wycliffe died in his bed in 1384, but so cruel was the hatred of Rome against him that 44 years after his death, they dug up his bones, burned them and cast them into the waters of the river Swift near the spot where Wycliffe had lived and laboured. His successors, the Lollards, suffered for their principles in numerous martyrdoms.

William Tyndale - A year after the birth of Luther and exactly 100 years after John Wycliffe's death, William Tyndale was born in 1484. At the University of Oxford he studied the Greek Testament of the learned Erasmus.

He exposed the ignorance and errors of the priests of Rome, and declared that he "would cause the boy that driveth the plow to know more of the Scriptures than they, by translating and printing them in the langnage of the people". The first entire English New Testament ever printed and published appeared in 1526, but nearly all were burned at St. Paul's Cross. To hold a copy was an offence, punishable by fine, imprisonment or even death. Tyndale then turned to the translation of the Old Testament and completed the Pentateuch in 1580, but did not live to complete the Bible. He was arrested and confined in a castle near Antwerp, and on the 6th October, 1536, he was taken from prison, fastened to the stake, strangled, and his body burned to ashes. The prayer on his dying lips was, "Lord, open the King of England's eyes".

Miles Coverdale - born in Yorkshire, an Augustine monk and later Bishop of Exeter. He had assisted Tyndale in his work. In 1585 the first complete English Bible was issued. This was the work of Miles Coverdale and carried royal authority. The king, Henry VIII, ordered that a copy should be chained to a pillar or fastened in the choir of every parish church in the land.

In Queen Mary's reign Coverdale was deprived of his bishopric and imprisoned. He was later released and died in a good old age.

(To be continued, D.V.)

W. BUNTING | Jan 1964
The Reformation