Late Medieval Dissent and Reform

Question 1

Martin Luther

Answer 1

• Founder of the German Reformation
• 16th century
• Wittenberg, Germany
• Ninety-Five Theses (1517) taken as symbol of Protestant Reformation and manifesto for reform
• “Tower Experience” was his account of his breakthrough insight into justification
• “justification by grace through faith alone”
• refused to recant at the Diet of Worms in 1521
• his German hymns, bible translation, and works of consolation were popular and influential

Question 2

John Calvin

Answer 2

• French Reformer and theologian
• 16th century
• associated especially with Geneva, which he made a centre for the Reformed faith
• his conversion recounted in the preface to his Psalms commentary
• wrote the Institutes, a major work of Reformed theology
• wrote a famous letter to Cardinal Sadoleto defending the principles of the Reformation

Question 3

Waldensians

Answer 3

• unauthorized movement of medieval dissent, orthodox in doctrine, stressing like the Franciscans itinerant lay preaching, voluntary poverty, and works of charity
• from 12th century through Reformation era
• SW Alps, Austria, Germany and elsewhere
• Peter Waldo (or Valdes, d. 1218), a key figure
• In many respects like Franciscans but condemned for unauthorized teaching of the Bible; rejection of intermediary role of the clergy
• anticipated many later emphases of Protestant reformers

Question 4

John Wycliffe

and the Lollards

Answer 4

• philosopher, theologian, and (proto-) reformer
• “morning star of the Reformation”
• 14th century
• England (esp. Oxford)
• argued the bible was sole authority for doctrine
• questioned validity of papacy, monasticism, and transubstantiation
• A “Wycliffite” bible translation done by his disciples
• teaching disseminated by itinerant preachers; his followers known as the Lollards

Question 5

Jan Hus

Answer 5

• Bohemian Reformer
• late 14th and early 15th century
• Rector of the University of Prague
• influenced by teachings of Wycliffe
• preached moral and ecclesiastical reform
• followers known as Hussites
• Condemned by Council of Constance and burned at the stake

Question 6

Conciliarism

Answer 6

• the belief that the supreme authority in the Church lies with a General Council.
• a late medieval movement in theory and practice
• foundations laid in early 13th-century canon law
• the crisis of authority in the papal schism led to appeals to councils in practice
• high point was Council of Constance in 15th century and its claim to divine authority
• failure of concilarism to effect meaningful reform part of background to Protestant Reformation

Question 7

Calvin’s Institutes

Answer 7

• ” the most important theological text of the Protestant Reformation” (Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church)
• written by John Calvin in the mid-16th century
• systematic presentation of Reformed theology in four books, treating:
• God the creator; God the redeemer; the workings of grace; the church and its ministry
• the Summa Theologiae of Protestantism

Question 8

95 Theses

Answer 8

• a series of statements protesting sale of induglences, nailed by Martin Luther to the door of the castle church
• Wittenberg, Germany
• 1517
• quickly became more than a local university debate
• rapidly spread both in their original Latin version and in a German translation
• symbol of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation

Question 9

Ulrich Zwingli

Answer 9

• Swiss Reformer and theologian
• 16th century
• associated esp. with Zurich
• initiated the Reformation in Switzerland, gained support of city council in Zurich
• based on the bible alone, offered widespread critique of the church
• held a purely symbolic view of the Eucharist, in contrast to Luther
• killed in a battle against Swiss cantons resistant to reforms

Question 10

Erasmus

Answer 10

• Northern European humanist and moral reformer
• late 15th and 16th centuries
• moved around: Switzerland, Germany, England
• produced an influential critical edition of the Greek New Testament
• wrote a biting satire of the corruptions of the church, In Praise of Folly
• most renowned scholar of his age
• influenced Reformers but stayed in the Catholic church.

Question 11

Humanism

Answer 11

• an intellectual and educational movement concerned with how to derive the best ideas of the ancient world and express these eloquently for a new age.
• 15th and 16th century Europe
• the stress was upon a return to the fount, the original sources, ad fontes.
• the old texts mediated an experience to posterity, which could be regained by handling the texts in the right way
• Associated in the northern Renaissance with figures such as Erasmus
• Many of the Reformers were influenced by humanism and the “new learning”

Question 12

Reformed

Answer 12

“The term is sometimes taken to include all the Protestant Churches, but it is more accurately used specifically of those influenced by the theology of J. Calvin, J. Knox, and U. Zwingli (popularly called Calvinist), as contrasted with the Lutherans.” Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church

• originates in 16th century
• key areas of strength are Switzerland and Scotland; later England
• Teachings sometimes summarized by the acronym TULIP:

Total Depravity

Unconditional Election

Limited Atonement

Irresistable Grace

Perseverance of the Saints

Question 13

Savonarola

Answer 13

• Italian preacher, Dominican prior, and reformer
• 15th century
• Florence
• apocalyptic, denunciatory preaching, with claims to personal visions
• called for sweeping political, social, and moral reforms, and for a time established a theocracy in Florence
• after feeling turned against him, he was arrested, condemned, and hanged