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The
Reformers |
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Meet
the Reformers
Starting
with pre-Reformers John Wyclif and Jan Hus, we'll feature
many of the great Reformers, like Martin Luther, John Calvin
etc.
What
motivated them?
Each
of these men and women firmly believed that the Bible is
the Word of God. They spent their lives studying the Bible,
praying and serving the Lord in obedience, even when it
meant martyrdom. Let's be inspired!
What
was their message?
As
well as this brief overview, we'll discuss their teachings
and give you plenty of sources for extra reading, both on
the web and in books.
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the years 1500- 1650 many incredible changes happened across Europe
which has influenced the Church and Society ever since. 'Officially'
the Reformation began on 31 October 1517 when Martin Luther posted
the 95 Theses. It had, of course, been brewing for many years and
the Reformation Story encompasses many lands and many men and women
of faith.
Take
a look at their story ......
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| Pre-Reformers |
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Jan
Hus (1374-1415) was ordained priest in 1401 and
spent much of his teaching career at Charles University in Prague.
Strongly influenced by Wyclif, he stressed the role of Scripture
as an authority in the church. Although he defended the traditional
authority of ordained clergy, he taught that only God was able to
forgive sin. His views were not popular with the Church and in 1415
he attended the Council of Constance to defend his beliefs. He was
tried and burnt at the stake without an opportunity to explain his
beliefs. Click
here to read more about Hus |
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Girolamo
Savonarola (1452
- 1498), was a dominican monk who lived in Florence, Italy. He was
a "fire and brimstone" preacher and prophet who spoke
out forcefully against the church, with the same message of repentance
as John the Baptist. He was puritanical and during the Florentine
carnival in 1497, he organized the "bonfire of the vanities".
Pope Alexander VI excommunicated him and together with his fellow
friars, Domenico da Pescia and Silvestro Maruffi, he was hanged
and burnt in Piazza Signoria in Florence on 23 May 1498.Back
to top
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Peter
Waldo
(1140 - 1217) was a once-wealthy merchant who lived in Lyon, France.
After hearing a song about God, he asked a clergyman the best way
to God. After the clergyman recited Matthew 19:21 about selling
all you have etc, he did just that and lived a life of poverty and
service. His followers became known as Waldensians. They held that
the Bible was the only source of authority and rejected the organization
and much of the Catholic Church's teaching. They were persecuted
for centuries for their radical beliefs. Back
to top |
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John
Wycliffe (1329-84) was a prominent English Reformer
of the later Middle Ages. He was a leading philosopher at Oxford
University and was then invited to serve at court by John of Gaunt.
He fell into conflict with the church and was condemned by the Pope
in 1377, because he agreed that the government should seize the
property of corrupt clergymen. In 1382 he was sent from Oxford and
went to live in Lutterworth. One of his major achievements was the
launching of a new translation of the Late Vulgate Bible into English.
His followers became known as "Lollards." Back
to top |
| Reformers |
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Theodore
Beza (1519-1605) succeeded Calvin as the leader
of Reformed Protestantism in Geneva, Switzerland. He too was a lawyer
and also enjoyed writing poetry. As Calvin's successor, he became
one of the leading advisors to the Huguenots in France. Like Luther,
he was a talented translator and his versions of the Greek and Latin
New Testaments were the source for the Geneva and King James' Bibles.
He married Claude Desnoz, but had no children. Back
to top |
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Martin
Bucer (1491-1551) was a Swiss Reformer. He was a
Dominican Friar and like Luther, he left and married a former Nun.
He went to Strasbourg in 1523 and became one of the chief statesmen
among the Reformers. In 1549 he had to leave Strasbourg and went
to live in England. Here he advised Cranmer on the "Book of
Common Prayer."Back to top |
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John
Calvin (1509-1564) was born in France and became
a lawyer and later a theology student. He wrote the Institutes of
the Christian Religion. He was introduced to Luther's teachings
while he was a student in Paris and agreed with Luther's views on
predestination. He created and systemized the Reformed tradition
in Protestantism. Click
here to read more about Calvin Back
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John
Knox (1505 - 1572) was the leading Reformer and
the founder of Presbyterianism in Scotland. Knox studied at St Andrews,
then became a Roman Catholic priest. Around 1543, he became aware
of Reformation teachings through George Wishart, who had studied
under Martin Luther. After Wishart was martyred, Knox took over.
In July 1574 he was made a French galley-slave for nineteen months,
after which he worked in England for ten years. After some years
with Calvin in Geneva, he returned to Scotland in 1559. His famous
book is "The History of the Reformation in Scotland."
Back to top |
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Martin
Luther (1483 - 1546) was born in Eisleben, studied
law and then entered the monastery in Erfurt before becoming a professor
of theology at Wittenberg. He preached grace alone, faith alone,
Christ alone, the Scriptures alone and the glory of God alone. His
teachings sparked the Reformation. Click
here for more about Martin Luther. Back
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Katharina
Von Bora (1499 - 1552) was the beautiful and talented
wife of Martin Luther. She was placed in a nunnery at age 6 after
her mother's death by her new stepmother. In 1522, along with other
nuns who had read Luther's gospel tracts and accepted the gospel
of salvation, she escaped the convent. She then lived with artist
Lucas Cranach and his family. On June 1525 she married Martin Luther
and had 6 children. Her last words were "I will stick to Christ
like a burr to a topcoat". Click
here for more about Katharina. Back
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Philip
Melanchthon (1497–1560) German scholar and
humanist. He was second only to Martin Luther as a figure in the
Lutheran Reformation. He was professor of Greek at the University
of Wittenberg when he met Luther, and they soon became friends.
He was able to explain the new gospel to those outside the movement.
At the Diet of Augsburg (1530) he wrote and presented the Augsburg
Confession. Back to top |
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William
Tyndale
(1496 - 1561) was a theologian and scholar, speaking eight languages
fluently. He was the first man to take advantage of Gutenberg's
invention to print the New Testament in the English language. Tyndale's
Bible translation, including commentaries, was banned and he was
condemned as a heretic. King Henry VIII ordered him to be burnt
at the stake in 1536. Click
here for more about Tyndale. Back
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Ulrich
Zwingli (1484 - 1531) was born in Switzerland and
believed in the Bible as a precise authority. Zwingli's theology
and morality were based on a single principle: if the Old or New
Testament did not say something explicitly and literally, then no
Christian should believe or practice it.He denounced the use of
music, pictures and sculptures in church. He disagreed with Luther
in that he believed that the bread and wine of the mass were a memorial,
rather than the literal body and blood of Christ. Click
here to read more about Zwingli. Back
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©
Reformation Tours, LLC 2003
P.O. Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222
Tel: (618) 222-9914 • Fax: (618) 222-9917 • Toll Free: (800) 303-5534
info@reformationtours.com
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