Desert Springs Community Church
Church History Week 9
3.18.17
Church History Week 9
People, Places and Events
1. Henry VII (1491-1547)
• Second son of Henry VII
•
Became king in 1509
o Brother died, wedded his widow, Catherine of Aragon
o Became richest man in the world
•
Defeated France and Scotland, popularity soared
•
Always had been interested in religion (slide)
1516 – Mary was born to Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon
1517 – Thomas More becomes Henry VIII’s counselor
2. Thomas More (1478-1535) (A Man for All Seasons)
• Born in London, son of a judge
•
From 1490-1492, served as a page in the house of John Morton,
Archbishop of Canterbury
o Saw great potential in More, and nominated him for a place at
Oxford
•
Started Oxford in 1492, but only remained for 2 years
o Completed his studies in London in 1502, became a lawyer
•
Contemplated becoming a monk
o Lived in a monastery in 1503 and 1504
o Decided against it, but continued ascetic practices throughout his
life
•
Elected to Parliament in 1504
•
Married in 1505
o Had 4 children before his wife died in 1511
•
Remarried only 1 month later, rumored to never have consummated his
second marriage
•
1510, became one of two undersheriffs of London
o Continued his political career
•
Wrote his most famous work, Utopia, in 1516
o His friend Erasmus published it first in Latin
o Not translated to English and published there until 1551
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o The theme of the book was for reason to master human affairs,
creating a perfect society
1521 – More knighted and makes a diplomatic mission to Charles V, Holy Roman
Emperor
– Henry wrote Defense of the Seven Sacraments against Luther
1524 – William Tyndale seeks the patronage of Bishop Tunstall to print an English Bible
• Needed permission after 1408 law that banned translation of the Bible
3. William Tyndale (1494-1536)
• Born in Gloucestershire near the Welsh border
o Not much is known of his early life
•
Went to Oxford in 1506
o Received his BA in 1512
o Obtained his MA from Magdalen College in 1515
o Was not happy with the theological teaching there (quote)
•
Attended Cambridge from 1517 to 1521
o Erasmus’s ideas were very prevalent there
o Acquired his Protestant convictions there (slide)
•
In 1521, joined the house of Sir John Walsh as the children’s tutor
o Many local clergy came to dine there
o Shocked by both their ignorance of Scriptures and their positions
o Became embroiled in controversies (quote)
•
Left for London to speak with Bishop Cuthbert Turnstall, a supporter of
Erasmus
o Decline to extend his patronage, stating he had no room for him.
o Actually more interested in stopping the spread of Lutheranism
– Tyndale travels to Germany and registers at the University of Wittenberg
1525 – Tyndale completes the translation with help from Friar William Roy
• Prepared to print the Bible in Cologne but is discovered, and escaped with
only a few copies
1526 – Tyndale completes printing in Worms, smuggled copies soon begin circulating
in England
• Catholic authorities would buy them up, funds secretly funneled back to
Tyndale, thus funding more printing
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Also wrote an introduction to Romans, which set forth his view of salvation by
faith alone
– Henry becomes obsessed with Anne Boleyn
1527 – Henry decides to annul his marriage to Catherine
• Several reasons, but mainly because she had failed to give him a male heir
•
Emperor Charles V, Catherine’s nephew, persuades pope to say no
– English agents begin their quest to capture Tyndale, but he keeps moving
around the continent
1528 – Henry joins an alliance with Francis I and Clement VII against Charles V
1529 – Failure to reach an agreement over the annulment, case moves to Rome,
cardinal Wolsey loses
power
as a result
– Suggestion made by one of the Cambridge University pastors, Thomas
Cranmer, to seek university opinion on the annulment question, catches the
attention of Henry VIII
4. Thomas Cranmer (1489 – 1556)
• Born in Nottinghamshire, second son of a small landholder
•
Went to Jesus College , Cambridge in 1503
o Took 8 years to get his degree
•
Married for love in 1515, giving up his prospect of a career in the church
o Wife died in childbirth soon after
•
Restored to his fellowship at Jesus College
o Became ordained as a priest (slide)
o Met regularly with a group to discuss Luther’s theological revolt on
the continent
•
Completed his doctorate in 1526
•
Had a discussion with two of Henry’s Councilors about the annulment
dilemma
o Henry summoned Cranmer for an interview
o Moved him into Durham Palace to write a treatise for annulment
based on Scripture, the church fathers, and church councils
– Thomas More made Lord Chancellor of England
• Began his campaign against the Reformation in England
1530 – Attempt made to win support of European Universities for Henry’s case
– More refuses to sign a letter to the pope asking to annul Henry’s marriage
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– Thomas Cromwell joins Henry’s Royal Council
5. Thomas Cromwell (1485-1540)
• Born in Surrey to Walter Cromwell, who was a blacksmith, fuller and cloth
merchant, and owner of both a hostelry and a brewery
•
As a youth, left his family and crossed over to the continent
•
Spent time in France, Italy and the low countries, developing a network of
contacts
•
Returned to England , married in 1515, had three children
o Wife died in 1528, two daughters died in 1529, son survived
o Also had an illegitimate daughter
•
In 1523, obtained a seat in the House of Commons
•
From 1516 to 1530, was a member of the household of Thomas, Cardinal
Wolsey
o In 1526, became a member of his council
o By 1529, was his personal secretary
•
When Wolsey lost power in 1929, Cromwell escaped the shadow
•
Cromwell holds numerous offices during his years in the King’s service
– Tyndale’s translation of the first 5 books of the Old Testament appeared in
England
• Also wrote The Practice of Prelates, which opposed Henry’s annulment on
the grounds it was unscriptural
•
Henry became angry, unsuccessfully requested Emperor Charles to
apprehend and extradite Tyndale
1531 – Henry VIII declares himself head of the English church “as far as the law of
Christ allows”
– More attempts to resign, but the king refuses permission
– Cromwell takes over supervision of the king’s legal and parliamentary affairs
– Tyndale meets Henry’s agent Steven Vaughan, but declines the king’s
invitation to return to
England
• More commissioned by the king to begin writing against Tyndale
•
Wrote a series of correspondences arguing over the authority of the
Catholic Church vs. the authority of the Scriptures
– While visiting the Continent on official business, Cranmer secretly marries a
Lutheran
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1532 – Henry attempts to divorce Catherine, More won’t allow it
– More asks again to resign
• Henry allows it, but begins to build a case against More to assuage his
humiliation
– Cranmer appointed Archbishop of Canterbury
• Initially he balked, stayed in Europe 7 extra weeks, hoping it would be filled
by someone else
•
Eventually returned and accepted the position, always had believed in royal
absolutism
•
Would end up affecting many of his decisions, good and bad (slide)
1533 – January 25, Henry secretly marries Anne Boleyn, excommunicated by the pope
– Marriage of Henry and Catherine annulled by Cranmer in April
– Anne crowned queen on May 31st
• Thomas More refused to attend
– Elizabeth born on September 7
1534 – Parliament passes the Act of Succession, gave legitimate succession to Anne
Boleyn’s children, and negated the same to Catherine’s children. Opposition to the
act constituted high treason
– Thomas More sent to the Tower for refusing to take the oath of the Act of
Succession
• Accused by Thomas Cromwell of treason
– Henry officially breaks with the church in Rome, Parliament passes the Act of
Supremacy on
November 3, confirming Henry as Supreme Head of the Church of
England
– Cromwell appointed day-to-day controller of the church (slide)
– Tyndale moves to his good friend Thomas Poyntz’s house in Antwerp
1535 – More tried and convicted for treason on July 1, beheaded on July 6 on Tower
Hill
– Henry’s agent Henry Phillips arrives in Antwerp and befriends Tyndale
• Phillips arranges to have Tyndale arrested while the Poyntzes are out of
town
–
– Tyndale is thrown into Vilvoorde prison near Antwerp (slide)
• Miles Coverdale finishes the first-ever complete printed version of the
English Bible
•
Dedicated to Henry VIII
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Over 90% of the King James bible based on Tyndale’s translation
•
1536 – With the combined efforts of Cromwell and Cranmer, the Church of England’s
ties with Rome
were completely severed
• Cromwell began dissolution of the smaller monasteries in England
•
Cromwell issued his first set of “Injunctions”
– Catherine of Aragon died in January
– Anne Boleyn executed on May 19
• Had become at odds with Cromwell, who was thought to have orchestrated
her demise
•
Cranmer declared Henry’s marriage to Anne invalid, thus illegitimising her
daughter
– Quickly married Jane Seymour
– Tyndale strangled to death then burned at the stake at Vilvoorde
• Final words were “Lord! Open the King of England’s eyes.” (slide)
1537 – Edward born, Jane died
1538 – First publication of the English translation of the Bible
– Henry (through Cranmer’s and Cromwell’s influence) orders English Bible to be
put in every church
– Second set of Injunctions issued by Cromwell, discouraging Roman Catholic
“superstitions”
1539 – The Act of Six Articles was issued, which reaffirmed most Catholic beliefs,
including celibacy
– Cranmer sends his wife to Europe
1540 – Henry married Anne of Cleves in January, was annulled in July
• Initially encouraged by Cromwell
•
King saw her, thought her ugly
•
The marriage was never consummated
– Cromwell begins his fall from grace
• Based on drift toward Protestantism and the Anne of Cleves fiasco
– Thomas Cromwell arrested in June and executed in July
• His enemies produced a long list of indictments
•
Cranmer advocated strongly for Cromwell, but to no avail
– Henry married Catherine Howard in July, same day that Cromwell was
executed
1542 – Catherine Howard executed in February
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1543 – “The King’s Book” was published, which has been used to provide evidence
that Henry still
supported Catholicism, forbids Scripture reading
• Still would not associate himself or the church with Protestantism
him
– Cranmer accused of heresy for continuing to read Scripture, but Henry protects
– Henry married Catherine Parr in July
1547 – Henry VIII died in January, holding Cranmer’s hand
– Nine-year-old Edward became king
• His advisors immediately began moving the church in a decidedly reformed
direction
•
Hugh Latimer became court preacher
•
Nicholas Ridley became Bishop of Rochester
6. Hugh Latimer (1485-1555)
• Born in Leicestershire to a family of farmers
•
Attended Cambridge University
o Elected a fellow of Clare College in 1510
•
Ordained a priest in 1515
•
Nominated to the positions of university preacher and university chaplain
in 1522
•
Received his Bachelor of Divinity in 1524
o Subject of his disputation was refuting the new ideas of the
reformation, specifically those of Melancthon
•
Thomas Bilney heard his disputation and later came to give his
“confession”
o Through Bilney’s words he came to accept the truth
•
Joined a group of reformers including Bilney
•
Began to preach publicly for an English translation of the Bible
•
In 1535, became Bishop of Worcester, preached reformed teachings and
iconoclasm
•
In 1539, he opposed Henry’s Six Articles
o Imprisoned in the Tower
•
When Edward VI came to the throne, he was released and became court
preacher until 1550
7. Nicholas Ridley (1500-1555)
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Born in Northumberland to a prominent family
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Attended Pembroke College at Cambridge University
o Received his Master of Arts in 1525
•
Ordained a priest in 1525
o Studied at the Sorbonne in Paris until 1929
•
Became senior proctor of Cambridge University in 1534
•
Received his Bachelor of Divinity in 1537
o Developed the University statement regarding the non-ascendency
of the pope
•
Appointed by Cranmer to serve as one of his chaplains
o Cranmer made him vicar of Kent in 1538
•
Made Master of Pembroke College in 1540
o Received his D.D. in 1541
•
Cranmer resolved to replace the old guard with bishops who supported
the new thinking
o In 1547, he was made bishop of Rochester
o Directed that all the altars should be removed and replaced with
simple tables
1549 – Act of Uniformity orders use of Cranmer’s Book of Common Prayer
• One of the most revered and utilized pieces of spiritual literature
•
A public liturgy that embodies orthodoxy
•
Still used to this day
– Edward became extremely interested in plight of prisoners, secured the release
of John Knox
8. John Knox (1514-1572)
• Born in Haddington, father either a merchant or a craftsman
•
Entered the University of St. Andrews in 1529, studied theology
•
Ordained a priest in 1536
o Because of an excess of priests in Scotland, became a notary and a
tutor
•
Because of the sea traffic, Lutheran literature could be easily smuggled
into the country
o The port of Dundee became an early Protestant center
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o In 1528, Patrick Hamilton was burned at the stake for being a
Protestant
•
In 1543, the regent for the infant Mary Queen of Scots initiated a proProtestant policy
o Encouraged Bible reading and preaching by reformers
o Promoted Thomas Guilliame, a converted monk, as his chaplain
o Knox heard him preach and converted to Protestantism
•
By mid-40’s, authorities had begun threatening Protestants again
o George Wishart continued to travel around the country
proclaiming the truth
o Knox became one of his bodyguards
o When his arrest was imminent, Wishart sent them all home
•
Cardinal David Beaton, archbishop of St. Andrews, ordered Wishart’s
arrest in 1546
o Wishart was tried, convicted, strangled and burned on March 1.
o Aroused fury among his supporters
•
Two months later, 16 nobles (called the Castilians) assassinated Beaton
and mutilated his body
o Holed up in St. Andrews Castle as French ships lay siege to it
o Knox wasn’t part of the murder, but supported it
o During a break in the siege, Knox joined the Castilians in St.
Andrew’s Castle (slide)
•
One of the leaders, Rough, was so impressed with Knox he asked him to
be their chaplain
o Knox initially refused, but Rough kept pushing
o Ultimately, he humbly accepted the call as from God
•
The French lay siege to St. Andrews again, which ultimately capitulated in
1547
o Knox was sent to the galleys (ships) as a slave
o In addition to the tortuous work and miserable conditions, the
prisoners were pressured to renounce Protestantism
o His was plight was reversed when he was released and summoned
to England
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1550 – Latimer served as a chaplain for the Duchess of Suffolk until 1555, when he was
imprisoned by
Mary
– Ridley became Bishop of London and Westminster in 1550.
– Knox given preaching stints in Berwick and Newcastle
• In Berwick, met Elizabeth Bowes, became her spiritual guide and confidant
•
She was 45 and had 15 children
•
In 1553, he promised before witnesses to marry Marjory, her fifth daughter
1551 – Knox becomes a royal chaplain, preaching before the king
1552 – Cranmer revised BOCP with Knox’s help
• Also produced his Forty-Two Articles, which outline a Calvinistic doctrine
for the Church of England
Clergy, teachers and university students were compelled to assent
•
– Ridley ordered to appoint John Knox as vicar of Allhallows Church in London
• Knox refused his appointment
1553 – Edward became fatally ill
– Cranmer supported Lady Jane Grey to succeed Edward upon his death (greatniece of Henry VIII)
– Ridley was also was involved in the Lady Jane controversy
• Ridley signed the letters patent, supporting the wish of King Edward
He preached a sermon in St. Paul’s calling princesses Mary and Elizabeth
•
bastards
Lady Jane became queen in July, but deposed 9 days later
•
– Mary I (Bloody Mary) entered London in triumph and became queen in August
• She was Catherine’s daughter, a devout Catholic
Forced Parliament to repeal the acts of Henry and Edward, and reinstated
•
heresy laws
Cranmer complained vocally when she replaced his BOCP with the Catholic
•
Mass
Tower
•
When Mary took the throne, Ridley was sent to the Tower of London
•
Knox fled to France
– In November, Cranmer is arrested for high treason and imprisoned in the
•
Eventually moved, along with Latimer and Ridley, to Oxford to stand trial
1554 – Knox visits Calvin in Geneva, and Bullinger in Zurich
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Called Geneva “the most perfect school of Christ that was ever on earth
since the days of the apostles”
•
Ends up pastoring an English congregation in Frankfurt
1555 – September, the trial of Ridley and Latimer took place
• Ridley asked if he believed the pope was the heir to Peter as the
foundation of the church
•
Ridley replied that the church was not built on any man but the truth that
Peter confessed
•
Neither could accept the mass as a sacrifice of Christ
•
As they were burning, the fire around Ridley burned much more slowly,
only lower parts were burning – called out “Lord have mercy upon me… I
cannot burn!”
•
Latimer said to him “Be of good comfort and play the man, Master Ridley:
we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust
shall never be put out.”
– Cranmer tried and convicted of heresy in Oxford
• Forced to witness Latimer and Ridley burned at the stake from a tower
– A dispute over liturgy forces Knox to return to Geneva
– Knox was invited back to Scotland to inspire the reforming work that was
continuing
• “The Lords of the Congregation”, made up of nobles, vowed to make
Protestantism the religion of the land
•
Married Marjory while he was back
1556 – Tried to get Cranmer to recant through government agents and Spanish friars
• Cranmer signed first of five recantation submissions in January
•
Mary still believed he should be punished, so kept to his punishment of
burning at the stake
– On March 21, boldly preached to the crowd, renounced his recantations and
burned at the stake
• Called the pope antichrist and affirmed the Nicene Creed
•
Stuck his hand in the fire first, since he said it was the most offensive part
for writing “contrary to his heart” (slide)
– Knox was ultimately summoned to Edinburgh for legal proceedings
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Regent Mary of Guise canceled them, but contemptuously dismissed his
thank you letter
•
Knox returned to Geneva with his wife and mother-in-law
1558 – Mary died, Elizabeth I becomes queen and begins promoting Protestantism
– Knox wrote The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of
Women
• Aimed directly at Mary Tudor
•
Concluded no woman could be a ruler – “a thing most odious in the
presence of God”
•
Ruthless assertion of male domination
•
Calvin banned its circulation in Geneva
•
When Elizabeth saw it, she was so appalled that her hatred of Knox never
abated
1559 – “The Revolution of 1559” was instituted by the Elizabethan Settlement, two
acts of Parliament
I. The Act of Supremacy in 1558 – re-established the Church of England’s
independence from Rome, conferring on Elizabeth the title of Supreme
Governor of the Church of England
II.
The Act of Uniformity in 1559 – outlined what form the English church
should take, including the re-establishment of the Book of Common Prayer
III.
Historians see these as a compromise of Elizabeth between accepting a
more Catholic settlement than she desired, versus having Puritan reforms
forced on her by Marian exiles on the Continent
– Knox leaves Geneva for the last time
• Preached upon arrival in Perth, a riot broke out, images and altars were
destroyed
•
By June, Knox and his supporters were in Edinburgh, where they elected
him their minister
•
Convinced that only English intervention could help, but knew he couldn’t
appeal directly to Elizabeth
•
The Lords of the Congregation intervened, convinced Elizabeth to act
1560 – The Treaty of Berwick was drawn up, both the French and the English agreed to
leave Scotland
– Knox preached to the Scottish Parliament at St. Giles Cathedral at a
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thanksgiving service
• Ordered Knox and 5 colleagues to write a Confession of Faith
Developed the First Book of Discipline in December – took several years to
•
implement
Said no Christian should give unqualified and absolute allegiance to any
•
government, and Christians reserve the right of just rebellion
Became the basis for the Presbyterian form of church government
•
(Revolutionary War)
– Marjory passes away (slide)
• Her mother cared for Knox’s home and two sons until he married again
1561 – Mary Queen of Scots returns from France
• As a devout Catholic, tried to suppress Protestantism
Knox became her nemesis – “I fear the prayer of John Knox more than all
•
the armies of England”
Ultimately abdicated after a scandal and the mysterious murder of her
•
husband
1563 – John Foxe publishes his Acts and Monuments, also to become known as Foxe’s
Book of Martyrs
9. John Foxe (1516-1587)
• Born in Lincolnshire to a somewhat prominent family
•
In 1534 he entered Brasenose College at Oxford
•
Became a junior instructor at Magdalen College School in 1535
o Became a full fellow in July of 1539
o Got his Master’s Degree in 1543
•
Resigned from his college in 1545 after becoming a Protestant
o Especially did not agree with the requirement of clerical celibacy
•
Became a tutor in the household of Thomas Lucy, near Stratford-on-Avon
o While there, met and married Agnes Randall, with whom he had 6
children
•
In 1547 moved to London, found a patron in Mary Fitzroy, Duchess of
Richmond
o Became tutor for her brother’s Orphaned children
o Began to move in the circles of England’s Protestant elite
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Ordained as a deacon by Nicholas Ridley in 1550
•
When Mary became queen, he felt himself threatened, and sailed to the
Continent with his pregnant wife
o Ended up in Strasbourg
o Published a Latin history of the Christian persecutions
•
Moved to Frankfurt in 1554, became involved in the controversy involving
John Knox
o Supported Knox, though not his rhetoric
o Eventually the group had to leave Frankfurt
•
Moved to Basel and began proofreading
o Described his family as “wretchedly poor”
•
Foxe responded to Knox’s First Blast, criticized his “rude vehemency”
•
When Mary died in 1558, waited to return home
o Waited to see if Elizabeth’s reforms would take root
o Couldn’t afford to travel until money was sent to him
•
Finally back in England, lived with his former pupil, Thomas Howard, for
10 years
•
Made the acquaintance of the printer John Day, who would print his book
o First edition was 1800 pages, included woodblock illustrations
o Became a celebrity, though because of no royalties, was still poor
(slide)
1564 – Knox’s liturgy from Frankfurt became official worship booklet of Scotland
• Now called the Book of Common Order
Scots
– Knox marries 17 year-old Margaret Stewart, a distant relation of Mary Queen of
•
Gives him three daughters, read Scripture to him on his deathbed
1570 – Pope Pius V declared Elizabeth a heretic, released all her subjects from her, and
excommunicated anyone who obeyed her orders
– Foxe published a second edition, updated and extended to 2300 pages
1571 – An order was decreed to place a copy of Acts and Monuments in every
cathedral church and in
every church official’s house
1572 – John Knox dies after preaching a final time in St. Giles
1583 – Foxe updates his book again, dedicates it to Queen Elizabeth (slide)
1587 – John Foxe dies
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Lived in poverty the rest of his life
•
Wore himself away with hard work to the point where his friends did not
recognize him
•
Became an advocate for religious toleration and leniency
•
His son, Samuel, preserved all his father manuscripts (in the British Library)
1603 – Elizabeth 1 dies
• John Knox called her “neither a good Protestant nor a resolute papist”
A new party was emerging, perfectly hostile to Puritans, but not adherent
•
to Rome
Came to be known as Anglicans
•
10. Nicholas Copernicus (1473-1543)
• Born in Touron, Poland
•
Studied at the University of Cracow, fell in love with astronomy
•
Moved to University of Bologna
o Studied Greek, mathematics and more astronomy
o Felt Aristotle’s cosmology was too inelegant to describe “the
movements of the machinery of the world which has been built for
us by the Best and Most Orderly Workman of all.”
•
Visited home briefly to be installed as canon (paid position in a cathedral)
•
Returned to University of Padua to complete his doctorate of law and
study medicine
•
Returned to Poland in 1506, having mastered all the knowledge of the
day in mathematics, astronomy, medicine and theology
•
He served as secretary to his uncle, the bishop
o Also as a physician to the poor
•
In 1512 wrote Little Commentary
o Not popular since medieval theologians believed the earth was the
center of the solar system, proof that mankind was the center of
God’s attention
•
In 1514, the pope asked him to help revise the calendar
o Spent his days in service to the church, his nights observing the
skies
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Finally in 1543, he was persuaded to publish his lifelong thesis
o On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres
•
Too much for his contemporaries; even Luther found it impossible to
believe the sun, not the earth, anchored the solar system
•
Not until Galileo, nearly 100 years later, were his ideas truly seen for what
they were
11. John Calvin (1509-1564)
• Born in Noyon, France
•
His father, Gerard, a lawyer, had planned a career in the church for his
son
•
Completed his arts studies at the University of Paris
o Spoke proficient Latin, excelled at philosophy, prepared for the
intensive nine year theology course
o Gerard changed his mind, decided his son should go into law
•
Began law studies at the University of Orleans
o Became exposed to Renaissance humanism, learned Greek and
read the classics
o Published a commentary on Seneca at age 22
o Also became exposed to Luther’s teaching
•
Converted to the evangelical faith , but his account of his conversion is
vague
o Became marked as a Lutheran
o Forced into hiding off and on throughout France
o Ultimately sought refuge in Basel, Switzerland
•
In 1536 published the first edition of the Institutes of the Christian
Religion
o Intended as an elementary manual for those who wanted to know
about the evangelical faith
o Outlined his views on the church, the sacraments, justification,
Christian liberty, and political government
o The overarching theme was the sovereignty of God
o Developed the doctrine of predestination (election)
•
Decided to go to Strasbourg
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o Because of troop movements, went by way of Geneva, planning to
spend the night
o The church leader, William Farel, got word that Calvin was in the
city
o Farel begged Calvin to stay and help the foundling church there,
but he refused
o Farel swore an oath that God would curse all of Calvin’s studies
unless he stayed
o Calvin took it seriously, felt God was calling him there, and
decided to stay
§
Through all that eventually happened, that belief never
wavered
•
After 18 months, Calvin and Farel were banished from the city
o Had a disagreement with the Council
•
Moved to Strasbourg
o Pastored for three years
o Met and married Idellete de Bare, an Anabaptist widow with 2
children
§
Had three children with Calvin, all died at birth or shortly
thereafter
§
She passed away in 1949, he raised her two children as his
own
o Became friends with Philip Melancthon
o Revised the Institutes and authored three more books
•
In 1541, returned to Geneva to live permanently
•
Spent the rest of his life trying to help establish a theocratic society
o In his Ecclesiastical Ordinances, taught that there were four orders
of ministry: pastors, doctors, elders and deacons
o The city was organized around these designations
§
Pastors were in charge of the services, sacraments, and
spiritual welfare
§
Doctors(teachers) taught the Old and New Testaments
§
Elders kept an eye on the spiritual affairs of the people
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Deacons were in charge of social welfare (so effective,
Geneva had no beggars)
o Calvin was not the ruler or dictator
•
§
Appointed and paid by the city council
§
He was more the moral authority, God’s ambassador
In 1553, became involved in the Servetus affair
o Michael Servetus born in Spain in 1509
o Was trained by the Dominicans and went to the University of
Saragossa
o Began studying the Bible
§
Wrote Errors of the Trinity in 1531
§
Said those who believed in the Trinity were really Tritheists
§
Both Protestants and Catholics saw it as blasphemous
o Moved to France and changed his name
§
Became a physician, also made prophecies based on
astrology
o In 1540, began a correspondence with Calvin
§
Discussed aspects of theology, but never accepted Calvin’s
replies
§
Called both Calvin and the Pope antichrists
o In 1553, anonymously published The Restitution of Christianity
§
Still denied the Trinity, as well as the Incarnation
§
Said Jesus was the Son of the eternal God but not the
eternal Son of God
§
Taught that both faith and works were necessary for
salvation
o The authorities in his hometown of Vienne discovered the author
§
They arrested him for heresy, but he escaped
§
Fled toward Naples by way of Geneva
§
Entered a church where Calvin was preaching, recognized
him, and arrested him on charges of heresy and blasphemy
§
During his trial, criticized and belittled Calvin
o Convicted of heresy, sentenced to death
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Calvin asked for mercy and that he be executed by the
sword
§
The Council denied his request
§
Calvin and Farel spent hours trying to turn him back, but
Servetus refused
o Burned at the stake on October 27, 1553
§
His followers continued to lay the groundwork for the
Unitarian Church
•
Because of the demands he placed on himself, he began to wear out
o Suffered from problems with digestion, migraines, breathing
problems
o When he couldn’t walk, he was carried to church
o When he was confined to his room, the students crowded into his
bedroom
•
Also was subject to opposition
o People would cough loudly when he preached
o Some would fire guns outside the church
o Men would set their dogs on him
•
As he grew old, his patience gradually wore away
o Showed little kindness, little understanding, little sense of humor
•
In 1558, began the final revision of the Institutes
o Became 80 chapters
o Divided into 4 books – God the Father, God the Son, God the
Holy Spirit, and the Church
o Published in 1559
•
His last years were spent writing and preaching
•
He died in 1564
o According to his wishes, buried in a common cemetery with no
tombstone
§
His gravesite is unknown
o Called the “Theologian’s Theologian”
12. Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575)
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Born in Bremgarten, Switzerland, Illegitimate son of a priest and the
mother of his 5 children
o Henry, Sr., paid a fine to the bishop every year to have Anna live
with him
o When the reformation came, he officially married her
•
As an infant, almost died of the plague
•
At age three, could say the Lord’s Prayer and the Apostles Creed
•
At age 12, sent him away to the grammar school at Emmeric
o Now had to make his own way, so supported himself by singing
•
In his late teens, at the University of Cologne, began studying the Bible,
church fathers, and Erasmus and Melancthon
o Became convinced that all Christian teaching must be Bible-based
•
Moved to Zurich and began studying with Zwingli
•
When Zwingli was killed in the Kappell War, he was offered and accepted
his pulpit in Zurich
o Ministered there for over 40 years
•
Drafted both the first and second Helvetic Confessions – Swiss Reformed
Church doctrine
o Helvetia was Latin for Switzerland
o Wrote more than Luther and Calvin combined
•
He was among the most peaceful and conciliatory of the great reformers
o In 1549, reached an accord with Calvin (the Zurich Concensus) on
the Lord’s Supper
•
Married a former nun and had eleven children
o House was always full of visitors
o Gave refuge to many of the Marian refugees from England from
1553-1558
o Gave him so much influence there that the Puritans made his
theology their own
•
Wrote Decades, a compilation of sermons on key doctrines
o Went through 79 editions in a single century in England
•
Emphasized Covenant Theology
•
Died in 1575
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o As a monument to his legacy, all his sons became Protestant
preachers
13. Theodore Beza (1519-1605)
• Born in Vezeley, France in 1519
o Mother died when he was 3, went to Paris to be raised by a
wealthy uncle
•
In 1528, at age 9, began to study under the famous Melchior Wolmar in
his home
•
In 1534 Went to University of Orleans to study law
o Attained his law degree in 1539 at age 20
•
Moved to Paris, and began to write
o To escape temptation, secretly married Claudine Denoese in 1544
§
Promised he would publicly marry her as soon as his
circumstances improved
o Wrote Juvenilia, a collection of Latin poetry
§
Made him famous
o Became extremely ill, began to see his spiritual needs
o Gradually he came to joyfully accept salvation in Christ
o Resolved to sever all his connections at the time, moved with
Claudine to Geneva
•
Received by Calvin who had met him at Wolmar’s house
o Was immediately married in the church
•
Secured a position at the academy at Lausanne as a professor of Greek
in 1549
•
Also wrote Abraham Sacrifant, a play which contrasted Catholicism with
Protestantism
•
In 1554, published a defense of Calvin and the magistrates in the
Servetus affair
•
Eventually moved back to Geneva in 1558 as the Greek chair at the newly
established academy
o Developed a reputation as the most capable spokesman for the
French Reformation
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Wrote his own confession in 1560, prepared initially to explain his faith to
his father
o Dedicated to Wolmar
o Translated into English, German, Dutch and Italian
•
Was gone for many months serving the Protestant cause
o When he returned to Geneva in 1563, found Calvin in poor health
o The next twelve months were spent in preparation of a transfer of
authority
•
When Calvin died in 1564, Beza performed the service
•
Made Calvin’s successor
o Became the real soul of the Geneva Academy
o Taught there as well for nearly 40 years
o Gave peace to the church at Geneva
o Became the guide of all Calvinists in Europe
•
In 1588, Claudine died
o He married a second time, Catharina del Piano, a Genoese widow
o Needed a helpmate in his declining years
•
Stayed active in teaching until 1597
o Wrote a satire to combat a rumor that the Church of Geneva had
returned to Catholicism
•
Died in Geneva in 1605
o Buried at the monastery in St. Pierre (slide)
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