The Reformation Church
Introduction
In this paper, the aim is to summarize and respond with my thoughts. But, first, I will be discussing the history and developments of the Reformation while discussing the people who helped in the Reformation and how it affected Christians and the church.
History of The Reformation Church
In the Pre-reformation Church, Christian teaching was what and how to worship. However, the primary education was in their language of Latin. All books were burned, except for the Bibles. These were superstitious people, worshiping relics, and did not have the essential grasp of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those were the results of the Council of Toulouse back in 1229. Thanks to the effects of Wycliffe, who translated Latin Vulgate to English and one of his followers. Hus, who was the founder of the Moravian Movement calling for reform that even though the Roman Catholic Church burned Hus at the stake, the reform may have failed, it also set the stage for the movement of reform. The Renaissance brought the Gutenberg's printing press’s development and Erasmus’s recovery of the Greek New Testament. In addition, the printing press set the stage for the reformation movement, changing society and the church.
Martin Luther rediscovered the gospel of grace. Luther, a Greek Augustine Monk and at the Wittenberg University, was appointed professor of theology. After studying Romans in the Bible, he was transformed and saw Apostle Paul speak of righteousness. Then he nailed his “Ninety-Five Theses” on Wittenberg’s church door. His biggest protest was the selling of indulgences. However, Luther went on to contribute to the writings of hymns. One of those hymns was “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” Luther’s accomplishments were a significant break with the Romans Catholic Church.
The Reformation of the Churches Developments
The second video explained that Melanchthon carried Luther’s work after he died. The turn to an International Reformation covered Switzerland, Europe, Spain, France, Scotland. Zwingli, Bullinger, Fared, Calvin, Beza, Hamilton, Wishart, Knox were Prominent reformers. We turn now to Switzerland with the pieces of Zwingli, Bullinger, Fared, Calvin, and Beza. Zwingli, a minister mainly in Zurich who had read the Greek New Testament of Erasmus, Zwingli stated he developed his basic protestant views before coming across Luther’s work. Bullinger brought the Reformation further after Zwingli, then Fared of Geneva, joined Calvin, becoming the preeminent reform theologian taking Reformation into Switzerland. Two early Scottish reformers, Patrick Hamilton and George Wishart preached their Protestant views for which they burned at the stake. There was also Thomas Cranmer, who became the archbishop, which is the highest ecclesiastical office in England at Canterbury. Under King Henry VIII-then under his son Edward, Cranmer had carried the reform moderately than more determined under Edward.
Not only that, thanks to William Tyndale, we can read the Bible in English. He translated the Bible from its original source-Greek, to English. So, the reform spread and was rooted in Holland, Denmark, and Scandinavia. Unfortunately, the reform did not take root in Spain due to the heart of the Roman-Catholic Inquisition with the Spanish Catholicism deep in Spanish society. French Protestants, the Huguenots for their Protestant views, and the Anabaptist reformers burned at the stake because of their unique perspectives on baptism, plus they never received approbation and approval of civil magistrates. Early adoption of a religious tolerance policy in the Netherlands, the Anabaptists leading theologians; Hugh Myron and Simons took refuge in Holland. A significant international event spread the Reformation during the 1500s and 1600s broadly across Europe, which had a considerable impact on European society by spreading Biblical truth.
The Reformation had a significant impact. For the first time, there was great spiritual revival when the Bible translated into the common language spread throughout Europe, and the people finally were able to read the Bible in their language. The Reformation went through many debates, and two doctrines were the result: The Canons of Dort and The Westminster Confession and Catechisms, and then the Council of Trent. In the end, there was a new kind of Reformation that not only allowed people to read the Bible for themselves, but Protestants asserted a new individualism.
Conclusion
Many influential theologians, doctrines, and traumatic times during these years, but good came out of all this. The Bible is the truth, and throughout it, God shows us His love for us. It is a shame that those with authority think it is okay to burn, execute, and treat others the way they did. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.” (Holy Bible, New International Version, 1984/2011, Ephesians 2: 4-5).