THE ORIGIN OF DENOMINATIONS
Lesson Eight
I. SOME OF THE REFORMERS:
A. Martin Luther (1483-1546). German reformer. Some have called
Luther the "hero of the Reformation." He is most likely the
logical place to begin a study of the Reformation. He began
his studies to become a lawyer, but after reading a copy of
the Bible, decided to enter a monastery at the age of 21. He
was ordained a priest in 1507 and assigned to the University
of Wittenberg in 1508. Luther was an earnest student. He
later said, "If ever a monk got to heaven by monkery, I would
have gotten there." (The Church, Shepherd, page 93).
In 1510, on a mission to Rome, he was shocked by the
spiritual decay in high ecclesiastical places. He wrote,
"Nobody can form an idea of the licentiousness, vice and
shame that is in vogue in Rome. Nobody would believe it
unless he could see it with his own eyes and hear it with his
own ears. Rome was once the holiest city, now it is the
vilest." The Catholic Church promised a "thousand years"
indulgence in respect to penance imposed and was made to
those who would climb the staircase of Pilate on their knees
and in prayer. Luther was anxious to secure this great
reward and began to ascend the stairs. It was during this
experience that the words of Paul, in Romans 1:17, "The just
shall live by faith," came to his mind. Twice before they had
come to him with tremendous force. He arose to his feet with
the consciousness that the requirements of the church were
out of harmony with the teaching of Paul. (Restoration
Handbook, Leslie G. Thomas, page 51).
Returning to Wittenberg, he was made professor of
theology in the University of Wittenberg. Luther reached the
conclusion that the selling of indulgences was contrary to
the Scriptures and spoke out against it. About this time John
Tetzel arrived, raising money to build St. Peter's Cathedral
in Rome through the selling of indulgences. Tetzel read one
of Luther's sermons of the subject and replied to it. On
October 31, 1517, Luther nailed his ninety-five theses
(propositions) to the church door and challenged any one to
debate with him. A great reaction arose from the Catholic
Church and controversy followed. Luther began to speak out
against many errors of the church, especially that human
authority was being used instead of the Scriptures. He
objected to the authority of the Pope.
On June 15, 1520, Pope Leo X gave Luther 60 days to
change his positions. On December 10, Luther burned the
pope's decree at the city gate. Luther was excommunicated in
1521. Luther was called before the Diet of Worms in 1521 and
put on trial. When called upon to renounce his statements,
Luther responded, "Unless I am persuaded by means of the
testimony of the Scriptures or clear arguments -- for I
believe neither the pope nor the councils alone, which have
erred and contradicted each other often -- I am convinced by
the passages of Scripture which I have cited, and my
conscience is bound by the Word of God. I can not and will
not recant anything, for it is neither safe nor right to act
against one's conscience. Such is my profession of faith, and
expect no other from me. Here I stand, I can not do
otherwise. God help me, Amen."
Luther took refuge in Wartburg under the protection of
Elector Frederick III of Saxony, where he translated the New
Testament into German and began a translation of the entire
Bible. Luther made the tragic mistake of teaching that
salvation was by faith only, an over reaction to the doctrine
of salvation by works of merit as taught by the Catholic
Church.
Controversies with Zwingli and John Calvin eventually
divided the Protestants into the Lutheran and the Reformed
churches. Luther died at the age of sixty-three, February 18,
1546.
B. Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531). Swiss Reformer. Contemporary with
Luther, greatly influenced by Erasmus. Zwingli contended that
the Scriptures were the sole authority in religion. He
rejected the mass, instrumental music, the worship of Mary
and of images and transubstantiation. Through his efforts,
Catholicism was almost expelled from Switzerland. In 1523,
Zwingli presented his 67 theses. These were accepted by a
general council in Zurich and adopted in the local churches.
"While Luther favored the retention of everything in the
practice of the church of Rome not forbidden by the
Scriptures, Zwingli contented that nothing should be
practiced that was not expressly commanded by the
Scriptures." (The Church, Shepherd, page 123.) Thus, Zwingli
came closer to restoring New Testament Christianity. Zwingli
was killed, October 11, 1531, in a battle with the Catholic
Swiss cantons.
C. William Tyndale (1494-1536). English Reformer. Tyndale
translated the New Testament into the English language. He
said to a religious teacher of his time, "If God spare my
life, I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know
more of the Scriptures than thou dost." (History of the
Christian Church, Fisher, pg 346.) Opposition arose in
England and Tyndale went to Europe to continue his work.
There he met Martin Luther and began (1525) printing his New
Testament. The religious leaders in England sought to keep
Tyndale's translation from the people, but failed. In May,
1535, Tyndale was invited by a supposed friend to a meal in
the friend's home. Upon his arrival, he was arrested,
condemned and burned at the stake on October 6, 1536.
D. John Calvin (1509-1564). Born in France. Had to flee for his
life. Arrived at Geneva and became Zwingli's successor. At
the age of 27 Calvin wrote his famous "Institutes" in which
he set forth his doctrines: Total Hereditary depravity,
Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible grace
and Final Perseverance of the Saints. Calvin, as the other
reformers, contented for the absolute authority of the
Scriptures. Calvin developed the form of church government
which became known as Presbyterian. Calvin's theology and
church government became dominant throughout Switzerland and
through John Knox spread to Scotland.
E. John Knox (1505(?)-1572). Scottish reformer. A Catholic
priest, became a Protestant through the influence of the
reformer George Wishart. After the accession (1553) of Mary
Queen of Scots, a Catholic, he went into exile in Geneva,
where he came under the influence of John Calvin. After the
abdication of Mary (1567), Knox returned to Scotland and
Presbyterianism became a dominate religion in Scotland.
Conclusion:
1. There were many other whose voices spoke out against the abuses
of the Roman Church, but these were the leading ones.
2. Tragically, the work of each outstanding reformer resulted in
the beginning of some new religious group.
3. Each reformer directed his efforts toward correcting some
particular error which he saw in the Church, while retaining
much of existing system. Thus, it was an effort toward
reforming rather than restoring New Testament Christianity.
4. We shall look at the various denominations as to their beginning
and what distinguishes each from the other.
5. Let us remind ourselves that denominationalism was unknown in
New Testament times. John 17:20, 21; 1 Corinthians 1:10.
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