Course: Church History (1)
Course
Title: Church
History and the Standard of the New Testament
Lesson
Nine
Lesson Title: Pre Reformation Reformers
Reformers before
the Reformation
1. John Wycliffe (c.1329-1384) - The Morning Star of the Reformation
Background
Born in Hipswell,
Nr. Richmond,
Studied at
Taught at
Philosophy – Realist
Influenced by Augustine
Doctor of Theology
Appointed by King as Rector of Lutterworth
Preached against Pope’s secular authority
Published tracts and leaflets
Papal Bull - 3 bulls sent (May 22, 1377)
(1)
King – But King Edward III had died,
(2)
(3) Bishops
– only bull to be acted upon.
Tried at Lambeth
Palace April 1378.
Prohibited from preaching by the Archbishop of
London, Bishop Courtney
Message from Queen Mother called for no
judgment to be made against Wycliffe.
Influence of John of Gaunt
Retired to rectory at Lutterworth
Wrote Trialogues – upholding the supreme authority of scripture and conscience.
Teaching of John
Wycliffe
Denied papal authority (temporal and spiritual)
Upheld the authority of Scripture
Opposed endowments
Denied compulsory tithes.
´Let him that is taught in the Word minister to him that teaches in all
good things`
1381 Denied the doctrine of Transubstantiation (12 propositions).
First proclaimed at 4th Lateran Council 1215 under Pope Innocent III
Wrote ´Against Simony`
Wycliffe’s
itinerant preachers.
c. 1380 enlisted ’poor priests’ known as ´Lollards`
from
John Wycliffe
translated Bible from Latin Vulgate into English. Completed
1382.
Bible had to be handwritten. Printing not yet invented in the West.
Events
that increased Wyclife’s influence.
Death of Edward III
Marriage between Richard II and Anne of
Jerome of Prague came to
Embraced Wycliffe’s teaching and took it back to
John of Gaunt friend of Wycliffe.
One third of English land owned by the Church
Pilgrim’s revolt
2. Council of
John Hus and John Wycliffe (posthumously) were both
condemned by the Council of Constance.
John Hus (c.1373 -1415)
Rector of
Preacher at
Held to the authority of scripture in determining
matters of faith.
Condemned as heretic at the Council of Constance
Burned at the
stake 1415
1415 Council of Constance – ordered John Wycliffe’s (c.1329-1384)
books to be burned.
Wycliffe’s remains to be dug up and burned.
1428 Wycliffe’s body burned and his ashes were scattered on the River.
3. Girolamo Savonarola
(1452 –1498)
Born
Dominican Priest
Ruler of
Religious Reformer
Anti- Renaissance
Preached against moral corruption of the clergy
Opposed Pope Alexander VI (Borgia)
1497 Bonfire of vanities in the Piazza della Signoria
Executed in the Piazza della Signoria on
Also see Medici (pdf)
(powerpoint)
4. Erasmus (1466/9-1536)
Published Greek New Testament (1516)
Accompanied by a new translation in Latin.
First printed at
First published printed edition of the Greek New
Testament.
The Complutensian copy which formed part of the
Polyglott of Cardinal Ximenes
was printed 1514 but not published until 1522.
Pope Leo X initially sent Erasmus a letter of commendation, which he
printed on the front pages with a border drawn by Hans Holbein.
Three margins showed emblems of the virtues and vices of the Church.
The fourth depicted the German victory under Arminius
over the Romans under Varus in AD 9.
This is a description of
the fourth border (1516 edition):
On the left is seen borne the great flag of the Germans.
On the right the Roman standard SPQR
(Senatus Populus Que Romanus)
The eagle is trailed on the ground
The Roman troops are in retreat.
The legend or inscription in the corner records the words of a German who
has cut out the tongue of Roman. Holding it up he
says:
Tundem, vipera,
sibilare, desiste. ´O viper cease to hiss`.
Florus, Hist, lib iv, c.12.