MARANATHA MESSENGER SUCCESSION IN THE 16 TH CENTURY PROTESTANT REFORMATION

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1 MARANATHA MESSENGER Weekly Newsletter of Private Circulation Only MARANATHA BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 24 October 2004 Present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28). Address: 63 Cranwell Road, Singapore Tel: (65) Fax: (65) Website: * Sunday School: 9.45 am Worship Service: am Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 8.00 pm Pastor: Rev Jack Sin (HP: ) SUCCESSION IN THE 16 TH CENTURY PROTESTANT REFORMATION Introduction God in his sovereign will and time had raised up spiritual giants in the propagation and defence of the faith in the historic 16 th century Reformation, exposing the errors and superstitions of the medieval Church, which had been around for almost 1,000 years. We are familiar with renowned personalities like Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, William Tyndale, Ulrich Zwingli, Thomas Cranmer and others. But generally, very little is written or said about the successors to them after they finished their race and returned to be with the Lord in glory. This 487 th year of the Reformation is dedicated to remembering the three successors of the magisterial reformers, ie Philip Melanchthon (to Luther), Theodore Beza (to Calvin), Henrich Bullinger (to Zwingli). Philip Melanchthon ( ) Melanchthon, the scholar of the German Reformation, was born in Bretten, Baden, Germany on 16 February 1497 to George and Barbara Schawrtzard. A brilliant child prodigy, he studied Greek and by the age of 12, entered the prestigious University of Heidelberg and attained the much coveted BA before the age of 15. He had wanted to study MA at the same school but was rejected on the grounds that he looked too young. He entered the University of Tubingen instead and by Sep 1517, earned the prestigious MA degree. In 1519, he was also conferred the Doctorate of Theology by the University of Wittenberg and became the professor in Greek where Luther also taught. Melanchthon was described as diminutive in stature, boyish and frail, often awkward and stammering in his speech. But he won the confidence of his superiors by his unusual intellectual abilities as one that is warm-hearted, thoughtful, judicial, calm and visionary with a profound scholarship. When he arrived, the University had but 120 students. Two years later, 600 were attending his classes and some even up to 2,000 attended his public lectures that attested to his extraordinary oratorical skills and eloquent speeches. When Luther went to the Diet of Worms in 1521 before Charles V, he wanted to appoint Melanchthon to succeed him in the continuance of the Reformation, thinking that he might not return alive. Melanchthon was arguably German s most illustrious scholar and together with Luther, they fought the battles for the day courageously, defining and defending sound doctrines based on Scriptures rather than following the Papacy and its decrees blindly. Much religious literature that was circulated by Luther had the partnership of Melanchthon. For example, he was instrumental in helping Luther prepare the first edition of the German New Testament in 1522 and other Reformation treatises, pamphlets and creed like the Augsburg Confession, undergirding the Protestant cause. He

2 was with Luther at the Marburg Colloquy in 1529 in the meeting with Zwingli who deliberated and agreed upon the 15 articles of Reformation doctrine except for one of them, the doctrine of the Lord s Supper, which divided the two reformers. The German Churches owed their ecclesiastical organisation to him by his Church Guide for Pastors written in He was foremost in the battle for the truth where he wrote against the teachings of celibacy (cf 1 Tim 4:1-3) by the medieval Church and that the Mass (and the doctrine of Transubstantiation) should be abolished because it is destructive to the souls of men and that both the bread and wine should be served to the laity as well. One of the cardinal contributions of Melanchthon to the Reformation was the Augsburg Confession of 1530, which was to be read before Emperor Charles V as the basic creed of all German Protestants, even today. Melanchthon laboured incessantly for 42 years and influenced German religious education greatly. He produced numerous textbooks covering major subjects in the schools and seminaries and was rightly called the Creator of the Protestant Educational system in Germany and the Preceptor in Germany. His strength and robust body was weakened over the years due to the incessant labours, sprained his arm in 1541 and caught a deadly cold in 1560, which killed him on 19 April of that same year. An attendant heard his last few words or wish, Nothing but heaven and passed into eternal bliss to be with his Master. There goes one of the finest German Reformer cum Educator. German Christianity and Protestantism in general are greatly indebted to this great scholar of the 16 th century Reformation who was an illustrious model for all preachers to follow down the centuries. Theodore Beza ( ) The successor to John Calvin is arguably the Greatest Reformed Theologian of the Protestant Reformation, although he enjoyed little popularity, compared to his predecessor. Beza was born on 24 January 1519 in Burgundy, France. His uncle adopted him when his mother died and was taught by the famous Greek teacher, Melchor Wolmar who influenced him with Lutheran ideals. Beza learnt about justification by faith at a tender age of 13. He attained the degree of Licentiate of Law in 1539 and continued with religious studies in the University of Paris. He left France as a converted Protestant, came to Geneva, met and married his wife, Claudine Demoose and was blessed with 41 years of marital bliss. He caught the attention of Calvin in 1549 and was invited to teach Greek in the Academy of Lauzanne. Philip Schaff, in The History of the Christian Church quoted a letter to Flavel by John Calvin about him in I would not be a man if I did not return his love, how he loves me more than a brother and reveres me as a father: but I am still more concerned at the loss the Church would suffer if in the midst of his career, he should be suddenly removed by death, for I saw in him a man whose lovely spirit, noble, pure manners and open-mindedness endeared him to all the righteous. I hope, however, that he will be given back to us in answer to our prayers (Philip Schaff, The History of the Christian Church, Vol 2, 552). With his intellectual prowess and affable personality, Beza became the first Rector of the University of Geneva in Founded by Calvin, people seeking religious asylum from all over Europe would come to this Reformed school to be taught in the doctrines of grace.

3 These two theologians became respected teachers of the Reformation and even John Knox, the Great Reformer of Scotland, studied in the great institution, holding him in high regard. Beza was also a shrewd and erudite diplomat as much as he was a teacher. At one time, he travelled to the Court of Antone, to the King of Navarre to convince him of the doctrines of the Reformation. He was also the religious head or the Chief Chaplain of the 1.5 million strong French Hughenots (followers of Calvinistic doctrine), a formidable political and military force at that time. The learned Beza represented the Calvinistic camp at the Colloquy of Polsay called by the Queen Mother Catherine of France and eloquently set forth the doctrines of the Reformed faith with great power and conviction and won the respect and favour of many of his auditors, including his critics. Although he was rejected by the Catholic counterparts for his unequivocal stand on the Mass later, the Colloquy was a success for him for it had become the watershed from where the two religions parted. With the edict of Saint-Germain in 1562, Huguenots was given the right to worship outside the cities. Beza spent seven months with those Huguenots as their spiritual leader in their battles before the Ramification Edict of 1563 when he returned to Geneva to teach again and instructed many in the Reformed Faith who carried on in the same tradition in their respective countries. When Calvin died in 1564, Beza succeeded him and continued the work of the teaching at the Genevan Academy and it actually flourished further under him. In 1571, he attended as the Moderator of the 7 th National Synod of the Reformed Churches in France and helped draft the revised Confession of Faith. During the St Bartholomew s Massacre of 1572, when the French Huguenots were attacked unfairly by the Catholic perpetrators, Beza came to their rescue and supported them morally and spiritually. Beza later wrote a biography on the life of Calvin and a translation of the Psalms by Clement Marot. He was also famous for editing the Greek New Testament and was known for discovering the famous Codex D, one of the uncial manuscripts dating from the 6 th century, hence making a definitive contribution to biblical scholarship. He retired in 1600 and breathed his last on 13 October 1605 and entered into eternal glory. Only God knows the profound depth of this peerless saint s contribution to Reformed Christianity today. The indomitable, amiable, indefatigable spirit and the uncompromising stand of Beza for the truth are worthy of our emulation in these present climate of ecclesiastical compromise and religious accommodation. Henrich Bullinger ( ) Henrich Bullinger, a lesser known Reformer, was instrumental in the continuing Reformation of Switzerland after the early departure of Ulrich Zwingli. The son of a priest, Bullinger was born in 1504, at Bremgarten, Aagan. He studied at the Grammar School of the Brethren of the Common Life and entered University in He has a great love for the Bible and studied it intensely and was saved by grace about the same year. He had read other pamphlets by Luther and Melanchthon on their criticism of the Roman Catholic doctrines and in 1522; he became a Protestant at heart. He taught his Protestant ideas to townsmen and at a Cloister School and in 1827, he became a Pastor at Kappel Community Church. Shortly, he came into contact with Zwingli and later become his zealous comrade in the propagation of the faith. In 1525, Zwingli invited him to a conference with the Anabaptists and Bullinger exposed their errors of re-baptism and the defective doctrines of these radicals in a number of books. He was a fiery and indefatigable preacher, preaching 6-8 sermons a week and his powerful preaching has led some to the Iconoclastic burning of images in the medieval Church. After the early death of

4 Zwingli in the second Kappel War of 1531, Bullinger was elected successor to Zwingli, which included the pastorate of the Munster, the principal Church of the city, which he remained for the rest of his life. Bullinger was an able administrator and organiser and he organised schools and established scholarships for students, institution, teachers and pupils plans and regulations/or from Synod and preachers and reviews of Churches and schools. He also developed Church polity (that is Presbyterian in nature) and defined the functions of the state and that of the Church. The sphere of the two became distinct but not opposed, nor was one subservient to the other. Bullinger took a strong view of Church discipline and excommunication and the proper Church disciplinary action of errant teachers with heretical convictions especially an Ochino who was condemned as a heretic. Bullinger maintained a middle ground between Luther and Zwingli and have a difficult time with Luther over the understanding of the Lord s Supper which Bullinger believed as a meaningful commemoration of the Lord s death. Bullinger was a prolific writer and wrote many pamphlets, tracts and sermons including The History of the Reformation and his sermons called The Decades has a profound and pervasive influence on the common people in Switzerland and beyond Europe. He was influential over many English bishops, puritans and divines including John Hooper and partially helped to restore the English Church during the days of Edward VI. Beza spoke of Bullinger as The Common Shepherd of all Christian Churches for his sterling pastoral role over other ministers of the gospels and preachers to other countries. Bullinger s notable labours included the drafting of the second Helvetic Confession, which summarised the beliefs of the Reformed Churches in This is widely acclaimed and became the Confessional standards of Reformed Churches in France, Scotland, Bohemia, Poland and Hungary. Bullinger, a tireless worker, was greatly depleted in strength over the last few years of his life and died on 7 September 1575, reading the Lord s Prayer, some Psalms and the Creed. We owe a great debt to this humble and able Servant of God for his sterling service and faithful stewardship, pastors and preachers will do well to remember him and follow his footsteps today. Conclusion God has in His sovereign good time and pleasure, prepared Joshua for Moses, Elisha for Elijah and Solomon for David, Polycarp for John and Titus/Timothy for Paul and through the centuries, have nurtured and equipped his faithful and able stewards in the fullness of time to continue the work of the gospel and to defend the faith. In the 16 th and 17 th centuries, we witnessed the vigilant and fervent continuance of the propagation of the Word of God for the testimony of Christ as faithful and God-fearing stalwarts were raised of God to preserve and persevere the Reformation cause. Today, in the climate of Ecumenism, the cause of Christ during the Reformation had still to be defended, for Satan has not changed, cardinal biblical doctrines are still at stake and stedfastness in faith is still required. We still need urgently and desperately in these final moments of history, Bezas, Bullingers and Melancthons in the conservation of and contention for true religion in an environment of religious apostasy and accommodation of our times. May the Lord be pleased to use us for this worthy cause. Jack Sin * * * * * * * * * At the Pulpit Theme for the Quarter:

5 Gleanings from the Lives of Faithful Men Rev Jack Sin The Gospel of the Reformation (Gen 3:11-29) *These hyperlinks work with Word 97 and later version. [End of MM, 24 October, 2004]