I coordinate with Lutheran Church Missiouri synod, a Lutheran synod.
The Reformation was a political and religious movement in Europe that
began in the 1500′s and lasted for roughly 150 years. It is difficult
to pinpoint exact starting and ending dates for the Reformation, but we
can point to two events that seem to begin and to culminate the
Reformation era: 1517 (Martin Luther’s
95 Theses and his
protest against the indulgence system of the Roman Catholic Church) and
1648 (The Peace of Westphalia, treaties that ended both the Thirty
Years’ War and the Eighty Years’ War and thus put an end to most of the
civil disruption caused by the religious movement).
1. Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses (October 31, 1517)
It has been argued that the importance of Luther’s nailing of the 95
Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg is often
overestimated, since all public disputations were promoted in this
manner. Furthermore, it is evident from the
95 Theses that
Luther’s decisive break with Rome is not yet clear. He upholds the
indulgence system, papal authority, and the existence of purgatory. Yet,
this crucial event deserves to be at the forefront of any discussion on
important Reformation events because it is the spark that led to the
flames of revolution. Luther’s
95 Theses were published,
printed, and disseminated into Europe, and the publication ignited a
religious fervor that exploded across Germany and beyond.
2. The Marburg Colloquy (1529)
Luther and Zwingli’s discussion of the theology of the Lord’s Supper
may seem an odd choice for the 2nd most important Reformation event, but
the political and religious consequences of their failure to come to
agreement on the Eucharist set the course for a split which has lasted
almost 500 years. Because the Reformers could not agree on the Lord’s
Supper, the political alliance between Reform-minded countries was
severely hindered. The religious implications forced the Lutherans and
the Reformed to go separate ways, creating an animosity that precluded
religious unity and led to even more splintering of Protestantism into
differing groups.
3. Publication of Luther’s Translation of the New Testament (1522)
Luther’s publication of the New Testament into common German was a
watershed moment for the Reformation in Europe. He was followed by
William Tyndale’s work on the New Testament in 1526 and by a host of
other common-man translations in other countries. The translation of the
Bible into the language of the people allowed the Reformers to base
their criticism of the papacy on biblical grounds and led to the common
man being able to search the Scriptures for himself without relying
solely on the Church’s authority.
4. The Act of Supremacy (1534)
Henry VIII’s institution of the Church of England and his positioning
of himself as the head of the Church was the beginning of a long and
checkered history of Reformation in England, in which the institution of
Reformed theology from the top-down brought its own set of problems.
5. The Edict of Nantes (1598)
This event was one of the most hopeful signs that the Reformation would
eventually end with different religious groups coexisting peacefully.
This innovative act of tolerance formed the basis for the modern-day
secular society of freedom of religion.
6. The Council of Trent (1545-63)
The Roman Catholic declarations following the Council of Trent
eliminated virtually any hope for reconciliation between the Catholic
Church and the Protestant movement. The enormity of this council’s
output served to codify Roman Catholic theology for the next four
centuries, forming the Tridentine period of Roman Catholicism.
7. Calvin’s Institutes (1559)
John Calvin’s systematic theology
The Institutes of the Christian Religion
formed the basis for the adoption of Reformed theology in Europe and
America. His theology is important because it was a visionary exposition
of theology, whereas the other Reformers’ theologies were reactionary
in nature, being forged in the midst of conflict.
8. Martin Luther’s Three Treatises (1520)
Martin Luther’s three treatises to the German people in 1520 (
Appeal to the German Nobility, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and
The Freedom of the Christian)
served as a fervent call to reformation of the church, influencing the
Protestant movement in Germany and beyond for years to come.
9. St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre (1572)
The Catholic mob violence against the Huguenots that lasted for several
months claimed the lives of thousands of French Protestants. This event
was a turning point in the French Wars of Religion, as it radicalized
the Huguenot movement.
10. The Peace of Augsburg (1555)
The first religious war of the century ended, as rulers allowed
territories to choose their religion. This was the beginning of
religious toleration in Europe, which formed the foundation for the
Edict of Nantes and the Act of Toleration.
Lutheran books (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Lutheran Scriptures ( 95 theses )
Layman terms
Lutheran (ESV 2k7) biased Bible notes
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== ELCA ==
== Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod ==
1984 NIV Lutheran notes
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)
Lutheran Synods Differences
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