HistoryThree

CHAPTER FIVE:

THE RENAISSANCE AND THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION: A.D. 1455-1611

The Renaissance – a rebirth of progressive culture and education – spreads throughout Europe (especially
Italy and France) as a culmination of increased trade, technological innovations, urban centralization, and the
decline of the feudal system. Most of Europe, though, remains an agrarian society.

1492 ~ Conquest of Grenada. The combined Catholic armies of Spanish provinces drive the Muslims out of
Spain, allowing the Spanish leaders to focus on other pursuits, such as spreading the Spanish Inquisition and
finding new trade routes.

1516 ~ Erasmus, a Catholic scholar, publishes the New Testament in Greek.

1517 ~ The Protestant Reformation begins. Martin Luther, a German monk/professor, is dismayed by the sale
of indulgences. He posts 95 statements for debate on the church-door at a small school in Wittenburg,
questioning the legitimacy of indulgences, confessionals, purgatory, and the authority of the Pope. Printed
copies of the 95 Theses are widely distributed.

1520-1521 ~ The Pope excommunicates Luther. Frederick of Saxony, a German ruler, protects Luther from
assassination as Luther's teachings spread throughout central Europe and Scandinavia. In the next few years,
Luther writes Freedom of the Christian Man and The Bondage of the Will, and translates Erasmus' Greek New
Testament into German, although Erasmus disputes with Luther about free will. Assisted by Philipp
Melanchthon, Luther affirms two sacraments (not seven, as Roman Catholicism teaches). He also marries a
former Cistercian nun.

1523 ~ Ulrich Zwingli, after reading some of Martin Luther's writings, sparks a movement in Switzerland to
abandon the authority of the Pope. Despite numerous shortcomings, he gains support for the idea of Bible-
based Christianity which views the Lord's Supper as a memorial meal. In 1531 Zwingli is killed in battle.

1525-1536 ~ William Tyndale translates the New Testament and part of the Old Testament into English. He is
burnt at the stake.

1530 ~ The Augsburg Confession, a formal declaration of the beliefs of the Lutheran Church, is completed
and presented to Emperor Charles V, who rejects it.

1534-1556 ~ Ignatius Loyola founds the Jesuit Order, dedicated to promote Catholicism via education and
political influence. The Jesuits lead the Catholic "Counter-Reformation."

1536 ~ John Calvin, a Protestant in Switzerland, writes Institutes of the Christian Religion, refining some
theological points previously held by Augustine of Hippo. Later, adopting some ideas of Martin Bucer, Calvin
develops the Reformed Church in Geneva. He also calls Michael Servetus a heretic, and Servetus is burnt at
the stake in 1553.

1530's ~ In Switzerland, Menno Simons and Conrad Grebel spread the Anabaptist Movement, persecuted
by both Catholics and Calvinists. They teach the supremacy of the Bible, baptism/pouring as an ordinance for
believers only, and the total separation of church and state.

1534-1537 ~ King Henry VIII of England, assisted by Thomas Cranmer, establishes the Church of England (the
Anglican Church) in an attempt to settle a political problem: how to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon. The
monarch of England acts as the head of the Anglican Church.

1550-1572 ~ John Knox, in Scotland, advocates many of the ideas of Calvin about how the church should be
organized. As a result, the Presbyterian Church becomes the state church of Scotland.

1545-1562 ~ Council of Trent. Roman Catholic leaders assembly in Italy to formulate official reactions to the
doctrines being promoted by the Protestants. The Roman Catholic teachings decreed at the council include…

The Bible is not the sole supreme authority in the church. Tradition and the official dogmas (teachings) of the
Catholic Church are also valid authorities. Also, only priests submissive to papal authority have the right to
interpret Scripture.

The Apocrypha is authoritative. These 11 (or 14) books had previously been viewed as beneficial reading but
not of the same caliber as the 66 books of the Bible. The full adoption of these books, particularly the book of
Second Maccabees, creates "Scriptural" support for the doctrine of praying for the dead.

The Latin Vulgate is the only official Scripture; the distribution of unofficial translations in common languages is
forbidden.

Indulgences, properly granted, are completely legitimate. An "indulgence" is a granting of forgiveness of a sin
based on the accomplishment of a good deed, such as reading the Bible, helping the needy, or donating money
to the church. Indulgences may be obtained not only for one's own sins but also for the sins of dead people;
gifts on a dead person's behalf, it was/is taught, would reduce the time the dead person's soul would spend in
purgatory.

Belief in transubstantiation is necessary to be a Christian – that is, anyone who denies that, in a Catholic Mass,
the bread and wine are actually transformed into the flesh and blood of Christ, is a heretic.

1558-1603 ~ Anglican Queen Elizabeth I rules England, maintaining control despite Roman Catholic opposition
in Britain and other nations.

1563 ~ Reformers in Europe compose the Heidelberg Catechism,

a summary of Reformed/Calvinistic beliefs.

1571 ~ The British Parliament adopts the Thirty-Nine Articles as the

definitive summary of Anglican beliefs.

1572 ~ On August 24, Roman Catholics influenced by the Medici

family carry out the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, in which

thousands of French Huguenots (Calvinists) are slaughtered. The

Pope orders a special medallion to be made to celebrate the occasion.

1588 ~ The British navy defeats the Spanish Armada, ensuring the

continued growth of the Anglican Church.

Late 1500's ~ Reacting to Calvinism, Jacob Arminius, in the Netherlands,

formulates a theological approach which asserts that humans have

freedom to accept or reject the offer of salvation.

1593-1610 ~ In France, Henry IV, previously a Protestant (though belonging

to the Medici family), becomes a Catholic to gain political strength. In 1598

he issues the Edict of Nantes, giving religious rights to the Huguenot minority.

1610 ~ Followers of Arminius' views publish Remonstrance, asserting the

prime authority of the Bible and denying the basic precepts of Calvinism.

This is later influential in evangelical theology.

1618-1619 ~ At the Synod of Dort, Protestant leaders approve the Heidel-

berg Catechism, reject the teachings of Arminius, and affirm Calvinism in

terms roughly equivalent to the "TULIP" teaching.

1604-1611 ~ With the permission of King James I of England, a committee

of 54 scholars completes the Authorized Version of the Bible in English.

CHAPTER SIX:

THE AGE OF REASON AND REVOLUTION: A.D. 1610-1799

1610-1632 ~ Galileo, after inventing the first telescope useful for astronomy, asserts that the theory of
Copernicus, an earlier astronomer, is fact: the earth moves around the sun. Catholic Inquisitors put him on trial,
force him to withdraw his views, and condemn him to house arrest for the rest of his life.

1620 ~ A small group of English Protestants known as Congregational Puritans, or "Pilgrims," sails to America on
the ship Mayflower. They form a colony at Plymouth Rock and spread the Congregational Church in the area that
is now Massachusetts.

1631-1683 ~ In the New England colonies, preacher/missionary Roger Williams develops influential principles of
religious tolerance. After experiencing life in various denominations, he rejects all denominational creeds.

1646 ~ The Westminster Confession is formulated and becomes the creed of Presbyterianism.

1648 ~ The "Peace of Westphalia," a series of treaties, ends the Thirty Years' War between Catholics and
Protestants in Europe. It arranges that each nation's "state church" will be the religion adhered to by its ruler. This
later causes problems when some rulers change their own beliefs.

1652 ~ In England, George Fox founds the Quakers, or Society of Friends, stressing personal integrity, pacifism,
and a rejection of sacraments. They gradually gain a strong presence in the American colony of Pennsylvania.

1642-1660 ~ As a result of the English Civil War, political power is temporarily in the hands of the Puritans, led by
Oliver Cromwell. However, after Cromwell's death the monarchy is restored.

1670 ~ The book Pensees ("Thoughts"), by French scientist Blaise Pascal, defends Jansenism, a school of
thought which agreed with some points of Calvinism. Pascal asserts, contrary to Aquinas, that faith transcends
reason.

1683 ~ The Battle of Vienna. An army led by Jan Sobieski repulses a Muslim army, greatly relieving eastern
Europe from the threat of invasion.

1687 ~ Isaac Newton publishes Mathematical Principles, which provokes great interest in scientific inquiry. It also
helps lay the foundation for Deism, the idea that while God created the universe, He does not miraculously
intervene in it.

1688 ~ In the "Glorious Revolution," Protestants carry out a blood-less coup in England. King James II (a Catholic)
is replaced by William III and his wife Mary (daughter of James II), known as "William & Mary."

1689-1690 ~ John Locke, an English writer, promotes a system of philosophy that endorses Divine law, free will,
religious toleration, and the idea that a government's right to govern is grounded in the consent of the governed.

Early 1700's ~ In the eastern American colonies, Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield lead the "Great
Awakening," a revival which emphasizes drastic spiritual experiences. This greatly affects the form of preaching
in many Protestant churches.

1742 ~ The Philadelphia Confession of Faith is formulated as a statement of beliefs of the Baptist Church in
America.

1738-1791 ~ John Wesley, an Anglican preacher, lays the ground-work for the Methodist Church in Britain and in
the American colonies, emphasizing salvation by faith. His support of Arminianism (free will) and his preaching
style provokes Anglican leaders to withdraw from him.

Mid-1700's ~ Alphonsus Liguori, a Catholic writer, encourages the exaltation of Mary.

1789 ~ Following the American Revolution, American Anglicans restructure their church hierarchy, resulting in
the Episcopalian Church. Several other Protestant denominations in America also undergo similar corporate
restructuring.

1784-1816 ~ Francis Asbury, as bishop over the Methodist Episcopalian Church, organizes lay preachers to
travel the American frontier as "circuit riders." As a result, the denomination greatly expands. Other U.S. groups
adopt this technique.

1793 ~ William Carey, a British Baptist, travels to India and serves as a missionary for the rest of his life,
beginning the era of modern missions.