Reformation Church History

Columbus had just arrived in the Americas. The Turks were threatening the security of Christendom by attacking Vienna. A capitalist economy was replacing feudalism in Europe. And a monk in Germany destabilised society still more by asking questions about how Christians can really be assured that their sins are forgiven. The Reformation in the sixteenth century is simply one of the most significant moments in the development of Christian faith and theology. This unit gives students clarity in understanding the doctrines of grace, and confidence to express their own theological commitments. Great names like Luther, Zwingli, Calvin and Cranmer are discovered to be heroes with clay feet, encouraging us to believe that God can use us too in his own purposes for the world.

Content

Section A: The Reformation in its Historical Contexts
The study of at least five of the following topics:

1. The Medieval and Renaissance background.
2. Martin Luther and the German Reformation
3. Huldrych Zwingli; the Anabaptists
4. John Calvin and the Reformation in Geneva
5. The English Church under Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I
6. The Elizabethan Settlement; Cranmer; Puritanism; Hooker
7. The Catholic Reformation: Council of Trent and the Jesuits
8. The Reformation in Scotland

Section B: The Reformation – Primary Sources
The study and analysis of a selection of texts, chosen from the following:

1. Luther, Three Treatises of 1520
2. Zwingli, Of the Clarity and Certainty of the Word of God
3. Hubmaier, On Free Will
4. Calvin, Ecclesiastical Ordinances, Institutes (part of Book IV)
5. Elton, The Tudor Constitution (document numbers 174–185; 190–209)
6. Prefaces to Bible translations: Tyndale’s NT, Great Bible, Geneva Bible
7. The Thirty-nine Articles
8. Nicholas Ridley: Treatise against Transubstantiation
9. Sermons: Latimer (Sermon of the Plough, Sermons on the Card), John Jewel (Challenge Sermon 1559/1560), John Hooper (Sermons on Jonah)
10. The Examination of Anne Askew
11. Preface to Foxe’s Acts and Monuments (Book of Martyrs)
12. Katherine Parr: Lamentation of a Sinner