Synopses & Reviews
Part One. The German Reformation Chapter 1. Martin Luther: Preface to the first volume of Latin writing (1545)
Chapter 2. Martin Luther: The Freedom of a Christian Man (1520)
Chapter 3. Martin Luther: Invocavit Sermons (1522)
Chapter 4. Martin Luther: Preface to the German Translation of the New Testament (1522)
Chapter 5. Martin Luther: On Governmental Authority (1523)
Chapter 6. The Twelve Articles of the Peasants (1525)
Chapter 7. Martin Luther: Friendly Admonition to Peace Concerning the Twelve Articles
Chapter 8. Martin Luther: Commentary on St. Paul's Epostle to the Galatians (1535)
Part Two. Huldrych Zwingli Chapter 9. Huldrych Zwingli: Commentary on True and False Religion (1525)
Part Three. The Anabaptists Chapter 10. Conrad Grebel and the Zurich Anabaptists: Letter Thomas Muntzer (1524)
Chapter 11. The Schleitheim Confession of Faith (1527)
Chapter 12. Augustin Wurzlgurger: Proceedings of His Trial (1528)
Chapter 13. Peter Riedemann: Account of our Religion (1565)
Chapter 14. Elizabeth, A Dutch Anabaptist Martyr: A Letter (1573)
Part Four. John Calvin Chapter 15. John Calvin: Reply to Sadoleto (1540)
Chapter 16. Ecclesiastical Ordinances. Geneva (1541)
Chapter 17. John Calvin: The Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559)
Chapter 18. Philip Mornay: A Defense of Liberty Against Tyrants (1579)
Part Five. The English Reformation Chapter 19. William Tyndale: The New Testament in English (1525)
Chapter 20. John Jewel: An Apology for the Church of England (1562)
Chapter 21. John Field and Thomas Wilcox: An Admonition to the Parliament (1572)
Chapter 22.Richard Hooker: Laws of Ecclesiastical Policy (1593 ff.)
Synopsis
"Many basic questions surround the Reformation. What were its causes? Was it precipitated by the
Zeitgeist prevailing in Europe, so that there would have been a religious upheaval even if Luther or Zwingli had died in their cradles? Was the Reformation an authentically religious phenomenon, or the result of certain political, social, or economic developments? Was it 'medievil' or 'modern' in its orientation? What was the teaching of the Reformers? What was the significance of the Reformation? The measure of scholarly agreement with respect to these questions differs; far from offering definitive answers, we can here only call attention to their persistent presence....
"When the reformers who had first ventured a new interpretation of the gospel had passed from the scene, the question which had haunted the Reformation from its very inception--where is truth?--was still contested by the proponents of the old and the new faith. But one fact was beyond dispute: Western Christendom was tragically divided...into no less than five [religious factions]....Though these divisions were the result of intense religious conviction, they could not help but lessen the intensity of religious belief in Europe. The Reformation of the sixteenth century was the last period in the history of Western civilization when men were preoccupied with religion, argued it, fought and even died for it. Its consequences are still with us." --Hans J. Hillerbrand
Synopsis
Many basic questions surround the Reformation. What were its causes? Was it precipitated by the Zeitgeist prevailing in Europe, so that there would have been a religious upheaval even if Luther or Zwingli had died in their cradles? Was the Reformation an authentically religious phenomenon, or the result of certain political, social, or economic developments? Was it 'medievil' or 'modern' in its orientation? What was the teaching of the Reformers? What was the significance of the Reformation? The measure of scholarly agreement with respect to these questions differs; far from offering definitive answers, we can here only call attention to their persistent presence....
When the reformers who had first ventured a new interpretation of the gospel had passed from the scene, the question which had haunted the Reformation from its very inception--where is truth?--was still contested by the proponents of the old and the new faith. But one fact was beyond dispute: Western Christendom was tragically divided...into no less than five religious factions ....Though these divisions were the result of intense religious conviction, they could not help but lessen the intensity of religious belief in Europe. The Reformation of the sixteenth century was the last period in the history of Western civilization when men were preoccupied with religion, argued it, fought and even died for it. Its consequences are still with us. --Hans J. Hillerbrand
About the Author
Hans J. Hillerbrand is the former chair of the department of religion at Duke University. A recognized expert on the Reformation and the history of modern Christianity, he has published many articles and books on the period and was the editor in chief of The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation. He is the former president of both the American Academy of Religion and the American Society of Church History, and he lives in Durham, North Carolina.