Historical Highlights 1500AD-1550AD
Reformed Church
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1494: |
William Tyndale born in England |
1501: |
The Roman Catholic Church orders all books opposing the authority of the church to be burned |
1505: |
Martin Luther joins the Augustinian order after a near-death experience in a storm |
1506: |
Johann Tetzel begins selling indulgences in Germany (sells "forgiveness of sins" and raises money for rebuilding of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome |
1506: |
Ulrich Zwingli teaches himself Greek and Hebrew, reads the church fathers, and memorizes the Epistles of Paul |
1508: |
Michelangelo paints ceiling of Sistine Chapel in Rome |
1509: |
John Calvin born in France |
1512: |
Luther appointed Professor of Holy Scriptures at University of Wittenberg |
1513: |
John Knox is born in Scotland |
1516: |
Studying Romans, Luther discovers that the "righteous live by faith" (not works) |
1517: |
Martin Luther posts his 95 theses, an invitation to debate the errors of the church |
1519: |
Zwingli preaches expository sermons of the NT, the Swiss Reformation begins, Zwingli reads the works of Luther for first time |
1520: |
Anabaptist movement begins, a diverse, radical reform group that built their lives on three basic tenets: literal observance of biblical commands, adult baptism, and separation from the world—also maintained the belief in a strict separation of church and state; chocolate is brought to Europe!; Luther writes Babylonian Captivity of the Church, attacks the denial of the cup to laity, the mass as a sacrifice, and the seven (instead of two) sacraments |
1520: |
Cambridge students begin to discuss Luther’s views |
1521: |
Philip Melanchthon writes the first systematic Protestant theology; Luther brought before the Diet of Worms and refuses to recant, hidden in Wartburg castle, later that year he is excommunicated by Pope Leo X |
1523: |
Zwingli removes the organ, stain glassed windows, white washes the church walls |
1524: |
Erasmus writes On Free Will, enters the Reformation debate and disagrees with Luther and the reformers regarding man's will |
1525: |
Luther responds with Bondage of the Will—an absolute classic on the subject |
1526: |
Tyndale New Testament, an English translation based on Erasmus' Greek text |
1527: |
Luther's A Mighty Fortress is our God composed |
1528: |
Patrick Hamilton burned and the stake and the Reformation begins in Scotland |
1529: |
Luther's Small and Large Catechism begins to be used |
1530: |
Diet of Augsburg called, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V calls Lutheran's to present their views, they present Melanchthon's Augsburg Confession, Roman theologians refute, Charles V declares that the Protestants have been defeated |
1531: |
Zwingli killed in Swiss Civil War—country spilt between Catholic and Protestant |
1532: |
English Reformation begins, prompted initially by England's desire to throw off papal authority, Protestant doctrine comes into play later |
1533: |
Church of England breaks with Rome, Henry VIII declared head of church |
1534: |
Luther releases first edition of German Bible |
1536: |
William Tyndale burned at the stake; John Calvin, at the age of 26, completes first addition of Institutes of the Christian Religion, final edition 1559, one of the greatest doctrinal works ever published |
1541: |
Geneva becomes the center of Calvinism/Reformed theology |
1545: |
Council of Trent (lasts 18 years), condemns the Reformation and its leaders, declares the Roman Church to be the only authority allowed to interpret Scripture and that the Bible may not be interpreted in a way that contradicts Rome |
1546: |
Luther dies |