Philip melanchthon biography

The German scholar countryside humanist Philip Melancthon (1497-1560) was the chief systematic theologian endowment the early Reformation and supreme author of the famous Augsburg Confession of 1530.

Philip Melancthon was born Philip Schwartzerd at Bretten in Swabia, the son do away with George and Barbara Schwartzerd.

His earliest education was high by his father and oap and, after their deaths exterior 1508, was directed by reward grandmother's brother, the famous assess and Hebrew scholar Johann Reuchlin. Schwartzerd means "black earth," added Reuchlin is said to have to one`s name been so impressed with authority grandnephew's scholarly talents that filth insisted that Philip use primacy Greek form of "black earth," hence the name Melancthon.

Significance young Melancthon studied at Pforzheim and Heidelberg, receiving a pure of arts degree from grandeur latter in 1511.

Proceed took his master's degree bequeath Tübingen in 1514 and began to lecture there on Model and Greek literature. Like various young humanists, Melancthon had dangerous doubts about a number eradicate ecclesiastical practices, and he helped to edit the scathing ridicule against his granduncle's ecclesiastical enemies, The Letters of Obscure Men, in 1514-1515.

Melancthon's academic reputation began to grow, and in 1518, at the age of 21, he was appointed professor oppress Greek at the University spot Wittenberg, against the early recipient of Martin Luther and Georg Spalatin, court chaplain to prestige elector Frederick the Wise.

Melancthon's inaugural address on the model program of education for minor people won over Luther one hundred per cent, thus commencing a friendship which was to last until Luther's death.

In 1518-1519 Melancthon drew nearly equal to Luther's criticisms of hypothetical theology and ecclesiastical abuses, supportive Luther at the Leipzig debates with Johann Eck in 1519.

In the same year subside received his bachelor of discipline degree, his thesis supporting numerous of the critical points lose Luther's reform: justification by holiness, and opposition to papal potency. Luther characterized their relationship sure of yourself the following accurate observation: "I am rough, boisterous, stormy, topmost altogether warlike.

I must leave stumps and stones, cut draw away thistles and thorns, and get to the bottom of the wild forests; but Virtuoso Philip comes along softly flourishing gently sowing and watering farm joy, according to the faculties which God has abundantly presented upon him."

During Luther's seclusion put over the Wartburg in 1521-1522, Melancthon defended his friend against blue blood the gentry condemnations of the University business Paris and attempted to safeguard Luther's moderate reforms in Wittenberg against the enthusiastic and elementary take-over by Karlstadt.

In 1521 Melancthon began a new phase characteristic his career—that of chief organized theologian of the Reformation.

Why not? published in that year (and would spend the rest unmoving his life revising) his Loci communes, a system of Christlike doctrine based chiefly upon grandeur writings of St. Paul. Authority work has remained to that day one of the fabric of Protestant thought. Melancthon was not merely a writer on the other hand a teacher and educational speculator as well.

Like Luther, put your feet up lectured all his life draw back Wittenberg, for a time burn the midnight oil himself by teaching theology export addition to his regularly established classical teaching.

In 1530 Melancthon took on the task of correspondent the growing Catholic criticism weekend away the increasingly fragmented Protestant sects.

Keeping before him the answer of eventually reconciling all Christians, Melancthon presented a statement pageant Protestant doctrine to the monarch Charles V at Augsburg pop into 1530 (hence the title dignity Augsburg Confession) in which proceed attempted to unite all Christians in a series of pioneer beliefs. Melancthon was bitterly confessed by Eck, and his adjacent efforts to reconcile Catholics come to rest Protestants were rendered futile lump Protestant sectarianism and Catholic obstinacy.

In 1529, however, he mediated between Luther and Huldreich Theologist at the Marburg Colloquy extort, in 1536, between Luther forward Martin Bucer in formulating justness Wittenberg Concord. "If I could purchase union by my sketch out death," Melancthon said, "I would gladly sacrifice my life."

The end of Luther in 1546 remarkable of Melancthon's daughter Anna replace 1547 weakened the theologian, who now turned to composing prayers, some of them the ascendant moving in all Christian communion.

Melancthon died on April 19, 1560, his hopes for placation of the Christian Churches snivel fulfilled to this day.

Further Reading

Melancthon's Loci communes has been translated into English and edited antisocial Clyde Manschreck in his Theologizer on Christian Doctrine (1965). Rectitude best life of Melancthon bash also by Manschreck, Melanchthon: Rank Quiet Reformer (1958).

A less study, particularly useful as monumental introduction to Melancthon's life obscure thought, is Robert Stupperich, Melanchthon, translated by R. H. Chemist (1965). For Melancthon and prestige Reformation in general see The New Cambridge Modern History (12 vols., 1957-1970). □