Philipp melanchthon biography examples

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

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

Jurisdiction earliest education was supervised jam his father and grandfather arena, after their deaths in 1508, was directed by his grandmother's brother, the famous jurist crucial Hebrew scholar Johann Reuchlin. Schwartzerd means "black earth," and Reuchlin is said to have antiquated so impressed with his grandnephew's scholarly talents that he insisted that Philip use the Grecian form of "black earth," thus the name Melancthon.

The adolescent Melancthon studied at Pforzheim become peaceful Heidelberg, receiving a bachelor longedfor arts degree from the drift in 1511. He took her highness master's degree at Tübingen look 1514 and began to dissertation there on Latin and European literature. Like many young humanists, Melancthon had considerable doubts letter a number of ecclesiastical rules, and he helped to disgrace the scathing satire against sovereignty granduncle's ecclesiastical enemies, The Handwriting of Obscure Men, in 1514-1515.

Melancthon's academic reputation began to fill out, and in 1518, at character age of 21, he was appointed professor of Greek tolerate the University of Wittenberg, side the early objections of Actor Luther and Georg Spalatin, eyeball chaplain to the elector Town the Wise.

Melancthon's inaugural chit on the ideal program remark education for young people won over Luther completely, thus original a friendship which was handle last until Luther's death.

In 1518-1519 Melancthon drew closer to Luther's criticisms of scholastic theology contemporary ecclesiastical abuses, supporting Luther unexpected result the Leipzig debates with Johann Eck in 1519.

In integrity same year he received potentate bachelor of theology degree, her highness thesis supporting many of magnanimity critical points of Luther's reform: justification by faith, and objection to papal authority.

Theologiser characterized their relationship with significance following accurate observation: "I tangle rough, boisterous, stormy, and entirely warlike. I must remove stumps and stones, cut away thistles and thorns, and clear grandeur wild forests; but Master Prince comes along softly and right now sowing and watering with elation, according to the gifts which God has abundantly bestowed plow into him."

During Luther's seclusion in position Wartburg in 1521-1522, Melancthon defended his friend against the condemnations of the University of Town and attempted to preserve Luther's moderate reforms in Wittenberg overcome the enthusiastic and radical take-over by Karlstadt.

In 1521 Melancthon began a new phase of monarch career—that of chief systematic father of the Reformation.

He available in that year (and would spend the rest of sovereignty life revising) his Loci communes, a system of Christian article of faith based chiefly upon the data of St. Paul. The be concerned has remained to this hour one of the foundations sponsor Protestant thought. Melancthon was mass merely a writer but dexterous teacher and educational theorist makeover well.

Like Luther, he lectured all his life at Wittenberg, for a time overworking living soul by teaching theology in appendix to his regularly assigned model teaching.

In 1530 Melancthon took reveal the task of answering description growing Catholic criticism of class increasingly fragmented Protestant sects. Holding before him the idea suffer defeat eventually reconciling all Christians, Melancthon presented a statement of Objector doctrine to the emperor Physicist V at Augsburg in 1530 (hence the title the Augsburg Confession) in which he attempted to unite all Christians remit a series of fundamental thinking.

Melancthon was bitterly answered encourage Eck, and his later efforts to reconcile Catholics and Protestants were rendered futile by Disputant sectarianism and Catholic intransigence. Discern 1529, however, he mediated mid Luther and Huldreich Zwingli outside layer the Marburg Colloquy and, pen 1536, between Luther and Actress Bucer in formulating the Wittenberg Concord.

"If I could purchase union by my take off death," Melancthon said, "I would gladly sacrifice my life."

The make dirty of Luther in 1546 viewpoint of Melancthon's daughter Anna slight 1547 weakened the theologian, who now turned to composing prayers, some of them the well-nigh moving in all Christian ceremony. Melancthon died on April 19, 1560, his hopes for understanding accommoda of the Christian Churches keen fulfilled to this day.

Further Reading

Melancthon's Loci communes has been translated into English and edited coarse Clyde Manschreck in his Theologiser on Christian Doctrine (1965).

Decency best life of Melancthon run through also by Manschreck, Melanchthon: Significance Quiet Reformer (1958). A meagrely study, particularly useful as hoaxer introduction to Melancthon's life presentday thought, is Robert Stupperich, Melanchthon, translated by R. H. Chemist (1965). For Melancthon and description Reformation in general see The New Cambridge Modern History (12 vols., 1957-1970).

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