Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition

Ses s i on 2: The Med i eva l Chur ch and the Reformat i on 41

1. Political factors : Heightened activity of exploration, conquest, and expansion of European power in the New World; Islam’s conquering Constantinople in 1453, the difficulties of the Eastern Church, and the ongoing Islamic threat to the power of the papacy. Note the growing nationalistic spirit of Europe’s local political leaders.

2. Economic factors : During the end of the medieval period, Europe experienced a surge of its economies through growing markets produced by the cities and the colonies. This led to the creation of a new middle class.

3. Cultural factors : The Renaissance (French, meaning “rebirth”) produced cultural openness on numerous fronts: emergence of the study of classical literature, rise of Christian humanists (e.g. Erasmus who authored a NT Greek edition). Note, too, the coming into being of the printing press which enabled people to read Scripture and other literatures. 4. Religious factors : While some voices in the Church served to defend and justify the imperialistic ambitions of Europe’s states, others served to offer protest and argument for the just treatment of the indigenous peoples, including the viciousness of slavery and exploitation of discovered lands (i.e., the movie The Mission ).

5. Evangelical factors : missions during this period both as an expression of authentic evangelical fervor as well as servant and arm of colonial power

B. The origins of Protestantism: its magisterial leaders: Luther

1. Martin Luther, born in Eisleben, Saxony (East Germany), in 1483