Almost every branch of Protestantism can be traced back to a few founders. Most of them build, to at least some degree, on the work of Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin.
The three major founders of Protestantism are Martin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli, and John Calvin. Luther and Zwingli began their reform movements almost simultaneously, Luther in Germany and Zwingli in Switzerland.Both had been Roman Catholic priests; both began to criticize Catholic doctrine and practice based on their reading of the Bible in its original languages.
Luther entered the Augustinian monastery at Erfurt (he was a law student returning to school after a semester break) after he was caught in a thunderstorm, feared for his life, and realized that he was not sure of his salvation.Though he was apparently a very conscientious monk, his strenuous efforts in the monastery did not reduce his anxiety about God's wrath.Trained as a biblical theologian, he was preparing a lecture on Paul's Letter to the Romans for his university students when he realized that the Greek of Romans 1:17 could mean either "the righteous shall live by faith" or "those who are righteous by faith shall live."The first had been taught by the Catholic Church, and implies that as one strives for righteousness (sinlessness), one is rewarded with faith.The second implies that faith is a gift that one does not strive for, but that brings righteousness with it.Luther believed this to be the intent of Paul, and indeed of the entire Bible.This insight formed the core of his reform.
Zwingli was a priest trained as a humanist.This training led him to the principle of sola scriptura (scripture alone) in the same ways and at about the same time as Luther. When Erasmus published a Greek edition of the best Greek manuscripts of the New Testament available, Zwingli quickly bought it and then taught himself Greek so he could read it.When he was appointed priest at Zurich's Grossm�nster (the most prominent cathedral in the German-speaking part of Switzerland), he announced that he would not preach from the lectionary but would preach the Book of Matthew straight through "from A to Z."In taking up this controversial practice he was in effect announcing that he would rely on the word of God found in scripture as the foundation of his teachings and practice.
John Calvin was trained in France as a humanist and as a lawyer.His first love, though, was theology, and as a student he decided that the Protestant beliefs and biblical interpretations were correct.He was forced to flee France, which was far from hospitable to Protestants.His intention was to pass through Switzerland to the city of Strasbourg, which was a Protestant city, and live the quiet life of a scholar.Spending the night on his trip in Geneva, he was met by William Farel (1489-1565), the leader of the Reform movement that had recently taken control of Geneva. Farel convinced Calvin that his duty was to stay and put God's reform into practice in Geneva, rather than to pursue his own desire to lead a quiet life.
All three-Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin-agreed on the main Protestant principles: justification by faith alone, the priesthood of all believers, and scripture alone as the final authority.They all felt it was important that the Bible, which had been available only in Latin, be translated into languages that Christians could read for themselves.All three expected the same Holy Spirit who inspired scripture as the word of God, and who changed the hearts of sinners to believe that their sins had been forgiven, to lead pious, saved Christians to a correct understanding of scripture.On this last point they were disappointed.
The fact that there were separate Protestant churches, Lutheran and Reformed, was troubling, and Zwingli and Luther met at the Colloquy of Marburg (1529) to try to reach a common understanding that would unify the two churches. They agreed on twelve points of doctrine, but could not agree on the thirteenth: what happened at the Lord's Supper. Luther argued that the body and blood of Christ became associated with the bread and wine, following a literal interpretation of the scripture passage, "This is my body, broken for you" (Matthew 22:19).Zwingli argued that Jesus was surely using a figure of speech, and that the bread and wine symbolized the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.He based his doctrine on John 6:63-"It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless."This failure to unify the Church in belief and practice regarding the Lord's Supper, based on differing interpretations of scripture, set something of a pattern for the division and diversification that has characterized Protestantism throughout its history. Particularly in America, where government did not establish and defend a particular denomination as it did most places in Europe, the profusion of denominations and sects has been rapid and constant.
Sourced ~ patheos.com
*** Calvinism is its Own in America now...and Protestant is its Own in America and Euroupe....Be Blessed...xo
Calvinism (also called Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life.[1] The Reformed tradition was advanced by several theologians such as Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger, Peter Martyr Vermigli, and Huldrych Zwingli, but this branch of Christianity bears the name of the French reformer John Calvin (Jean Cauvin in Old French) because of his prominent influence on it and because of his role in the confessional and ecclesiastical debates throughout the 16th century. Today, this term also refers to the doctrines and practices of the Reformed churches of which Calvin was an early leader. Less commonly, it can refer to the individual, biblical teachings of Calvin himself.[2] The system is often summarized in the Five Points of Calvinism and is best known for its doctrines of predestination and total depravity, stressing the absolute sovereignty of God.
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to ("protested") the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led to the creation of new national Protestant churches. The Reformation was precipitated by earlier events within Europe, such as the Black Death and the Western Schism, which eroded people's faith in the Roman Catholic Church. This, as well as many other factors, contributed to the growth of lay criticism in the church and the creation of Protestantism.[1]
The Roman Catholics responded with a Counter-Reformation, led by the Jesuit order, which established influence over large parts of Europe such as Poland. In general, northern Europe, with the exception of Ireland and pockets of Britain, turned Protestant. Southern Europe remained Roman Catholic, while fierce battles which turned into warfare took place in central Europe.[2]
The largest of the new churches were the Lutherans (mostly in Germany and Scandinavia) and the Reformed churches (mostly in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Scotland). There were many smaller bodies as well. The most common dating begins in 1517, when Luther published The Ninety-Five Theses, and concludes in 1648 with the Treaty of Westphalia that ended years of European religious wars.[3]
same thing, but now today there are 32,000 denominations that broke off Protestantism because so in so didn't agree with Luther Calvin and Zwingli
Hummm...interesting...All I've seen here on the forums for eons is Calvinists attacks against Lutherans...If Lutheran is Protestant and Calvinism is Protestant then Who is the So n So you speak of that caused the Divide ???...xo
I do not know who they were. All I know from reading is Luther began the Lutheran church, Calvin began the Presbyterian church. I do not know who diagreed with them and started all the other denominations of today. I do know it was because they did not agree with the founders of the reformation. Church history is very interesting. It is a shame that theor is such decline since the reformation that there are 32,000 different denominations
