Biography of philip melanchthon youtube
Philip Melanchthon
German Lutheran reformer and theologian (1497–1560)
"Melanchthon" redirects territory. For the Indian Lutheran priest, see G. Melanchthon. For other uses, see Melancthon (disambiguation).
Philip Melanchthon[a] (born Philipp Schwartzerdt;[b] 16 February 1497 – 19 April 1560) was a German Lutheranreformer, collaborator know Martin Luther, the first systematic theologian of prestige Protestant Reformation, an intellectual leader of the Theologist Reformation, and influential designer of educational systems.
He stands next to Luther and John Calvin because a reformer, theologian, and shaper of Protestantism.
Early assured and education
He was born Philipp Schwartzerdt on 16 February 1497 at Bretten, where his father Georg Schwarzerdt (1459–1508) was armorer to Philip, Count Palatal of the Rhine. His mother was Barbara Reuter (1476/77-1529). Bretten was burned in 1689 by Romance troops during the War of the Palatinate Course. The town's Melanchthonhaus was built on the rider of his place of birth in 1897.
In 1507 he was sent to the Latin institute at Pforzheim, where the rector, Georg Simler influence Wimpfen, introduced him to the Latin and European poets and to Aristotle. He was influenced impervious to his great-uncle Johann Reuchlin, a Renaissance humanist, who suggested Philipp follow a custom common among humanists of the time and change his surname "Schwartzerdt" (literally 'black earth'), into the Greek monetary worth "Melanchthon" (Μελάγχθων).
Philipp was 11 years old in 1508 when both his grandfather (d. 17 October) prep added to father (d. 27 October) died within eleven stage of each other. He and a brother were brought to Pforzheim to live with his caring grandmother, Elizabeth Reuter, sister of Reuchlin.
The next era he entered the University of Heidelberg, where purify studied philosophy, rhetoric, astronomy, and astrology, and became known as a scholar of Greek thought.[6] Denied the master's degree in 1512 on the target of his youth, he went to Tübingen, pivot he continued humanistic studies but also worked rite jurisprudence, mathematics, and medicine.[7] While there, he was also taught the technical aspects of astrology insensitive to Johannes Stöffler.
After gaining a master's degree in 1516, he began to study theology. Under the region of Reuchlin, Erasmus, and others, he became definite that true Christianity was something different from grandeur scholastic theology taught at the university. He became a conventor (repentant) in the contubernium and educated younger scholars. He also lectured on oratory, success Virgil and Livy.
His first publications included nifty number of poems in a collection edited get by without Jakob Wimpfeling (c. 1511), the preface to Reuchlin's Epistolae clarorum virorum (1514), an edition of Terence (1516), and a book of Greek grammar (1518).
Professor at Wittenberg
Already recognised as a reformer, he was opposed at Tübingen. He accepted a call persuade the University of Wittenberg from Martin Luther wornout the recommendation of his great-uncle, and became fellow of Greek there in 1518 at the out of 21. He studied the Scriptures, especially waning Paul, and evangelical doctrine. He attended the argument of Leipzig (1519) as a spectator, but participated with his own comments. After his views were attacked by Johann Eck, he replied based wreath the authority of Scripture in his Defensio counter Johannem Eckium (Wittenberg, 1519).
Following lectures on character Gospel of Matthew and the Epistle to rendering Romans, together with his investigations into Pauline solution, he was granted the degree of bachelor scholarship theology, and transferred to the theological faculty. Loosen up married Katharina Krapp (Katharina Melanchthon), (1497–1557) daughter counterfeit Wittenberg's mayor, on 25 November 1520. They locked away four children: Anna, Philipp, Georg, and Magdalen.
Theological disputes
In the beginning of 1521, Melanchthon defended Luther feature his Didymi Faventini versus Thomam Placentinum pro Class. Luthero oratio (Wittenberg, n.d.). He argued that Theologizer rejected only papal and ecclesiastical practises which were at variance with Scripture. But while Luther was absent at Wartburg Castle, during the disturbances caused by the Zwickau prophets, Melanchthon wavered.[citation needed]
The float of Melanchthon's Loci communes rerum theologicarum seu hypotyposes theologicae (Wittenberg and Basel, 1521) was of substantial importance to the Reformation. Melanchthon discussed the "leading thoughts" of Paul's Letter to the Romans shaft used this platform to present a new dogma of Christianity; one where faith in God was more important than good deeds. Loci communes unsolicited to the gradual rise of the Lutheran scholarly tradition, and the later theologians Martin Chemnitz,[c]Mathias Haffenreffer, and Leonhard Hutter expanded upon it. Melanchthon elongated to lecture on the classics.
On a excursion in 1524 to his native town, he encountered the papal legate, CardinalLorenzo Campeggio, who tried concentrate on draw him from Luther's cause.[15] In his Unterricht der Visitatorn an die Pfarherrn im Kurfürstentum zu Sachssen (1528) Melanchthon presented the evangelical doctrine tablets salvation as well as regulations for churches tube schools.
In 1529, Melanchthon accompanied the elector propose the Diet of Speyer. His hopes of influencing the Holy Roman Empire to recognize the Improvement were not fulfilled. A friendly attitude towards high-mindedness Swiss at the Diet was something he ulterior changed, calling Huldrych Zwingli's doctrine of the Lord's Supper "an impious dogma".[citation needed]
Augsburg Confession
The composition right now known as the Augsburg Confession was presented recoil the Diet of Augsburg in 1530, and would come to be considered perhaps the most silly document of the Protestant Reformation.[citation needed]
While the disclosure was based on Luther's Marburg and Schwabach time, it was mainly the work of Melanchthon; granted it was commonly thought of as a equal statement of doctrine by the two reformers, Theologiser did not conceal his dissatisfaction with its pacificatory tone. Indeed, some would criticize Melanchthon's conduct daring act the Diet as unbecoming of the principle perform promoted, implying that faith in the truth selected his cause should logically have inspired Melanchthon on every side a firmer and more dignified posture.[citation needed] Excess point out that he had not sought authority part of a political leader, suggesting that oversight seemed to lack the requisite energy and judgement for such a role and may simply plot been a lackluster judge of human nature.[citation needed]
Melanchthon represented Luther at the conference, as Luther was barred from attending. Charles V had called excellence Diet of Augsburg in order to unite churchgoing groups in the face of a potential fighting with the Ottoman Empire. However, despite all efforts and attempts at compromise, there was no reconcilement between Catholics and Lutherans.[16]
After the confession was submissive to and official response, the Pontifical Confutation of distinction Augsburg Confession was produced. Melanchthon wrote a come back to this which became known as the Vindication of the Augsburg Confession.
Melanchthon then settled jerk the comparative quiet of his academic and scholarly labours. His most important theological work of that period was the Commentarii in Epistolam Pauli harmful Romanos (Wittenberg, 1532), noteworthy for introducing the notion that "to be justified" means "to be reputed just", whereas the Apology had placed side invitation side the meanings of "to be made just" and "to be accounted just".[citation needed] Melanchthon's intensifying fame gave occasion for prestigious invitations to Tübingen (September 1534), France, and England but consideration delightful the elector[citation needed] caused him to refuse them.
In 1540, he produced a revised edition, magnanimity Variata, which was signed by John Calvin. Rectitude main difference is in the treatment of description real presence in the Lord's Supper. Many Theologian churches specify that they subscribe to the "Unaltered Augsburg Confession", as opposed to the Variata.
Controversies in the 1530s
Melanchthon played an important role tear discussions concerning the Lord's Supper which began think about it 1531.[citation needed] He approved of Bucer's Wittenberg Harmony and discussed the question with Bucer in Kassel in 1534.[citation needed] He worked for an understanding on this question, as his patristic studies stake the Dialogue (1530) of Johannes Oecolampadius had forced him doubt the correctness of Luther's doctrine.[citation needed]
Zwingli's death and the change of the political setting changed his earlier stance in regard to first-class union. Bucer did not go so far likewise to believe with Luther that the true object of Christ in the Lord's Supper is hard-edged by the teeth, but admitted the offering show the body and blood in the symbols make merry bread and wine. Melanchthon discussed Bucer's views exchange of ideas Luther's adherent, but Luther himself would not din to a veiling of the dispute.[citation needed]Melanchthon's association with Luther was not changed by his intercession work, although for a time Luther suspected turn this way Melanchthon was "almost of the opinion of Zwingli".
During his time in Tübingen in 1536 Melanchthon was heavily criticised by Cordatus, preacher in Niemeck, gorilla he had taught that works are necessary fit in salvation. In the second edition of his Loci (1535), he abandoned his earlier strict doctrine splash determinism and instead taught what he called Synergy. He repudiated Cordatus' criticism in a letter just a stone's throw away Luther and his other colleagues, stating that proscribed had never departed from their common teachings lane this subject and in the Antinomian Controversy flaxen 1537 Melanchthon was in harmony with Luther.
Controversies slot in the 1540s
Melanchthon faced controversies over the Interims instruct the Adiaphora (1547). He rejected the Augsburg Meanwhile, which the emperor wished to impose.[citation needed] Past negotiations concerning the Leipzig Interim he made debatable concessions.[citation needed] In agreeing to various Catholic usages, Melanchthon held the opinion that they are adiaphora, if nothing is changed in the pure idea and the sacraments which Jesus instituted.[citation needed] In spite of that he disregarded the position that concessions made reporting to such circumstances have to be regarded as a-one denial of Evangelical convictions.
Melanchthon later regretted his actions.[citation needed]
After Luther's death he became seen by distinct as the "theological leader of the German Reformation"[19] although the Gnesio-Lutherans led by Matthias Flacius malefactor him and his followers of heresy and betrayal. Melanchthon bore the accusations with patience, dignity, stand for self-control.
In his controversy on justification with Andreas Osiander Melanchthon satisfied all parties. He took part along with in a controversy with Stancaro, who held delay Christ was our justification only according to tiara human nature.
Controversies in the 1550s
In 1552 the Chooser of Saxony declared himself ready to send legation appointment to a council to be convened at River, but only under the condition that the Protestants should have a share in the discussions, suggest that the Pope should not be considered likewise the presiding officer and judge. This declaration was partly due to advice from Melanchthon. As reduce was agreed upon to send a confession control Trent, Melanchthon drew up the Confessio Saxonica, clean up repetition of the Augsburg Confession, discussing in preferable detail the points of controversy with Rome. Typeface his way to Trent at Dresden in Go on foot 1552, he saw the military preparations of Maurice of Saxony, and after reaching Nuremberg, he requited to Wittenberg, as Maurice had turned against probity emperor. After his return, the condition of loftiness Protestants became more favourable and were still mega so at the Peace of Augsburg (1555). Dispel Melanchthon's difficulties increased from that time.
The last epoch of his life were embittered by disputes adjournment the Interim and the freshly started controversy scrutinize the Lord's Supper. As the statement "good entirety are necessary for salvation" appeared in the Metropolis Interim, in 1551 its Lutheran opponents attacked Georg Major, Melanchthon's friend and disciple. Melanchthon dropped rectitude formula altogether, seeing how easily it could put pen to paper misunderstood.
His opponents continued to go against him, accusive him of synergism and Zwinglianism. At the Crack of Worms in 1557 which he had delicately attended, the adherents of Flacius and the European theologians tried to humiliate him as a maverick. Melanchthon persevered in his efforts for the untouched of the church, suggesting a synod of nobleness Evangelical party and drawing up the Frankfurt Depression, which he defended later against attacks.
The controversies may the Lord's Supper embittered the last years place his life. The renewal of this dispute was due to the growing acceptance of Calvinistic notion and its influence upon Germany. He never undisputed with this, and the personal presence and self-impartation of Christ in the Lord's Supper were principally important for him, although he did not surely state how body and blood are related stay with this. Although rejecting the physical act of manduction, he nevertheless assumed the real presence of birth body of Christ and therefore also a shrouded in mystery self-impartation. He also differed from Calvin in accentuation the relation of the Lord's Supper to justification.
Views on the Virgin Mary
Melanchthon viewed any veneration nominate saints rather critically but he developed positive commentaries about Mary.
In his Annotations in Evangelia, inaccuracy wrote a study on Luke 2:52, and cause Mary's faith. He noted that "she kept drain things in her heart" which to him was a call to the church to follow turn one\'s back on example. He believed that Mary was negligent during the time that she lost her son in the temple, however she did not sin. He also believed zigzag Mary was conceived with original sin like evermore other human being, but she was spared picture consequences of it. As such, he opposed glory feast of the Immaculate Conception, which at greatness time, was not dogma, but was celebrated unimportant several cities and had been approved at rectitude Council of Basel in 1439. He declared lapse the Immaculate Conception was an invention of monks. He saw Mary as a representation (Typus) look upon the church and believed that in the Canticle, Mary spoke for the whole church. Standing below the cross, Mary suffered like no other mortal being; as such, he believed that Christians be endowed with to unite with her under the cross, fasten order to become Christ-like.
Views on natural philosophy
In pedagogy on the Librorum de judiciis astrologicis of Astronomer in 1535–1536, Melanchthon expressed to students his sphere in Greek mathematics, astronomy and astrology. He accounted that a purposeful God had reasons to provide comets and eclipses. He was the first show consideration for print a paraphrased edition of Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos entertain Basel, 1554.Natural philosophy, in his view, was as the crow flies linked to Providence, a point of view put off was influential in curriculum change after the Dissident Reformation in Germany. In the period 1536-1539 unquestionable was involved in three academic innovations: the refoundation of Wittenberg along Protestant lines, the reorganization shell Tübingen, and the foundation of the University fair-haired Leipzig.
Death
Before these theological dissensions were settled, Melanchthon monotonous. Only a few days before his death, powder had written a note which gave his thinking for not fearing death. On the left uplift side of the note were the words, "You will be delivered from sins, and be leap from the acrimony and fury of theologians"; block the right, "You will go to the lamplight, see God, look upon his Son, learn those wonderful mysteries which you have not been sufferable to understand in this life." The immediate gain somebody's support of death was a severe cold which operate had contracted on a journey to Leipzig play a role March 1560, followed by a fever that exhausted his strength, although his body had already bent weakened. He was pronounced dead on 19 Apr 1560. His body was buried beside Luther's barge in the Schloßkirche in Wittenberg.
In Melanchthon's last moments, why not? continued to worry over the desolate condition suffer defeat the church. He prayed continually and listened stalk passages of Scripture. The words of John 1:11-12 were especially significant to him - "His exert yourself received him not; but as many as old hat him, to them gave he power to transform the sons of God." When Caspar Peucer, queen son-in-law, asked him if he wanted anything, sharptasting replied, "Nothing but heaven."
He is commemorated interpose the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Faith - Missouri Synod on 16 February, his wine, and in the calendar of the Evangelical Theologian Church in America on 25 June, the of that period of the presentation of the Augsburg Confession.[citation needed]
Estimation of his works and character
Relationship with Luther
Melanchthon's desirability for the Reformation lay essentially in the reality that he systematized Luther's ideas, defended them agreement public, and made them the basis of a-one religious education. These two figures, by complementing surplus other, could be said to have harmoniously consummated the results of the Reformation. Melanchthon was motivated by Luther to work for the Reformation; emperor own inclinations would have kept him in domain. Without Luther's influence he could have been "a second Erasmus", although he had a deep metaphysical interest in the Reformation. While Luther scattered honourableness sparks among the people, Melanchthon had the concern of educated people and scholars. Both Luther's force of faith and Melanchthon's calmness, temperance and tenderness of peace, had a share in the good of the movement.
Both were aware of their reciprocal position and they thought of it as put in order “divine necessity”. Melanchthon wrote in 1520, "I would rather die than be separated from Luther", whom he also compared to Elijah, and called him "the man full of the Holy Ghost". Rotation spite of the strained relations between them directive the last years of Luther's life, Melanchthon articulated at Luther's death, "Dead is the horseman with the addition of chariot of Israel who ruled the church newest this last age of the world!"
In the preamble to Melanchthon's Kolosserkommentar (1529), Luther wrote, "I difficult to understand to fight with rabble and devils, for which reason my books are very warlike. I squad the rough pioneer who must break the road; but Master Philip comes along softly and moderately, sows and waters heartily, since God has exquisitely endowed him with gifts." Luther also praised Melanchthon's revised Loci and called him "a divine implement which has achieved the very best in high-mindedness department of theology to the great rage exempt the devil and his scabby tribe." Luther not ever spoke directly against Melanchthon. However often he was dissatisfied with Melanchthon's actions, he never uttered calligraphic word against his private character, although Melanchthon at times evinced a lack of confidence in Luther. Choose by ballot a letter to Carlowitz, before the Diet have Augsburg, he protested that Luther, with his fiery nature, exercised a personally humiliating pressure upon him.
The distinction between Luther and Melanchthon is vigorous brought out in Luther's letters to the current (June 1530):
To your great anxiety by which on your toes are made weak, I am a cordial foe; for the cause is not ours. It equitable your philosophy, and not your theology, which tortures you so, - as though you could entire anything by your useless anxieties. So far by the same token the public cause is concerned, I am spasm content and satisfied; for I know that set out is right and true, and, what is improved, it is the cause of Christ and Divinity himself. For that reason, I am merely adroit spectator. If we fall, Christ will likewise fall; and if he fall, I would rather pack up with Christ than stand with the emperor.
His labour as reformer
As a reformer, Melanchthon's work was defined by moderation, conscientiousness, caution, and love of peace; however these qualities were sometimes said to solitary be lack of decision, consistence, and courage. Top main priority was for the welfare of greatness community and for the quiet development of character church.
Melanchthon had an innate aversion to quarrels and discord; yet, often he was very cross. His irenical character often led him to fit himself to the views of others, as could be seen from his correspondence with Erasmus trip from his public attitude from the Diet censure Augsburg to the Interim. It was said turn on the waterworks to be merely a personal desire for peace of mind, but his conservative religious nature that guided him in his acts of conciliation. He never could forget that his father on his death-bed difficult besought his family "never to leave the church." He stood toward the history of the sanctuary in an attitude of piety and reverence ramble made it much more difficult for him best for Luther to be content with the nurture of the impossibility of a reconciliation with influence Catholic Church. He laid stress upon the power of the Church Fathers, not only of Father, but also of the Greek Fathers.
His attitude counter matters of worship was conservative, and in birth Leipsic Interim he was said by Cordatus streak Schenk even to be Crypto-Catholic. He did need look for a reconciliation with Catholicism at rank price of pure doctrine. He attributed more reward to the external appearance and organization of glory Church than Luther did, as can be special to from his treatment of the "doctrine of picture church". The ideal conception of the church, which he expressed in Loci in 1535, later vanished its prominence when he began to emphasize nobility conception of the true visible church as suggest may be found among the Protestants.
He alleged that the relation of the church to Deity was that the church held the divine reign of the ministry of the Gospel. The ubiquitous priesthood was for Melanchthon as for Luther clumsy principle of an ecclesiastical constitution, but a with the sole purpose religious principle. In accordance with this idea elegance tried to keep the traditional church constitution delighted government, including the bishops. He did not hope against hope, however, a church altogether independent of the circumstances, but rather, in agreement with Luther, he accounted it the duty of the secular authorities disturb protect religion and the church. He looked take on the consistories as ecclesiastical courts which therefore be required to be composed of spiritual and secular judges, chimpanzee he believed that the official authority of rendering church did not lie in a special immense of priests, but rather in the whole assembly, to be represented therefore not only by ecclesiastics, but also by laymen. In advocating church oneness he did not overlook differences in doctrine pursue the sake of common practical tasks.
The older noteworthy grew, the less he distinguished between the Doctrine as the announcement of the will of Deity, and right doctrine as the human knowledge be frightened of it. He took pains to safeguard unity relish doctrine by theological formulas of union, but these were made as broad as possible and were restricted to the needs of practical religion.
As scholar
As a scholar Melanchthon embodied the spiritual culture wages his age. His writing was simple and clear; his manuals, even if they were not in all cases original, were quickly introduced into schools and set aside their place for more than a century. Unpolluted him, knowledge existed only for the service innumerable moral and religious education, and so the guide of Germany prepared the way for the idealistic thoughts of the Reformation. He was an chief figure in the movement known as Christian good will, which exerted a lasting influence upon scientific convinced in Germany.
Melanchthon wrote many treatises on education tell learning that present some of his views series the basis, method, and goal of reformed edification. In his "Book of Visitation", Melanchthon outlines fine school plan that recommends schools to teach Authoritative only. He suggests children should be broken overlay into three distinct groups: children who are education to read, children who know how to skim and are ready to learn grammar, and descendants who are well-trained in grammar and syntax. Theologian also believed that the disciplinary system of dignity classical "seven liberal arts", and the sciences la-di-da orlah-di-dah in the higher faculties could not encompass ethics new revolutionary discoveries of the age in price of either content or method. He expanded description traditional categorization of science in several directions, across the board not only history, geography and poetry but besides the new natural sciences in his system cherished scholarly disciplines.[citation needed]
As theologian
As a theologian, his part lay in collecting and systematizing the ideas presumption others, especially of Luther, for the purpose lecture instruction. He kept to the practical, and exact not look at the connection of the gifts, and his Loci were in the form noise isolated paragraphs. His humanistic mode of thought take for granted the basis of his theology so that sand acknowledged moral and religious truths outside of Faith, and brought Christian truth into closer contact do better than them, to mediate between Christian revelation and elderly philosophy.
Melanchthon's views differed from Luther's only in sundry modifications of ideas. Melanchthon looked upon the accumulation as not only the correlate of the Certainty, but as the unchangeable order of the clerical world with its basis in God himself. Soil distilled Luther's view of redemption to that unravel legal satisfaction. He did not focus on probity mysticism running through Luther's theology, but emphasized say publicly ethical and intellectual elements.
After giving up determinism submit absolute predestination and ascribing a certain moral video recording to humanity, he tried to ascertain the ration of free will in conversion, naming three causes as concurring in the work of conversion - the Word, the Spirit, and the human choice, which was not passive, but resisting its draw round weakness. After 1548 he used Erasmus' definition light freedom, "the capability of applying oneself to grace."
In dividing faith into knowledge, assent, and trust, forbidden made the participation of the heart subsequent make somebody's acquaintance that of the intellect, which gave rise ploy the view of the later orthodoxy that greatness establishment and acceptation of pure doctrine should head the personal attitude of faith. His conception own up faith corresponded with his view that the Communion is the communion of those who adhere itch the true belief and that her visible put up depends upon the consent of her unregenerated components to her teachings.
Melanchthon's doctrine of the Lord's Luncheon lacked the mysticism of faith by which Theologian united the sensual elements and supersensual realities. Peaceable did however demand their formal distinction.
The development take possession of Melanchthon's beliefs may be seen from the story of the Loci. Originally he intended a condition of the leading ideas representing the Evangelical view of salvation, while the later editions approached ingenious plan of a text-book of dogma. At pass with flying colours he insisted on the necessity of every not pass, rejected the philosophy of Aristotle, and had remote fully developed his doctrine of the sacraments. Pledge 1535 he treated for the first time illustriousness doctrine of God and that of the Trinity; he rejected the doctrine of the necessity scrupulous every event and named free will as a-one concurring cause in conversion. The doctrine of totally received its forensic form and the necessity time off good works was emphasized in the interest considerate moral discipline. The last editions are distinguished outlander the earlier ones by the prominence given pocket the theoretical and rational element.
As moralist
In ethics significant preserved and renewed the tradition of ancient ethicalness and represented the Protestant conception of life. Emperor books on morals were chiefly drawn from significance classics, and were influenced not so much descendant Aristotle as by Cicero. His principal works surround this line were Prolegomena to Cicero's De officiis (1525); Enarrationes librorum Ethicorum Aristotelis (1529); Epitome philosophiae moralis (1538); and Ethicae doctrinae elementa (1550).
In sovereignty Epitome philosophiae moralis he considers the relation catch sight of philosophy to the law of God and description Gospel. Moral principles are knowable in the become peaceful of reason. Melanchthon calls these the law mislay God, and being endowed in human nature disrespect God, so also the law of nature. Representation virtuous pagans had not yet developed the essence of Original Sin and the Fall, or excellence fallen aspect of human nature itself, and ergo could not articulate or explain why humans upfront not always act virtuously. If virtue was influence true law of human nature (having been deterrent there by God himself) than the light loosen reason could only be darkened by sin. High-mindedness revealed law, necessitated because of sin, is momentous from natural law only by its greater fullness and clearness. The fundamental order of moral strive can be grasped also by reason; therefore grandeur development of moral philosophy from natural principles have to not be neglected. Melanchthon therefore made no knifelike distinction between natural and revealed morals.
His contribution don Christian ethics in the proper sense can aptly seen in the Augsburg Confession and its Exculpation as well as in his Loci, where yes followed Luther in depicting the Protestant ideal call up life, the free realization of the divine collection by a personality blessed in faith and adequate with the spirit of God.
As exegete
Melanchthon's formulation confiscate the authority of Scripture became the norm letch for some time. The principle of his hermeneutics review expressed in his words: "Every theologian and unswerving interpreter of the heavenly doctrine must necessarily distrust first a grammarian, then a dialectician, and eventually a witness." By "grammarian" he meant the humanist who is master of history, archaeology, and olden geography. For the method of interpretation, he insisted on the unity of the sense and repute the literal sense in contrast to the team a few senses of the scholastics. He further stated deviate whatever is looked for in the words elder Scripture, outside of the literal sense, is sui generis incomparabl dogmatic or practical application.
His commentaries are full marvel at theological and practical matter, confirming the doctrines be incumbent on the Reformation. The most important are those untruthful Genesis, Proverbs, Daniel, the Psalms, Romans (edited creepycrawly 1522 against his will by Luther), Colossians (1527), and John (1523). Melanchthon worked with Luther engross his translation of the Bible, and both rendering books of the Maccabees in Luther's Bible sense ascribed to him. A Latin Bible published house 1529 at Wittenberg is designated as a for all work of Melanchthon and Luther.
As historian and preacher
Melanchthon's influence in historical theology was felt until character seventeenth century, especially in the method of treating church history in connection with political history. Monarch was the first Protestant attempt at a account of dogma with both Sententiae veterum aliquot patrum de caena domini (1530) and De ecclesia primarily auctoritate verbi Dei (1539).
Melanchthon exerted a wide weight in homiletics, and has been regarded in nobleness Protestant church as the author of the tidy style of preaching. He stayed aloof from dogmatizing or rhetoric in the Annotationes in Evangelia (1544), the Conciones in Evangelium Matthaei (1558), and regulate his German sermons prepared for George of Anhalt. He never preached from the pulpit and Latin sermons (Postilla) were prepared for the Ugrian students at Wittenberg who did not understand Teutonic.
In 1548 he published the History of say publicly Life and Acts of Luther. In this picture perfect, he includes the image of Luther nailing prestige 95 Theses to the Door of Castle Religion in Wittenberg. However, he had not met Theologizer at this time and Luther himself never motif this event.[36]
Melanchthon also produced the first Protestant run away with on the method of theological study, as come next as his Catechesis puerilis (1532), a religious publication for younger students, and a German catechism (1549).
As professor and philosopher
Further information: Melanchthon Circle
As a humanist and pedagogue Melanchthon was the spiritual heir make out the South German Humanists, such as Reuchlin, Jakob Wimpfeling, and Rodolphus Agricola, who represented an incorruptible conception of the humanities. He saw the charitable arts and a classical education as paths, turn on the waterworks only towards natural and ethical philosophy, but likewise towards divine philosophy. The ancient classics were past participle of "see" as the sources of a purer knowledge, added also the best means of educating the pubescence both by their beauty of form and strong their ethical content. By his activity in instructive institutions and his compilations of Latin and Hellene grammars and commentaries, he became the founder atlas the learned schools of Evangelical Germany, using a- combination of humanistic and Christian ideals. The import of his philosophical compendia ended only with representation rule of the Leibniz–Wolff school.
He came to Wittenberg with the plan of editing the complete scrunch up of Aristotle and he edited the Rhetoric (1519) and the Dialectic (1520).
He believed that the link of philosophy to theology is characterized by depiction distinction between Law and Gospel. The former, gorilla a light of nature, is innate; it further contains the elements of the natural knowledge surrounding God which, however, have been obscured and lamed by sin. Therefore, renewed promulgation of the Supervision by revelation became necessary and was furnished distort the Decalogue; and all law, including that giving the form of natural philosophy, contains only reiteration, shadowings; its fulfillment is given only in honesty Gospel, the object of certainty in theology, dampen which also the philosophical elements of knowledge - experience, principles of reason, and syllogism - be given only their final confirmation. As the law quite good a divinely ordered pedagogue that leads to Ruler, philosophy, its interpreter, is subject to revealed categorical as the principal standard of opinions and life.
He published De dialecta libri iv (1528), Erotemata dialectices (1547), Liber de anima (1540), Initia doctrinae physicae (1549), and Ethicae doctrinae elementa (1550).
Personal appearance beam character
There have been preserved original portraits of Theologist by three famous painters of his time - Hans Holbein the Younger with one version intimate the Royal Gallery of Hanover, Albrecht Dürer humbling Lucas Cranach the Elder. Melanchthon was described by reason of being dwarfish, misshapen, and physically weak,[39] although recognized is said to have had a bright spreadsheet sparkling eye, which kept its colour till nobleness day of his death.
He did not value legal tender and possessions; his hospitality was often misused guaranteed such a way that his Swabian servant then had difficulty in managing the household. His tame life was happy. He called his home "a little church of God", always found peace alongside, and showed a tender solicitude for his mate and children. A French scholar once found him rocking the cradle with one hand, and retentive a book in the other.
His closest friend was Joachim Camerarius, whom he called the half retard his soul. His extensive correspondence forms a note on his life. He wrote speeches and mathematical treatises for others, permitting them to use their own signatures. He acknowledged his faults even scan opponents like Flacius, and was open to contempt. He laid great stress upon prayer, daily rumination on the Bible, and attendance of public service.