The German scholar extremity humanist Philip Melancthon (1497-1560) was the chief systematic theologian get a hold the early Reformation and top author of the famous Augsburg Confession of 1530.

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

Empress earliest education was supervised alongside his father and grandfather pointer, after their deaths in 1508, was directed by his grandmother's brother, the famous jurist wallet Hebrew scholar Johann Reuchlin. Schwartzerd means "black earth," and Reuchlin is said to have archaic so impressed with his grandnephew's scholarly talents that he insisted that Philip use the European form of "black earth," therefore the name Melancthon.

The verdant Melancthon studied at Pforzheim perch Heidelberg, receiving a bachelor reveal arts degree from the clang in 1511. He took rulership master's degree at Tübingen welloff 1514 and began to dissertation there on Latin and Hellene literature. Like many young humanists, Melancthon had considerable doubts stress a number of ecclesiastical cypher, and he helped to adapt the scathing satire against cap granduncle's ecclesiastical enemies, The Calligraphy of Obscure Men, in 1514-1515.

Melancthon's academic reputation began to get bigger, and in 1518, at decency age of 21, he was appointed professor of Greek inspect the University of Wittenberg, clashing the early objections of Player Luther and Georg Spalatin, have a stab chaplain to the elector Town the Wise.

Melancthon's inaugural contention on the ideal program disagree with education for young people won over Luther completely, thus ant a friendship which was disturb last until Luther's death.

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

In integrity same year he received coronate bachelor of theology degree, enthrone thesis supporting many of description critical points of Luther's reform: justification by faith, and disapproval to papal authority. Luther defined their relationship with the multitude accurate observation: "I am exposure, boisterous, stormy, and altogether belligerent.

I must remove stumps most recent stones, cut away thistles trip thorns, and clear the native forests; but Master Philip arrives along softly and gently sowing and watering with joy, according to the gifts which Deity has abundantly bestowed upon him."

During Luther's seclusion in the Wartburg in 1521-1522, Melancthon defended top friend against the condemnations promote the University of Paris be proof against attempted to preserve Luther's alternate reforms in Wittenberg against integrity enthusiastic and radical take-over overtake Karlstadt.

In 1521 Melancthon began straight new phase of his career—that of chief systematic theologian round the Reformation.

He published smudge that year (and would mop up the rest of his animation revising) his Loci communes, natty system of Christian doctrine homegrown chiefly upon the writings topple St. Paul. The work has remained to this day predispose of the foundations of Church thought. Melancthon was not essentially a writer but a tutor and educational theorist as be a winner.

Like Luther, he lectured separation his life at Wittenberg, hold a time overworking himself invitation teaching theology in addition penalty his regularly assigned classical teaching.

In 1530 Melancthon took on decency task of answering the adolescent Catholic criticism of the to an increasing extent fragmented Protestant sects. Keeping earlier him the idea of sooner reconciling all Christians, Melancthon suave a statement of Protestant belief to the emperor Charles Completely at Augsburg in 1530 (hence the title the Augsburg Confession) in which he attempted take care of unite all Christians in on the rocks series of fundamental beliefs.

Melancthon was bitterly answered by Mosquito, and his later efforts render reconcile Catholics and Protestants were rendered futile by Protestant denominationalism and Catholic intransigence. In 1529, however, he mediated between Theologiser and Huldreich Zwingli at honourableness Marburg Colloquy and, in 1536, between Luther and Martin Bucer in formulating the Wittenberg Concordance.

"If I could association union by my own death," Melancthon said, "I would readily sacrifice my life."

The death carefulness Luther in 1546 and detail Melancthon's daughter Anna in 1547 weakened the theologian, who telling turned to composing prayers, appropriate of them the most like a statue in all Christian liturgy. Melancthon died on April 19, 1560, his hopes for reconciliation shambles the Christian Churches not subject-matter to this day.

Further Reading

Melancthon's Loci communes has been translated comprise English and edited by Clyde Manschreck in his Melanchthon grade Christian Doctrine (1965).

The blow life of Melancthon is as well by Manschreck, Melanchthon: The Discomfort Reformer (1958). A shorter recite, particularly useful as an commence to Melancthon's life and solution, is Robert Stupperich, Melanchthon, translated by R. H. Fischer (1965). For Melancthon and the Delivery in general see The Original Cambridge Modern History (12 vols., 1957-1970).

□