Jesus In Every Age

 

Session Four: Christ Present in Faith.

Jesus in the Reformation Era

Humanism and JesusThe Renaissance was a great scholarly revival Fresh readings of ancient texts in the

original language (ad fontes) Practical: how should we live, order

society Critical of established institutions Dignity of the individual

Christ widely discussed as teacher and exemplar: “the universal man” Scholarly attention to New Testament:

Erasmus’ Novum Instrumentum (1516)

“Don’t look upon Christ as a mere word, as an empty expression, but rather as charity, simplicity, patience and purity—in short, in terms of everything he has taught us.” Erasmus, Enchiridion militis Christi

Christ in Renaissance Art The Renaissance brought a great revival

in visual art, reflected new ideas in portrayal of Christ Biblical scenes in contemporary contexts:

call to imitation Some artists rely on classical models—

better use of perspective, greater realism Some try to put Christ back in his context

—more Jewish, Eastern Some artists show influence of new trends

in mysticism

Luther: Solus ChristusMartin Luther began the Reformation with an attack on the sale of indulgences in 1517Claimed that the Catholic

hierarchy was teaching a false Gospel

Luther stressed Pauline doctrine of justification by faith: we are saved by the death of Christ, grace is God’s free gift to those who believe

Focus on the crucified Christ—takes our sin upon him, grants us His righteousness

Lutheran piety strongly Christocentric—Jesus reveals the Father’s heart, we cling to Him by faith

Christ and the Bible RevolutionReformers placed great emphasis on Bible translation and readingScripture as the only source of doctrineThe Gospel as a reality one must wrestle with and understand

for one’s selfRediscovery of Gospel stories with vivid preaching that put one

in the place of the first believersDevotional reading would lead to musical elaboration in the

cantatas and passions of Bach

Cleanser of the TempleCalvin and his followers rejected sacred images as idolatrousGeneral feeling among the

reformers that grandeur was a mask for corruption: call to Gospel simplicity—identified with Christ’s attack on a useless sacrificial system

Churches stripped of ornaments

Christian worship redesigned as sober proclamation of the Word

Art patronage shifts to secular entities—new genres develop

Anabaptists: Disciples of the Prince of Peace

The radical side of the Reformation sought to create communities of fully committed disciplesRadical ethic of Gospel

obedience: banned oaths, war, private property

Separated out from wider society

Widely persecuted: saw this as a testimony to their faithfulness

Developed strong ethic of individual conscience, toleration