Reformation Thought - An Introduction

Reformation Thought
 
Praise for previous editions:
 
"Theologically informed, lucid, supremely accessible: no wonder McGrath's introduction to the Reformation has staying power!"
 
--Denis R. Janz, Loyola University
 
"Vigorous, brisk, and highly stimulating. The reader will be thoroughly engaged from the outset, and considerably enlightened at the end."
 
--Dr. John Platt, Oxford University
 
"[McGrath] is one of the best scholars and teachers of the Reformation... Teachers will rejoice in this wonderfully useful book."
 
--Teaching History
 
Reformation Thought: An Introduction is a clear, engaging, and accessible introduction to the European Reformation of the sixteenth century. Written for readers with little to no knowledge of Christian theology or history, this indispensable guide surveys the ideas of the prominent thought leaders of the period, as well as its many movements, including Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anabaptism, and the Catholic and English Reformations. The text offers readers a framework to interpret the events of the Reformation in full view of the intellectual landscape and socio-political issues that fueled its development.
 
Based on Alister McGrath's acclaimed lecture course at Oxford University, the fully updated fifth edition incorporates the latest academic research in historical theology. Revised and expanded chapters describe the cultural backdrop of the Reformation, discuss the Reformation's background in late Renaissance humanism and medieval scholasticism, and distill the findings of recent scholarship, including work on the history of the Christian doctrine of justification. A wealth of pedagogical features--including illustrations, updated bibliographies, a glossary, a chronology of political and historical ideas, and several appendices--supplement McGrath's clear explanations.
 
Written by a world-renowned theologian, Reformation Thought: An Introduction, Fifth Edition upholds its reputation as the ideal resource for university and seminary courses on Reformation thought and the widespread change it inspired in Christian belief and practice.

List of contents

Preface to the Fifth Edition x
 
How to Use This Book xiii
 
1 Introducing the Age of Reformation 1
 
The Concept of "Reformation" 2
 
The Lutheran Reformation 4
 
The Reformed Church 5
 
The Radical Reformation (Anabaptism) 7
 
The Catholic Reformation 9
 
The English Reformation 10
 
The Call for Reform 12
 
The Growth of Anti-Clericalism 12
 
The Need for Doctrinal Reform 14
 
A Failed Attempt to Reform: Conciliarism 16
 
The Growth of Regional and National Power 16
 
The Religious Agendas of the Reformers 17
 
For Further Reading 19
 
Part One: The Context of the Thought of the Reformation 21
 
2 A Changing World: The Cultural Backdrop to the Reformation 23
 
The Rise of the Individual: The Demand for Personal Relevance 24
 
Alternative Theologies: Folk Religion and Magic 26
 
Religious Democratization: The Use of the Vernacular 28
 
The Importance of Printing 30
 
The Urban Context of the Reformation 32
 
Sacralizing the Secular: Christianity as a World-Engaging Faith 36
 
Doctrinal Confusion: A Crisis of Authority Within the Church 38
 
Receptivity Toward the Reformation: The Case of Lollardy 40
 
For Further Reading 41
 
3 Renaissance Humanism and the Reformation 43
 
The Concept of "Renaissance" 44
 
The Concept of "Humanism" 45
 
Classical Scholarship and Philology 46
 
The New Philosophy of the Renaissance? 47
 
Paul Oskar Kristeller's View of Humanism 49
 
Ad fontes: Returning to the Fountainhead 50
 
Northern European Humanism 52
 
The Northern European Reception of the Italian Renaissance 52
 
The Ideals of Northern European Humanism 53
 
Eastern Swiss Humanism 54
 
French Legal Humanism 55
 
Erasmus of Rotterdam 56
 
Erasmus' Critique of the Vulgate Text of the New Testament 59
 
Erasmus' Editions of Patristic Texts 61
 
Networks of Influence: Erasmus' Circle 62
 
Humanism and the Reformation: An Evaluation 63
 
Humanism and the Hebrew Bible 64
 
Humanism and the Swiss Reformation 65
 
Humanism and the Wittenberg Reformation 67
 
Tensions Between Reformation and Humanism 68
 
For Further Reading 71
 
4 Scholasticism and the Reformation 74
 
The Characteristics of Scholasticism 75
 
Scholasticism and the Universities 78
 
Types of Scholasticism 79
 
Realism Versus Nominalism 80
 
Intellectualism Versus Voluntarism 81
 
Pelagianism Versus Augustinianism 82
 
The Via Moderna 84
 
The Schola Augustiniana Moderna 86
 
The Impact of Medieval Scholasticism upon the Reformation 88
 
Luther's Relation to Late Medieval Scholasticism 88
 
Calvin's Relation to Late Medieval Scholasticism 89
 
Protestant Scholasticism: Paradox or Inevitability? 91
 
For Further Reading 92
 
5 The Reformers: Seven Biographical Sketches 94
 
Martin Luther (1483-1546) 95
 
Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531) 100
 
William Tyndale (c.1494-1536) 102
 
Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560) 103
 
Martin Bucer (1491-1551) 104
 
Katharina Schütz Zell (c.1497-1562) 106
 
John Calvin (1509-64) 107
 
For Further Reading 110
 
Part Two: The Core Themes of Reformation Thought 113
 
6 The Return to the Bible 115
 
Scripture in the Middle Ages 116
 
Medieval Hermeneutics: The Four Senses of Scripture 118
 
The Vulgate Translation of the Bible 119
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About the author

Alister E. McGrath is Andreas¿Idreos¿Professor of Science and Religion, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Oxford, UK. He is an acclaimed scholar, theologian, intellectual historian, lecturer, and author. He has written several bestselling books, and a number of popular textbooks on theology, including The Intellectual Origins of the European Reformation and Luther's Theology of the Cross. 

Summary

Reformation Thought

Praise for previous editions:

"Theologically informed, lucid, supremely accessible: no wonder McGrath's introduction to the Reformation has staying power!"

--Denis R. Janz, Loyola University

"Vigorous, brisk, and highly stimulating. The reader will be thoroughly engaged from the outset, and considerably enlightened at the end."

--Dr. John Platt, Oxford University

"[McGrath] is one of the best scholars and teachers of the Reformation... Teachers will rejoice in this wonderfully useful book."

--Teaching History

Reformation Thought: An Introduction is a clear, engaging, and accessible introduction to the European Reformation of the sixteenth century. Written for readers with little to no knowledge of Christian theology or history, this indispensable guide surveys the ideas of the prominent thought leaders of the period, as well as its many movements, including Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anabaptism, and the Catholic and English Reformations. The text offers readers a framework to interpret the events of the Reformation in full view of the intellectual landscape and socio-political issues that fueled its development.

Based on Alister McGrath's acclaimed lecture course at Oxford University, the fully updated fifth edition incorporates the latest academic research in historical theology. Revised and expanded chapters describe the cultural backdrop of the Reformation, discuss the Reformation's background in late Renaissance humanism and medieval scholasticism, and distill the findings of recent scholarship, including work on the history of the Christian doctrine of justification. A wealth of pedagogical features--including illustrations, updated bibliographies, a glossary, a chronology of political and historical ideas, and several appendices--supplement McGrath's clear explanations.

Written by a world-renowned theologian, Reformation Thought: An Introduction, Fifth Edition upholds its reputation as the ideal resource for university and seminary courses on Reformation thought and the widespread change it inspired in Christian belief and practice.

Product details

• Authors: Ae Mcgrath, Alister E McGrath, Alister E. McGrath, Alister E. (University of Oxford) Mcgrath
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.05.2021
• EAN: 9781119756583
• ISBN: 978-1-119-75658-3
• No. of pages: 352
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology; Theologie, Geschichte, Religionsgeschichte, Reformation, History, Theology, History of Religion, Religion & Theology, Religion u. Theologie, Reformation & Renaissance Religious History, Religionsgeschichte der Reformation u. Renaissance