The Protestant Reformers

Brian,

As we both know, the Internet is the present-day counterpart to the Gutenburg printing press. As the latter was used so mightily by the Lord to further the Reformation in that 15th and 16th century and beyond, so today the Lord is using the Internet to advance Preterism! Isn't that amazing? This really makes Preterism a grass roots movement, down to the level of the man in the pew and not just confined to ivory tower clergymen or seminary scholars. It is readily apparent that the Holy Spirit was/is at work in using both of these instruments to bring glory to Jesus Christ.

~~Walt

John Wycliffe or Wyclif born c.1330 in Yorkshire, England and died of natural causes on Dec. the 31st 1384 in Oxford, England but in 1415 his body was exhumed and burnt. He studied in Oxford and was a professor, theologian and philosopher at Oxford. He was Catholic (pre-Reformation) and wrote On the Chruch and On the Truth of Sacred Scripture. He translated the Bible into English, rejected many Catholic practices and sent out preachers called Lollards. He posthumously was declared a heretic.

John Hus or John Huss was born in 1373 at Husinec, Czech Republic and was burned at the stake on July the 6th 1415 at Constance, Germany. He studied at Prague and was a priest and professor of philosophy at Prague. He was a Catholic but this was pre-Reformation times. He was influenced by Wycliffe. He emphasized right living over sacraments and opposed veneration of images and indulgences. He became a national hero.

Desiderius Erasmus, Erasmus of Rotterdam or Erasmus Roterodamus was born c. 1469 in Rotterda, Netherlands and died of natural causes in 1536 at Basel, Switzerland. He schooled in Gouda and Deventer and was a humanist scholar. He was Catholic and wrote Praise of Folly, Handbook of the Christian Soldier, Complaint of Peace; On Free Will. He was a moderate reformer that was witty and a satirist. He translated the Latin Bible into Greek

Martin Luther or Martin Luder born 1483 in Eisleben, Germany and died of natual causes on 1546 (same place). He studied at Leipzig and became a professor and Lutheran priest. He wrote the famous 95 Theses, Freedom of a Christian, Bondage of the Will, Smaller and Larger Catechisms. He sparked the Reformation by protesting against indulgences. Taught justification by faith alone and the authority of scripture alone. He also married a former nun.

Ulrich Zwingli or Huldrych Zwingli born Jan. 1, 1484 in Wildhaus, Switzerland and was killed in a battle against Catholic cantons on Oct. the 11th 1531 at Kappel (near Zurich), Switzerland. He studied at Bern, Vienna and Basel. He was a Reformed priest, military chaplain and People's Preacher at Zurich's Old Minister. He wrote On True and False Religion, 67 Conclusions, Concerning Freedom and Choice of Food and The Clarity and Certanity of the Word of God. He introduced the reformation ideas to Zurich and throughout Switzerland. He said nothing should be believed or practiced that is not in the Bible. He also argued with Luther over the Eucharist and persecuted Anabaptists.

Hugh Latimer was born in c. 1485 and was burned at the stake on Oct. the 16th 1555 in Oxford, England. He schooled at Cambridge and became an Anglican Bishop of Worceser. He wrote many sermons the most famous being "Of the Plough". He was imprisoned twice by Henry VIII but was the leading preacher under Edward VI before he was burned at the stake under Mary Tudor.

Thomas Cromwell was born c. 1485 and died July 28, 1540 by being beheaded for treason. He was a member of Parliament and the vicar-general. He was Anglican. He supervised dissolution of monasteries and attempted marriage alliance between Henry VIII and the German Lutherans.

Thomas Cranmer born 1489 in Nottinghamshire, England and died March 21, 1556 in Oxford, England. He was burned at the stake. Schooled in Cambridge and became the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was an Anglican. He wrote the first and second Book of Common Prayer and Thirty-Nine Articles. He played a large role in the English Reformation. He was involved in Henry the VIII's divorce and was burned at the stake under Queen Mary after recanting his recantation.

Martin Bucer or Martin Butzer was born in 1491 and died Feb. 28, 1551 at Cambridge, England of natural causes but his body was exhumed and burnt in 1557. Educated in Heidelberg . He was a former Dominican monk and professor of Divinity at Cambridge. He was Lutheran and known as the peacemaker of the Reformation. He was a humanist and led the Reformation in Strasbourg. He tried to reconcile Lutherans, Reformed and Catholics.

William Tyndale, William Tindale or William Huchyns born c.1494 and was burned at the stake after being strangled on Oct the 6th 1536 at Brussels, Belgium. He studied at Oxford and Cambridge and was an Anglican translator. He wrote the English translation of the NT, Obedience of a Christian Man and the Parable of the Wicked Mammon. He lived in exile on the Continent, where he published the English NT and was executed.

Menno Simons born 1496 and died of natural causes in 1561. He was a parish priest of the Anabaptist (Mennonite) belief. He taught believers' baptism, non-resistance and the symbolic Eucharist. He was the founder of the Mennonites.

Philip Melanchthon or Philip Schwartzerdt ("Black earth") born on 1497 and died of natural causes 1560. Studied at Heidelberg and Tubingen and became a Lutheran professor of Greek at Wittenberg. He wrote Loci Communes. He was Luther's colleague at Wittengurg and attempted reconciliation with Reformed and Catholics. He systematized Luther's theology.

Nicholas Ridley born c. 1500 and was burned at the stake in 1555 with Latimer. He studied at Cambridge and was a chaplain to Cranmer and Henry VIII. He was also the Bishop of London and helped produce the Book of Common Prayer.

Heinrich Bulliner was born July 18,1504 in Bremhstyrn, Switzerland and died Sept. 17, 1575 in Zurich, Switzerland of natural causes. He schooled in Cologne and was a theologian -Reformed. He wrote first and second Helvetic Confessions. He was influenced by Erasmus, Luther and Melanchthon. He succeeded Zwingli at Zurich and opposed presbyterianism.

John Calvin or Jean Cauvin born in 1509 in Noyon, France and died in 1564 at Geneva, Switzerland of natural causes. He studied at Paris and Orleans and was a Reformed professor-minister. He wrote the Institutes of the Christian Religon. He led Geneva and developed the doctrine of sovereignty of God.

John Knox was born c.1514 at Haddington, Scotland and died of natural causes in 1572. He schooled at Glasgow and St. Andrews. He was a priest, notary, private tutor and Reformed preacher. He wrote The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women and the History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland. He went to Geneva in 1553 and was influenced by Calvin. He returned to Scotland in 1559 and led the Scottish Reformation.

Theodore Beza was born in 1519 and died 1605 of natural causes. He was educated in Orleans and his vocation was a professor of Greek at Geneva. He was a minister and a theologian. Reformed. His works were Confession of the Christian Faith and On the Rights of Magistrates. He succeeded Calvin as a religious leader of Geneva. He also hardened Calvin's doctrine of predestination. He discovered the Codex Bezae.

James Arminius or Jacobus Arminus or Jacob Hermansz. He was born in 1560 in Oudewater, Netherlands and died 1609 in Leiden, Netherlands of natural causes. He was educated in Leiden, Basel Geneva. His vocation was professor at Leiden, as a theologian. He was reformed. He rejected Calvinst predestination and laid theological foundation for John Wesley of Methodism. Works: Orations; Declaration of Sentiments; Apology; Disputations.

George Fox was born in 1624 at Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire, England and died of natural causes on Jan. 13th 1691. He was a Quaker shoemaker and wrote a journal. He was the founder of the Society of Friends (Quakers). He emphasized the Inner Light of Christ and Frequent misionary journeys.

Philip Jakob Spener born 1635 in Alsace and died of natural causes in 1705. He studied at Strasbourg and became of preacher and Lutheran pietist. He wrote Pia Desideria and was the founder of Pietism.

John Wesley born June 17, 1703 in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England and died of natural causes on May 2nd 1791 in London England. He studied at Oxford becoming an Anglican minister and founder of Methodism. He wrote A Plain Account of Christian Perfection and Advice to a People Called Methodist. He founded Methodism, adopted the Arminian doctrine of free will and emphasized sanctification.