90 likes | 243 Views
Jesus In Every Age. Session Four: Christ Present in Faith. Jesus in the Reformation Era. Humanism and Jesus. The Renaissance was a great scholarly revival F resh readings of ancient texts in the original language ( ad fontes ) Practical: how should we live, order society
E N D
Session Four: Christ Present in Faith.Jesus in the Reformation Era
Humanism and Jesus The 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’ NovumInstrumentum(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: SolusChristus Martin Luther began the Reformation with an attack on the sale of indulgences in 1517 • Claimed 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 Revolution Reformers placed great emphasis on Bible translation and reading • Scripture as the only source of doctrine • The Gospel as a reality one must wrestle with and understand for one’s self • Rediscovery of Gospel stories with vivid preaching that put one in the place of the first believers • Devotional reading would lead to musical elaboration in the cantatas and passions of Bach
Cleanser of the Temple Calvin and his followers rejected sacred images as idolatrous • General 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 disciples • Radical 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