The Concept of the Reformation: A 16th Century Movement
What was the reformation?
A sixteenth century movement from which the protestant churches originated. The Reformation is one of the most profound processes of change in Europe of the sixteenth century. Intense criticism of the Church of Rome led by the pope resulted in various reformational currents and the formation of several Protestant church reformations. The critical views of the religious sphere deeply impacted the spiritual, social, and cultural terrain, as well as upon the political sphere.
The concept of the reformation
The concept of reformation, from the Latin reformatio for improvement, had at the beginning of the century a more general sense and was employed not only in the ecclesiastical sphere, but also in the legal and political spheres as well. The term indicated the need to return to the ideal past. What refers to the Reformation and the churches of the Reformation today or as the reformation in a particular city or region, was not the usual meaning at the time. Luther did not have in view the existence of an autonomous church alongside of the existing church. He desired the renewal of the church. He sought for good pastoral care, formulated the necessity for a better theology and expressed a desire for biblical piety. He rarely used the term reformation. When he used the term, it was in the sense of a comprehensive renewal of the church. In 1529, his followers were called Protestants and from 1530 onward as followers of the Augsburg Confession. It was only in 1580 that the Lutheran churches and traditions described themselves as going in a separate Protestant direction, that the followers of Luther came to the specific use of the term reformation in the sense that we know it today.
The Reformation was not a coherent movement under the leadership of one head with a uniform program. However, it had many reformational protests that were common landmarks. The Bible was recognized as the basis of faith and the authority of the pope was rejected.
A sixteenth century movement from which the protestant churches originated. The Reformation is one of the most profound processes of change in Europe of the sixteenth century. Intense criticism of the Church of Rome led by the pope resulted in various reformational currents and the formation of several Protestant church reformations. The critical views of the religious sphere deeply impacted the spiritual, social, and cultural terrain, as well as upon the political sphere.
The concept of the reformation
The concept of reformation, from the Latin reformatio for improvement, had at the beginning of the century a more general sense and was employed not only in the ecclesiastical sphere, but also in the legal and political spheres as well. The term indicated the need to return to the ideal past. What refers to the Reformation and the churches of the Reformation today or as the reformation in a particular city or region, was not the usual meaning at the time. Luther did not have in view the existence of an autonomous church alongside of the existing church. He desired the renewal of the church. He sought for good pastoral care, formulated the necessity for a better theology and expressed a desire for biblical piety. He rarely used the term reformation. When he used the term, it was in the sense of a comprehensive renewal of the church. In 1529, his followers were called Protestants and from 1530 onward as followers of the Augsburg Confession. It was only in 1580 that the Lutheran churches and traditions described themselves as going in a separate Protestant direction, that the followers of Luther came to the specific use of the term reformation in the sense that we know it today.
The Reformation was not a coherent movement under the leadership of one head with a uniform program. However, it had many reformational protests that were common landmarks. The Bible was recognized as the basis of faith and the authority of the pope was rejected.