Church History 5_21_2025
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class explored the Reformation, beginning with Desiderius Erasmus and his groundbreaking Greek New Testament, which gave reformers direct access to the original Koine text and highlighted discrepancies with the Latin Vulgate. The teacher explained how Erasmus’s work influenced key figures such as Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin, setting the stage for a deeper critique of Catholic doctrine. The discussion then focused on Martin Luther’s life, his monastic zeal, his personal crisis over the Lord’s Supper, and his discovery of Paul’s writings that awakened him to the doctrine of grace. Luther’s exposure to the corrupt sale of indulgences—particularly the scheme involving Prince Albert, Pope Leo X, and the financing of St. Peter’s Basilica—led him to draft and nail the 95 Theses in 1517. The class highlighted Luther’s emphasis on repentance, the insufficiency of purchased forgiveness, and the resulting rapid spread of his protest across Germany. The lesson concluded by linking the Reformation’s return to Scripture with today’s call to uphold biblical truth and grace in the life of the church.