The Reform Branch of the Reformation

A. ZWINGLI’S BASIC DOCTRINAL POSITIONS

ZWINGLI
- Gained great influence over the city government of Zurich.
- Winner of two public debates against Roman Catholic.
- City council helped him in his reformation.
DOCTRINAL POSITIONS
1. Salvation is by faith.
2. All believers are priest.
3. The unmarried priesthood must be ended.
EARLY FOLLOWERS
1. Conrad Grebel
2. Felix Manz- sentenced death by drowning.

B. CALVINISTIC REFORM IN GENEVA

JOHN CALVIN
- One of the two better known men of reformation.
- Came from Roman Catholic.
- Born in France.
- Studied law in University of Paris.
- After his father died he left the practice of law for a career of writing.
CALVIN BECOMES A REFORMER
Jacques Lefevre- presented evangelical ideas in commentary he wrote on Paul’s New Testament letters.
- translated the new testament into French.
Some influences of Calvin to become a reformer;
1. His Father and brother were excommunicated by the Roman Catholic Church.
2. His cousin, Robert Olivetan, was already an active reformer.
3. His university studies gave him contact with humanistic teachings.
- Calvin resigned his benefits from Roman Catholic Church.
- He was put in prison for a short time. His imprisonment gives us the first indication that he had
decided to join evangelical movement to reform.

C. CALVIN’S REFORMATION EFFORTS IN GENEVA

FIRST EFFORTS RESULT IN TEMPORARY FAILURE
- As Calvin continued to move about in order to scape persecution, he made a trip to Geneva, he
made a trip through Geneva, Switzerland.
William Farel- an evangelical leader in the city, convinced Calvin to stay and work with him to make
Geneva an evangelical city.
 Calvin presented a plan for reform to the Little Council of Geneva which ruled the city.
- The plan called for all citizens in the city to agree completely with evangelical doctrines.
- After one year Calvin and Farel banished from Geneva.
” So be it. It is better to serve God than man. If we had been serving men we should have been
poorly rewarded, but we serve a great Lord who will reward us.” –Calvin (Newman, 213)
 Calvin wrote an excellent paper during his banishment, Reply to Sodoleto to help the city of
Geneva reply to cardinal Sadoleto’s appeal for the city to return to the Catholic.
 CALVIN’S SECOND EFFORT BRINGS THE REFORMED CHURCH TO GENEVA

 When Cardinal Sadoleto appealed to the city to return to Roman Catholic belief, the city leaders
knew no one able to answer the cardinal. They sent Cardinal Sadoleto’s appeal to Calvin.
 The people of Geneva request Calvin to return. Calvin agreed to return on condition that he
would be allowed to carry his reformation.
 The committee from the Little Council helped Calvin to prepare his Church Ordinances
regarding pastors, teachers, elders and deacons.
 The most unusual feature in his ordinance the office of the elder or presbyter.
 The idea of presbyters that rule conflicts with thw biblical office of presbyter who was to preach
is from this office refined by Calvin that the Presbyterian Church gets its name.
 Calvin seems to have desired that the Church carry out her own discipline apart from the state
authorities.
 Calvin ruled the Geneva with the little opposition.

D. THE SPREAD OF CALVINISM

- In Geneva Calvin had set up a school for training preachers. The men trained very well in his school,
proved to be very influential helping the spread of Calvinism throughout the areas where Zwingli had
influence for reform until his death.
- Calvin-trained-preachers help found the Reform Churches of Switzerland.
- many Calvinistic-trained French pastor returned to their homeland to preach and found churches.