The Reformed Faith (Calvinism) Outside Switzerland

2002-10-19

I. In France

A. Early Protestant influences in France

There had been an influence of biblical humanism, for example, Jacques Lefevre. Lutheran influence, his writings went far and into other languages.

However, there was no biblical leadership. Francis I had persecuted Protestants.

B. The introduction of Calvin’s idea from Geneva

Calvin was French himself, able to popularize the Christian teaching and spread it through writings, but also trained a lot of pastors that were from France, even before the university. 1550, there 400 thousand Protestants in France. Prominent converts, was a French admiral, Gaspard de Coligny. He provided some leadership and inspiration for others. Confession of faith drawn up by Calvin, the Gallican Confession. Expressed faith of French Protestans, called Huguenots. Powerful religious minority. Counted many influential Frenchman among them. There were massacres of these people from time to time. The massacre of St Bartholomew’s day, 1572. Coligny was killed; about 20 thousand. Catherine de Medici used her influence to do this, most likely her.

1598, Henry IV comes to power, new line of rulers, Bourbon kings. Was originally Protestant, that converted to Catholicism. ‘Paris is worth a Mass’ so he would be supported, but did not forget his worth, and gave support for Huguenots. Edict of Nantes, 1598, religious freedom and certain cities where they could live and enjoy their freedom. Influential minority. 1685, this was turned over, Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes. Relgious freedom taken away. If they were not converted, they would be killed, or they would have to flee. They lost 400,000 people. Many came to New World, and others, to Holland, Switz, England. Louis hurt his own country. Got rid of the middle class, and hurt the country economically.

II. Scotland

A. Background of the Scottish Reformation

The clergy of RCC was very immoral. Sexual, drunkness, simony, no concern for people’s needs, greed. Early martyrs. Patrick Hamilton, had studied in Germany, where he began to get the Lutheran ideas. He came back to Scotland to preach justification by faith. Burned at the stake in 1528. George Wishart, also preached Protestant doctrine, and was burned at the stake. Copies of the Bible from William Tyndale came into Scotland.

Political factor: domination by France, Scottish nobles were tired of being ruled by the French. Royal marriages tied them there. Usually took the French side when fighting England. When Mary Stuart the Scottish heir to the throne married French heir to the throne. Lax morals of the French.

B. John Knox

Lived from 1514-1572. Courageous. Also very harsh Reformer. Ordained as a priest originally. Became a follower of George Wishart, and was resent when he was burned at the stake. Was a soldier to Protestant Soldiers at St Andrews Castle, until it was taken over by the French. Knox was forced to serve as a gally slave. Released and went to England. Given duties of a royal chaplain, under Edward VI, who died as a child. The throne went to Mary Tudor, who was Catholic. Knox had to flee the country, to Geneva, spent some time with Calvin. A theologian influenced by Calvin.

In 1557, Protestant Scottish nobles drew up a covenant to defend God’s word and establish a church. Knox returned in 1559. He encouraged them against their civil war against Catholicism and France. They won their independence from both because of some money and ships given by Elizabeth I, new queen of England. Elizabeth did not like him, because he wrote against women rulers. Scottish parliament set up and they abolished RCC in Scotland. Became Calvinistic and Presbyterian. Knox was at the center of all this. Knox did face opposition from Mary Stuart, cousin of Mary Tudor and Elizabeth. Mary Stuart was queen, and did not convert from Catholicism (Mary Queen of Scots). Tried to upset the changes that were made. Knox did not give in. Many hard sessions with her, and she never changed her mind. Knox would preach at her. “My conscience is clear”. “Your conscience needed to be educated by the word of God”. Church and creed was established. Americas were affected by this.

III. Holland

A. Early reforms

Lutheran teachings, men like Erasmus, Brethren of the Common Life. Dutch NT translated in 1523. Menno Simons was from Netherlands also. Calvinism was the foremost movement on Holland. 1560, Calvinism had surpassed the other groups, Lutherans and Anabaptists.

B. Dutch struggle for independence from Spain

Spain was RCC. Phillip II, fanatical Catholic ruler of Spain. Was determined to bring people back under the RCC. Dutch resisted. Phillip instituted a reign of terror, through the Duke of Alva, calculated cruelty against all people. William of Orange led the Dutch people in opposition against Spain and got their independence in 1588. The United Netherlands, the rest that is Belgium was still under Spain.

C. Church Government and Theology

Dutch Reformed Church was the official religion. Center of study was the University of Leyden. Opposition of Arminianism, from Jacobus Arminius, theology professor. Bothered by Calvinistic tendencies. Arminius thought God seemed to be author of sin. Issue of predestination. Election was conditional. Foreknowledge, God knows ahead of time who will accept Christ. After his death, his followers developed a doctrine. They did agree on depravity. Limited atonement, Christ died for all, though only believers are saved. God’s grace could be resisted. Perseverance needs further investigated. Eventually that one can lose salvation. Synod of Dort, 1618, ruled against the Arminians. Formulated their own Canons of Dort. Started the five points of Calvinism. This started here. Remained Calvinistic ever since. Some of Anglicans are Arminian, Methodist, some Mennonites, Salvation Army started as Arminian, Pentecostal, and Charismatics.

D. John Cocceius and Covenant Theology

Developed a framework of Calvinistic theology that centered around covenants. God had made a covenant of works with Adam, i.e. eating of the tree. When Adam sinned, this was replaced with covenant of grace. This Theology developed more fully by English Puritans. Covenant between the Trinity of redemption in eternity past.