Thursday, July 21, 2011

What Good is God? | Philipp Melanchthon

Yes, Lutherans do have saints. One of the better know ones is Philipp Melanchthon. Melanchthon (Greek for Schwarzerdt, lit. “black earth”) was a sixteenth-century German reformer, collaborator with Martin Luther, the first systematic theologian of the Protestant Reformation, intellectual leader of the Lutheran Reformation, and an influential designer of educational systems. He stands next to Martin Luther and John Calvin as a reformer, theologian, and molder of Protestantism. As much as Luther, he is the primary founder of Lutheranism.

From an early age, Melanchthon showed great love and talent for learning. His interests spanned a wide range of disciplines—literature, classics, astronomy, law, rhetoric, even medicine and astrology.After studies in Heidelberg and Tubingen, he accepted a call to the new University of Wittenberg in 1519.Because of his interest in Biblical literature and Christian doctrine, though, he soon got transferred to the faculty of theology, where he found the great calling of his life.

In Wittenberg, he soon became a close friend and collaborator with Martin Luther.While Luther was the original thinker and theologian, Melanchthon helped to organize the new Lutheran theology and write educational tracts.Luther was excitable and impulsive and did not shy away from fierce confrontation, Melanchthon preferred compromise, caution, peace-making, and moderation.He was the great systematizer of the 16th century Reformation and the primary author of the document that summarized the faith of the reformers — the Augsburg Confession of 1530.Luther wrote of Melanchthon, in the preface to Melanchthon's Commentary on the Galatians (1529), "I had to fight with rabble and devils, for which reason my books are very warlike. I am the rough pioneer who must break the road; but Master Philipp comes along softly and gently, sows and waters heartily, since God has richly endowed him with gifts." 

Melanchthon’s domestic life was happy. He called his home "a little church of God," always found peace there, and showed a tender solicitude for his wife and children.To his great astonishment a visiting French scholar found him rocking the cradle with one hand, and holding a book in the other.

Several original portraits of Melanchthon by three famous painters of his time (Hans Holbein, Albrecht Dürer, and Lucas Cranach) have survived — they all meant to convey a spiritual rather than physical likeness and were said to be eminently successful in doing so).Melanchthon was dwarfish, misshapen, and physically weak, although he was said to have had a bright and sparkling eye, which kept its color till the day of his death. He was never in perfectly sound health, and managed to perform as much work as he did only by reason of the extraordinary regularity of his habits and his great temperance.The immediate cause of death was a severe cold which he had cought on a journey to Leipzig in March, 1560, followed by a fever that consumed his strength.

He set no great value on money and possessions; his liberality and hospitality were often misused in such a way that his old faithful Swabian servant had sometimes difficulty in managing the household.He was an enemy to jealousy, envy, slander, and sarcasm.He never allowed himself or others to exceed the bounds of nobility, honesty, and decency. He was very sincere in the judgment of his own person, acknowledging his faults even to opponents, and was open to the criticism even of such as stood far below him. In his public career he sought not honor or fame, but earnestly endeavored to serve the Church and the cause of truth. 

His humility and modesty had their root in his personal piety. He laid great stress upon prayer, daily meditation on the Word, and attendance of public service. In Melanchthon is found not a great, impressive personality, winning its way by massive strength of resolution and energy, but a noble character hard to study without loving and respecting.

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