Protestant Family Tree

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How do Presbyterians fit in the Church Family Tree?

First Millennium
United East and West Church
Growing dysfunction between Latin West and Greek East leading to
Great Schism (1054)
Roman Catholic Church (West)
Greek Orthodox Church (East)

3 Major Streams of the Reformation:

Lutheran
Anabaptist
Reformed

Lutheran

Martin Luther (Germany)
What is not forbidden is permissible - tries to change as little as possible
Worship in the language of the people
Goes from 7 Sacraments to 2
justification by faith alone
Scripture is the only true source of faith and practice

Anabaptist

Contribution - gathered church vs territorial
have no territory, so are subject to persecution
Requirement for salvation is separation
Luther deemed fanatics - going too far
denied infant baptism
adult only (and not all faith)
mixed bag theologically
some were proto-pentecostal in emphasis on gifts
Spiritualism
inner revelation becomes more important than Scripture
Today:
Amish
Church of the Brethren
Mennonites
Unitarian
Continuing Characteristics
Pacifism and separatism
Outward Conformity
Arminian/Pelagian
Some are outright heretical
Not the forerunners to modern Baptists

Reformed

Ulrich Zwingli (Switzerland)
comes to many of Luther’s same conclusions at the same time
Scripture and Faith alone
Regulative Principle - reforms worship to only include what is commanded in Scripture
does away with many RCC traditions
doctrine - agrees with Luther on Most
church polity
Real Presence
dies in 1531 in battle
Zwinglian strain translated to Puritan movement in England
Martin Bucer
German humanist influenced by Luther
Augustinian who held to spiritual presence
Influenced Calvin
Calvin
French pastor serving in Geneva Switzerland
not the source of Calvinism
Institutes - attempt at articulating biblical Christianity, not trying to do anything new
many of his pupils go beyond Scripture
Calvin would stop at the Bible
followers bring things to logical conclusion
In many ways, he’s an opposite from Luther as far as personality
by 1535, understood justification by faith
1533, has to flee Paris because of having Lutheran theology
Flexible - presbyterian by conviction, but ok with episcopal

Origin of “Calvinism”

After Dutch Reformed movement takes off
Remonstrandts - led by Jacob Arminius
Disagreed with Reformed Theology at 5 points
· Man’s depravity does not extend to the point where he cannot choose God
· Election was according to foreknowledge
· Christ died for all men, conditioned on man’s response
· Grace of God can be resisted
· At least possible for saints to lose salvation
Leads to Synod of Dordt
TULIP affirmed
Remonstrants declared Pelagians
Dutch Reformed is still an influence in Reformed Circles

Scottish Reformation

mid 16th century
John Knox
influenced greatly by Calvin
Scotland becomes Presbyterian and Reformed
by the end of the 16th century
James VI rules
hates Presbyterians, but is Reformed in theology

English Reformation

Wycliffe - 14th century
lays groundwork, rejecting RCC doctrines of transubstantiation and papal supremacy
translates Bible to English
organizes Lollards - preachers of the Bible
Luther’s pamphlets are also smuggled in and distributed
Henry VIII
theologically Catholic
asks for annulment from the pope for marriage to Catherine of Aragon
so he can marry Anne Bolyn
politics and family relations got in the way
so the split happens
Henry VIII argues that the Church of England has always been independent of RCC, has just cooperated
fabrication to get what he wants
Gets parliament to make him Head of the Church
Thomas Cramner is made archbishop of canterbury
church begins to move towards protestantism and reform
Anne Bolyn is accused of adultery and beheaded
Jane Seymour - 3rd wife - protestant
has Edward, and soon dies
regency council appointed by Henry for Edward that is dominated by protestants
Henry dies in 1547 and Edward becomes king at age 9
Reformation accelerates
Cramner comes to more protestant convictions
reformers are invited to lecture in England
Book of Common Prayer
altars removed for tables
mass replaced by communion service
1553 - 42 articles - written by Cramner
peak of reformation under the monarchy
rejected RCC and anabaptist doctrines
Calvinist
justification by faith
Edward dies and Mary takes over
tries to take church back to being RC
kills many protestants, including Cramner
Knox fled to Geneva from England
Geneva Bible produced (first english study bible)
KJV - reaction to puritan critique of monarchy
Mary dies and Elizabeth becomes queen at age 24
via media - “Middle Way”
more concerned with unity and stability of country than doctrine
Big Umbrella
trend of nonconformity
1563 - 39 articles

Puritan Movement

derogatory label - very diverse
reformed theology
authority of Scripture
3 general categories
· Moderates
o Only wanted minor changes in prayer book and 39 articles
§ Primarily Episcopalian
o Reformed, wanted educated clergy
· Presbyterians
o Wanted to develop Presbyterian system within England
o Mostly stayed within the church of England
· Separatists
o Would not conform
o Wanted a pure church
o Left Church of England and met secretly
§ Over time this expands
· Presbyterians and Congregationalist
o Also Episcopalians
· Conforming and non-conforming Congregationalists
· Eventually there is a Baptist Congregationalist split
We read and listen to folks all over the map
Theology is mainly the same, questions over ecclesiology
Elizabeth does not openly persecute
but puritans remain a largely underground group
James I takes over when Elizabeth dies (1604)
Scottish and Reformed
rules United Kingdom - continues via media
Charles I (1625)
Arminian
House of Commons is primarily Puritan
shift from balance to Arminian church of England
1626 - open warfare against Calvinists
Calvinists are not allowed to preach or publish about their view of salvation
Issue of Arminianism
Puritans saw it as a first step back to Rome
Rome view of salvation in protestant clothing
Personal Rule (1629-1640) - 11 years without calling together Parliament

Puritans in 17th century

Modern Christianity basically emerges as far as division and arguments
All of them were Calvinist - Divisions over Polity/Sacraments
Episcopalians – conformed
Presbyterian – conformed, wanted presbyteries
Congregationalists – independent pres – some conformed, but many left
Separatists – nonconformists, severely persecuted, most in exile
Congregationalists
Baptists
Civil War results after Parliament is called
after calling for reforms, Charles sends an armed guard to arrest Parliament leaders
Parliament forces win, putting Puritans in power
Oliver Cromwell - Lord Protector of English Commonwealth
Separatist/Congregationalist
High Water Mark of Puritan Power
Major Issues resulting from:
Most of England is not Puritan, but the Puritans are now in power and have a territorial view of the church
there is no separation of church and state
everyone must now follow them
lack of moderation does not endear them to the people
you cannot legislate the Holy Spirit
you cannot try to make people outside of the church act like they belong to the church
Bad things:
Puritans try to cancel Christmas
calls for proto-socialist economic system
Good things:
Westminster Standards come out of this time
meant to replace 39 Articles for Church of England
Not inherently Presbyterian - written by Puritans across the spectrum
does not purport a specific polity, mode of baptism, or eschatology
goes to far/reactionary in some areas
product of its time
pope as antichrist, etc
reflects combativeness and English mentality of puritans
Never adopted in England
but embraced by Scotland and becomes Confession for Presbyterians worldwide
1660 - Restoration of the monarchy and the pendulum swings back
Puritans are suppressed and many exit to America

American Colonies

Presbyterians and Plural Elder Congregationalists dominate early American Colonies
did not come for religious freedom
came to enforce worshipping properly
Rhode Island
established by Baptist dissenters
Pennsylvania
Quakers - spiritual reaction to rationalism/enlightenment
American Individualist mindset takes hold
if you are oppressed, you can just move to the frontier
18th century -
Wesley and Whitefield - Anglicans
break fellowship over Calvinism
Wesley develops pietist method of discipleship
leads to Methodist movement and eventual split from Anglicans
becomes dominant movement in the south
willingness to go to the frontier
lay preachers
Presbyterian/Congregationalist emphasis on education
and desire for comfortable jobs leads to staying near the coast
South in the 18th Century
mostly Church of England until Great Awakening
then Baptist/Methodist
- Great Awakening is the beginning of a process
§ 1776 1850
§ Congregational 20.4% 4
§ Presbyterian 19.0% 11.6
§ Baptist 16.9% 20.5
§ Episcopal 15.7 3.5
§ Methodist 2.5 34.2
§ RC 1.8 13.9 Irish
American Ethos Reflected in Shifts
Individualistic and Anti-Creedal
Baptist and Methodist churches explode
Presbyterians suffer
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