Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T03:43:55.376Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Palatinate Church Order of 1563*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Bard Thompson
Bard Thompson
Affiliation:
Emory University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The ground and provocation of the German Reformed Church are first considerations in the appreciation of its character. It is understood that the Palatinate Church Order of 1563, containing the Heidelberg Catechism and the Palatinate liturgy, introduced a permanent Reformed tradition to Germany. It should also be understood that that kirchenordnung represented the effort of a Melanchthonian church to maintain its evangelical consciousness against the pressures of Gnesio-Lutheranism. Later Palatinate religion arose thus from the ground of Melanchthonianism and in the context of the Crypto-Calvinist controversy—the creation of Zacharius Ursinus, a pupil of Melanchthon and Martyr, and more deeply of John a Lasco, the Polish reformer whose influence in this connection remains untold.

Type
Research Article
Information
Church History , Volume 23 , Issue 4 , December 1954 , pp. 339 - 354
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Church History 1954

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Wilhelm, Niesel (ed.) Bekenntnisschriften und Kirchencrdnungen der …Reformierten Kirche (Zurich, 1938), pp. 136–218.Google Scholar

2. August Ebrard used the term. See “Melanchthon and the Melanchthonian Tendency,” Tercentenary Monument … of the Heidelberg Catechism (Chambersburg, 1863), pp. 89–112.Google Scholar

3. Melanchthon's independence began during the Wittenberg disorders (1521–22). Repulsed by the “ignorance” and “bad manners” of his associates, he retreated to the fringe of the Church and assumed the humanist's role of educator. See Melanchthons Opera: Corpus Reformatorum, I, 514, 613, 576; II, 514.

4. Melanchthons Opera: Corpus Reformatorum, I, 673, 675.Google Scholar

5. Ibid, I, 637.

6. Ibid., IX, 766: Opinion of 1558.

7. Ibid., XXI, 271–74: the Loci Communes of 1535.

8. Jacobs, H. E. (ed.) Book of Concord (Phila., 1893), I, 262Google Scholar: the Leipzig Interim.

9. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., IX, 768: Opinion of 1558.

10. A charge frequently made against Melanchthon. For Luther's doctrine, see Schwiebert, E. G., Luther and His Times (St. Louis, 1950), pp. 701–03Google Scholar. Both parties to the Cry-pto-Calvinist Controversy may have misunderstood Luther. Granted this possibility, the controversy was nonetheless real; its results nonetheless significant.

11. Meanchthons Opera: C.R., I. 913: Melanchthon to Jonas.

12. Ibid., I, 948f.

13. Robert, Stupperich (ed.) Melanchthons Werke in Auswahl (Gütersloh, 1951), I, 297–300.Google Scholar

14. See: Melanchthons Opera: C.R., I, 1106; 974; II, 25. See: Bindseil, H. E., Philippi Melanchthonis Epistolae, Iudidicia, Consilia, Testimonia (Halle, 1874), p. 40.Google Scholar

15. Meianchthons Opera: C.R., I, 1070 (to Baumgartner) I, 1068 (to Camcrarius) I, 1108 (to Agricola); I, 1067 (to the Elector); I, 1078, 1080.

16. Ibid, II, 25, 193. Bucer was attacked in his Opinion Concerning the Foundation of the Doctrine of the Sacramentarians; Jacobs, Book of Concord, II, 241–43.

17. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., XXIII, 733–52.

18. Ibid., II, 217 (to Luther); II, 822, 824 (to Camerarius and Brenz, jan., 1535).

19. Ibid., II, 620 (to Rothmann, December, 1532). See: Centuria Epistolarum ad Schwebelium, pp. 150f. (Bucer to Schwebel, Nov. 9, 1530).

20. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., II, 498 (to Bucer, Apr. 1531); II, 822 (the Cassel agreement).

21. Ibid., III, 427. Chancellor Brück to the Elector: “Luther seemed to be provoked because … it seemed as if Melanchthon had almost gone Zwinghan since his return from Cassel.” See: de Wette, W. M. L. (ed.) Luthers Briefe (Berlin, 1825–1856), IV, 569.Google Scholar

22. De Wette, , Luthers Briefe, IV, 572.Google Scholar

23. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., II, 822.

24. Heppe, H., Die Bekenntnisschriften der altprotestantischen Kirche Deutsehlands (Cassel, 1855), p. 346 (The Variata, Art. X)Google Scholar. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., XXI, 863 (The Loci Coinmunes of 1559).

25. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., IX, 960f. (Responsio, 1559).

26. Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der altprotestantischen Kirche, pp. 340ff.Google Scholar

27. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., II, 861, 871. Melanchthon informed Myconius in 1536 that he was making the Confession “almost entirely new.” On May 5, 1537, Elector John Frederick complained “that M. Philip undertook in several places to alter, soften, and publish” the Confession (Ibid., III, 366). Peucer knew of a draft in 1538 (Ibid., XXVI, 342).

28. Ibid., IV, 37, 37.

29. Cum pane et vi, w vere exhibeantur corpus et sanguis Christi, vescentibus in Coena Doimini.

30. Diet of Worms, 1541: Melanckthons Opera: C.R., IV, 34, 37. At Regensburg, 1541, Calvin subscribed: Calvin Opera, V (C.R., XXXIII), 509f. The Variata was used in all imperial diets through 1561.

31. So states the Naumburg agreement (1561): Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der altprot. Kirche, pp. 583ff.Google Scholar

32. E.g., the Hessian Kirchenordnung (1566), the Pomeranian Synodal Statutes (1574), the Nassau Confession (1578), the Anhalt Repetition (1581), the Private Confession (1614) of John Sigismund of Brandenburg. More often the Invariota was modified by Melanchthon's Loci or Examen, by the Saxon Confession or the Frank fort Recess (1558).

33. Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der altprotestantischen Kirche, p. 563.Google Scholar

34. E.g., the article on the Supper agrees verbally with the Variata, Examen, and Loci (1535). See: Heppe, , Die Bekenmtnisschriften der altprotestantischen Kirche, pp. 568–70.Google Scholar

35. Die Bekenntnisschriftefl der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche (Göttingen,1952), p. 746.Google Scholar

36. Notably Bugenhagen, Camerarius, Major, Eber. Heppe has written four vols. on this period: Geschichte des deutsohen Protestantisinus in den Jahren 1555–1581 (Marburg, 1852–1858).Google Scholar

37. Kluckhohn, A. (ed.) Briefe Friedrich des Frommen Kurfürsten von der Pfalz (Brunswick, 1559–1576), I, 158ff.Google Scholar

38. Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der altprotestantisehen Kirche, p. 591.Google Scholar

39. The liturgical traditiong of Pomerania, Hesse, Cologne (Pia Deliberatio, 1543), Mecklenburg and Wurtemberg. See: Richter, A. L., Die evangelaschen Kirchenordnungen des sechsrehnten Jahrhunderts (Leipzig, 1871).Google Scholar

40. Both the Gemeinkirchenordnung (1563) and Brenz's Lanjescatechismus (1536) teach a Melanchthonian doctrine of the Supper. See: Richter, , Kirehenordnungen, I, 207, 268Google Scholar; see:Buchrucker, Karl, Die Normelkatechismen der christlichen Kirchen (Nllrnberg, 1890), pp. 1–8.Google Scholar

41. By the church order of that year. Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 177f.Google Scholar

42. By the church order of that year. Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 146.Google Scholar

43. Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 295.Google Scholar

44. For example, the Kirchenordnung und Reformation (1576) and the Agenda were reproductions of the Hessian Reformation (1573) and Agenda (1574). Richter, , Kirohenordnungen, II, 400Google Scholar; II, 348ff., 393ff.

45. As one example, the Nassau Confession (1578) cites the Obrigkeit dieses Orths—negst den pfälzischen Kirchen, in etlichen Stüeken, von den benachbarten Hessisehen Kirohen. See: Heppe, Hemrich, Die Bekenntnisschrif ten der reformirten Kirchen Deutschlands (Elberfeld, 1860), pp. 140f.Google Scholar

46. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., XXIII, 1–103; Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 116.Google Scholar

47. See: Heppe, , Geschichte des deutschen Protestantismus, II, 468ff.Google Scholar The Kireheiwrdnung of 1580 affirmed the ungeenderten Augsburgischen Confession. Richter, , Kirchenirdnungen, II, 402.Google Scholar

48. Richter, , Kischenordnungen, II, 146f.Google Scholar

49. Ibid., II, 177ff.

50. Ibid., II, 131ff.

51. Buchrucker, , Die Normelkatechismen, pp. 1–8.Google Scholar

52. Struve, Burcard, Ausführlieher Beris, ht von der Pfälzischen Kirchea-Historte (Frankfort, 1721), p. 52.Google Scholar

53. In addition to the main Electoral line, there were collateral branches of the family, which ruled the smaller portions of the Palatinate as Counts Palatine. These lands were known by the names of their chief cities: Amberg, Neuburg, Zweibrücken, and Simmern. Zweibrücken was directly west of the electoral Palatinate.

54. Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 194ffGoogle Scholar. See: Melanchthons Opera: C.R., VIII, 806, 937.Google Scholar

55. Melanchthong Opera: C.R., IX, 341, 343.Google Scholar

56. Struve, , Kirchen-Historie, pp. 29ff.Google Scholar

57. Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der altprotestantischen Kirehe, p. 597.Google Scholar

58. Struve, , Kirchen-Historie, pp. 66ff.Google Scholar

59. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., IX, 144. 146: to Breaz and Camerarius expressing concern over Palatjnate affairs.

60. Richter, , Kircheiwrdnungen, II, 137.Google Scholar See: Struve, , Kirehen-Historie, p. 48.Google Scholar

61. Text: Struve, , Kirchen-Historie, p. 78.Google Scholar

62. Struve, , Kirchen-Historie, p. 82.Google Scholar

63. Melanehthons Opera: C.R., IX, 960f.

64. By the Kirchen-Raths Ordnung (1560).

65. Kuyper, A. (ed.) Joannis a Lasco Opera (Amsterdam, 1866), II, 724–30.Google Scholar

66. Heppe, Heinrich, Die Entstehung und Fortbildung des Lutherthums und die kirchlichen Bekenntnis-Schriften desselben von 1548–1576 (Cassel, 1863), pp. 60ff.Google Scholar

67. Melanchthons Opera: C.R., IX, 1036.

68. Using Klebitz's Theses (1559). Texts: Struve, Kirehen-Historie, pp. 78, 98.

69. Struve, , Kirehen-Historie, pp. 104–111Google Scholar, passim.

70. Ibid, p. 106.

71. So: Alting, Struve, Sudhoff, Seisen and others. See: Good, James I., The Heidelberg Catechism in Its Newest Light (Phila., 1914), p. 135.Google Scholar

72. Religions other than Roman Catholic and Lutheran “shall not be included in the present peace but shall be totally excluded from it.” See: Kidd, B. J., Documents of the Continental Reformation (Oxford, 1911), p. 364.Google Scholar

73. Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 661–664.Google Scholar

74. See Frederick's Christliche Confession (1577): Heppe: Die Bekenntnisschriften der reformirten Kirchen, p. 3.

75. Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 661–664.Google Scholar

76. Ibid, I, 158f.

77. Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschrif ten der altprotestantischen Kirche, p. 591.Google Scholar

78. See: Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 391, 416, 439, 440, 466.Google Scholar

79. Ibid., I, 450.

80. Sudhoff, Karl, C. Olevianus und Z. Ursinus: Leben und ausgewdhlte Schriften (Elberfeld, 1857), p. 483: letter of 04. 14, 1563.Google Scholar

81. Niesel, , Bekenntnisschrif ten und Kirchenordnungen, p. 139.Google Scholar

82. Sudhoff, , Olevianus und Ursinus, p. 457.Google Scholar

83. Corpus doctrinae orthodoxae sive calecheticarum explicationum … opus absolutum D. Davidis Parei (Heidelberg, 1612), p. 1006Google Scholar. The address was entitled: Oratio exhortatoria ad dactrinae christianae studium.

84. Ursini Opera (ed., Quininus Reuter), I, 755–803.Google Scholar

85. Sudhoff, , Olevianus und Ursinus, p. 487 (text).Google Scholar

86. Ibid., p. 9: text of letter to Crato of Craftheim.

87. Ursini Opera (ed., Renter), II.

88. Kuyper, , a Lasco Opera, II, 1–277Google Scholar. Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 99f.Google Scholar

89. Emden Catechism (1546)—250 questions. Micronius' abridgement in For- ma ac Ratio (1550)—45 questions; Kuyper, , a Lasco Opera, II, 127–135Google Scholar. Utenhoven's Flemjshtanslation (1551)—250 questions; Ibid., II, 341–475. Micronius' second abridgement. for the churches of East Friesland (1554)—94 questions; Ibid., II, 500–543; and Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der ref ormirten Kirchen, pp. 295–310.Google Scholar

90. Utenhoven edition, No. 124.

91. Utenhoven edition, No. 125.

92. Mieronius edition (1554), No. 24.

93. Mieronius edition (1550), No. 24.

94. Micronius edition (1550), No. 37.

95. Micronius edition (1550), No. 27; Utenhoven edition, No. 169; Micronius edition (1554), No. 45.

96. Micronius edition (1554), No. 82. See: Kuyper, , a Lasco Opera, I, 503Google Scholar: Epitome of Doctrine (1544).

97. Kuyper, , a Lasco Opera, II, 676Google Scholar: to Bullinger, June 6, 1553.

98. Ibid, II, 716f., 718. See: Struve, Kirchen-Historie, p. 65.

99. Kuyper, , a Lasco Opera, II, 733.Google Scholar

100. Ursini Opera (ed., Reuter), I, 8.Google Scholar

101. The following research is independent of, and often at variance with Lang, A., Der Heidelberger Katechismus und vier verwandte Katechismen: Quellenschriften mr Geschichte des Protestantismus. Jahrgang 1907, Heft 3.Google Scholar

102. To a Lasco: 1, 21, 22, 26, 29, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 53, 54, 56, 66, 68, 69, 74, 81, 82, 92–113, 108, 119–124. To Calvin: 27, 45, 46, 47, 49, 70, 109, 110; Lang adds 30, 32, 48, 88, 108. To Brenz: 59, 60–64, 66, 83, 115 and the relationship between “thanks” and “works” on which Part III is based.

103. “Zacharius Ursinus,” Mercersburg Review Vol. III (09., 1851), pp. 490–512.Google Scholar

104. Buehrueker, , Die Normelkatechismen, p. 6.Google Scholar

105. See: Micronius edition, 1554, No. 2, 3 (Kuyper, , a Lasco Opera, II, 451Google Scholar) and Micronius edition, 1550, No. 1 (Opera, II, 127).

106. See: Kuyper, , a Lasco Opera, I, 571Google Scholar (Epistpla Amicum); I, 465ff. (Sum- ma Controv. de Coena)

107. Questions 73, 76, 79. See: Buchrucker, , Die Normelkatechismen, p. 4.Google Scholar

108. See: Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 454 (Fred- crick's Defense of 09. 14, 1563Google Scholar; Ebrard, A., Dogma von heiligen A bendmahi und seine Geschiclste (Frankfort, 1846), II, 618–634 (Ursinus' Gründlicher Bericht vom heiligen Abendmahl, 1564)Google Scholar; and Heppe, H., Die confessionelle Entwicklung dsr allprotest antischen Kirche Deutschlande Marburg, 1854), pp. 405–25Google Scholar (the Heidelberg Repetition, 1566).

109. Sudhoff, , Olevianus und Ursinus, pp. 483–85Google Scholar: Olevianus to Bullinger, Oct. 25, 1563.

110. See: Corpus Reformatorum (Calvin), VI, 185.Google Scholar

111. Compare: Pollanus' Liturgia Sacra (1554). Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 150ff.Google Scholar

112. Richter, , Kirchenordnungen, II, 136 (Wurtemberg)Google Scholar; II, 42 (Cologne).

113. Ibid., II, 134f.

114. Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 390, 416, 440.Google Scholar

115. Ibid., I, 398.

116. Ibid., I, 399.

117. Ibid., I, 449–460, especially p. 450 and p. 454.

118. Ibid., I, 504–505 (reconstruction).

119. See: Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 625f.Google Scholar

120. Ibid, I, 652f.

121. Ibid., I, 661–664; Struve, , Kirchen-Historie, pp. 187–190.Google Scholar

122. Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 681ff.Google Scholar

123. Ibid, II/2, 1039–1040: to Bullinger, May 19, 1566. Frederick also had some correspondence with Calvin: Ibid., II/2, 1037f.

124. Ibid., I, 726.

125. Brenz's Verareichniss der Mängel (1565); Hesshus' True Warning (1564); the Censures of Brenz and Andreae (1564). See: Kluckhohn, , Briefe, I, 399.Google Scholar

126. Ursinus' Gründticher Bericht vom heiligen Abendmahl … aus enhelliger Lehre, der heiligen Schrift, der alten rechtgläubigen christlichen Kirchen, und auch der Augspurgischen Confession (1564). Text: Ebrard, , Dogma von heiligen Abendmahl, II, 618–634.Google Scholar

127. Text: Heppe, , Die confessionelle Entwicklung der altprotestantischen Kirche Deutsehiands, pp. 405–25.Google Scholar

128. Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschrif ten der reforinirten Kirchen, pp. 3f.Google Scholar

129. Ibid, p. xii, pp. 70f.

130. Compare: the Nassau Confession (Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der reformirten Kirchen, p. 80)Google Scholar and the Frankfort Recess (Heppe, , Die Bekenntnisschriften der altprotestantischen Kirche, p. 570)Google Scholar.

131. Heppe, , Die Bekenmtnisschriften der reformirten Kirchen, p. 247.Google Scholar

132. Ibid., p. 249 (Hessian Catechism, 1607); p. 71 (Nassau Confession, 1578); pp. 148f. (Bremen Consensus, 1595); p. 286 (Sigismund of Brandenburg: Private Confession, 1614).

133. Ibid, p. 286.