May 19, 2017
Devotions: Personalities of the Reformation: Caspar Hedio

“Caspar Hedio was born in 1494 and died on October 17, 1552. He was a German historian, theologian and, of course, Protestant reformer. He was born into a prosperous family and attended a famous school in Pforzheim, Germany. In 1513. he began his studies in Fribourg and later studied theology in Basel, where he received his degree in 1519. At that time, he began his relationship with Ulrich Zwingli and corresponded with Martin Luther. He took his doctorate in Mainz and obtained a position as a preacher at the Strasbourg Cathedral in 1523. His Protestant convictions were made clear when he married Margarete Trenz.

In Strasbourg, he collaborated with Wolfgang Capito (May 13 devotion) and Martin Bucer (May 9 devotion) and participated in the Marburg Colloquy (see below). His influence extended to Alsace, and the Palatinate (historical territory of the Holy Roman Empire). When Melanchthon went to France, Hedio was asked to accompany him. In 1541, he moved to Regensburg to join Bucer and others in developing Protestant doctrine. As a representative of Strasbourg, he participated in the debate at the Diet of Worms of 1545 (not to be confused with the Diet of Worms in 1521).
Hedio translated many tracts by the Church Fathers, published a chronicle of the early Christian church based on the works of Eusebius and Sozomen (Salminius Hermias Sozomenus, historian of the Christian Church) and compiled a world history.” (Wikipedia)

Marburg Colloquy: was a meeting at Marburg Castle, Marburg, Hesse Germany which attempted to solve a disputation between Luther and Zwingli over the Real Presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper. It took place between October 1 and October 4, 1529 Underlying this disagreement was their theology of Christ. Luther believed that the human body of Christ was ubiquitous (present in all places) and so present in the bread and wine. This was possible because the attributes of God infused Christ’s human nature. Luther emphasized the oneness of Christ’s person. Zwingli, who emphasized the distinction of the natures, believed that while Christ in his deity was omnipresent, Christ’s human body could only be present in one place, that is, at the right hand of the Father. Therefore, Zwingli believed that the bread and wine of communion “signify” but do not literally become the body and blood of Christ.

Not much else is known about Hedio. He obviously had his influences (like Luther, Melanchthon, Bucer and Capito) and was influential by participating in the last Diet in Worms. So many people who were instrumental in the Protestant movement that we have never heard of – but still were important to one of the most important religious movements in the last 500 years.

Pastor Dave

Please bring in boxes of tissues this week for Trinity’s Table.