May 5, 2015 – “M” is for Melanchthon

“He was born Philipp Schwartzerdt (of which “Melanchthon” is a Greek translation) on 16 February 1497, at Bretten, near Karlsruhe, where his father Georg Schwarzerdt was armorer to Philip, Count Palatine of the Rhine. He entered in 1509 the University of Heidelberg where he studied philosophy, rhetoric, and astronomy/astrology, and was known as a good Greek scholar. On being refused the degree of master in 1512 on account of his youth, he went to Tübingen, where he continued humanistic studies, but also worked on jurisprudence, mathematics, and medicine. He accepted a call to the University of Wittenberg by Martin Luther, recommended by his great-uncle Johann Reuchlin. Melanchthon became professor of the Greek language in Wittenberg at the age of 21. The composition now known as the Augsburg Confession was laid before the Diet of Augsburg in 1530, and would come to be considered perhaps the most significant document of the Protestant Reformation. While the confession was based on Luther’s Marburg and Schwabach articles, it was mainly the work of Melanchthon.” (Wikipedia)

As stated above, the Augsburg Confession is mainly the work of Philipp Melanchthon. He became a companion of Martin Luther, and an intense relationship between Melanchthon and Luther changed from collegiality to profound friendship. The following statement by Melanchthon demonstrates just how profound this friendship was: “I would rather die than be separated from this man.”

Here are words that Melanchthon wrote in his Commentary on Romans:

“The Gospel proclaims repentance and the promise of Grace and eternal life. The promise would be diligently distinguished from the Law. And although the Law has certain promises of its own, nevertheless, these differ from the unique promise of the Gospel. But the evangelical promise — about remission of sins, justification, and the gift of eternal life — is gratuitous, offered on account of Christ, without a condition of our merits or our worthiness.”

Pastor Dave