Protestant Family Tree

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