who was Philipp Melanchthon and what role did he play in the Reformation?
Why did Luther hold him in such high esteem? What impact did he have on the Lutheran church of his day and what influence does he have on today’s Lutheran church? Melanchthon took part in several theological disputations (1519 Leipzig, 1529 Marburg, 1540 Worms, 1541 Regensburg, 1557 Worms). In 1530 he was primarily responsible for composing the Confessio Augustana (the Augsburg Confession) and the Apology that defended it. His flexibility and willingness to compromise often smoothed the way for the Reformation, but it also created opposition among strict Lutherans, especially with regard to the teachings on Holy Communion. Melanchthon’s reform of the German school and university system was strongly influenced by the ideals of the Humanists. Because of this reform, he was given the honorary title Praeceptor Germaniae (Germany’s Principal Teacher). Melanchthon, Philipp (“Melanchthon” is the translation of his real name “Schwarzerd”, German for “Black Earth” into Greek), was born 2/16/149
