Magisterial Reformation
| Protestant Reformation |
|---|
 |
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Precursors |
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Waldensians (12th century) |
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Start of the Reformation |
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Reformers |
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By location |
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Czech lands · Denmark–Norway / Holstein · England · Germany · Italy · Netherlands · Poland-Lithuania · Scotland · Sweden · France · Switzerland |
| Protestantism |
The Magisterial Reformation is a phrase that "draws attention to the manner in which the Lutheran and Calvinist reformers related to secular authorities, such as princes, magistrates, or city councils", i.e. "the magistracy".[1] While the Radical Reformation rejected any secular authority over the Church, the Magisterial Reformation argued for the interdependence of the church and secular authorities, i.e. "The magistrate had a right to authority within the church, just as the church could rely on the authority of the magistrate to enforce discipline, suppress heresy, or maintain order."[1]
In addition, the term magister relates to the emphasis on authoritative teachers. Often this is seen in the names of theological schools descending from magisterial reformers (i.e. Lutheran, Calvinist, Zwinglian, etc.)[2]
The magisterial reformation stands in contrast to the radical reformation, which denied that civil authorities had any place or authority within the Church.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 McGrath, Alister (1998), Historical Theology, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, p. 159, ISBN 0631208437
- ↑ Gstohl, Mark (2004), The Magisterial Reformation, retrieved 2012-11-17
- ↑ Saint-Clair, Geoffrey (2001), Who’s Who in the Reformation, The Radical Reformation, retrieved 2012-11-17
