Ninety-Five Theses (1517)
Luther’s Wittenberg challenge to the sale of indulgences — sparked the Reformation.
Lesson 7 · Course 66
Renaissance and Reformation — Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and Church Music
Italy’s Renaissance; Luther’s 1517 challenge to indulgences; Zwingli in Zurich; Calvin’s Christian society and Servetus; congregational singing.
At a glance
Summary
The Renaissance began in Italy. The Reformation was sparked by Luther’s opposition to the sale of indulgences (Ninety-Five Theses, 1517). Luther was Augustinian, not Dominican. Calvin’s Institutes were not published in 1517. Zwingli led in Zurich, taught a symbolic Lord’s Supper, wanted civil government under Christ, and died in battle in 1531. Calvin sought a Christian society, valued music (did not disdain it), and was responsible for Servetus’s burning. Isaac Watts later championed congregational singing.
Quiz 7: 10/10 (100%), 6m 28s, cmid 1211 / attempt 101999. Essays Complete/Not graded (Q11–Q13 verbatim). Course total 50%. Cert cmid 2165 locked.
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- Renaissance began in Italy.
- Reformation spark: Luther vs sale of indulgences (1517 Theses).
- Luther = Augustinian monk (not Dominican).
- Calvin’s Institutes ≠ 1517.
- Zwingli: Zurich; civil gov under Christ; symbolic Lord’s Supper; killed 1531.
- Calvin: Christian socioeconomic/political life; valued church music; Servetus burned for heresy.
- Isaac Watts: great proponent of congregational singing.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
Ulrich Zwingli
Zurich reformer; Bible sole authority; symbolic Lord’s Supper; killed in battle 1531.
John Calvin
Sought Christian society/government; Institutes; valued music; Servetus burned for heresy.
Indulgences
Sale opposed by Luther — the big issue sparking the Reformation.
Isaac Watts
Great proponent of congregational singing.
Structure
Outline / timeline
- Renaissance begins in Italy
- Luther: Augustinian, 1517 Theses, grace through faith
- Zwingli in Zurich: Scripture alone, symbolic Supper, death 1531
- Calvin: Institutes, Christian society, music, Servetus
- Church music: chorales, Psalter, congregational singing / Watts
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz 7 | 100% (10/10), cmid 1211 |
|---|---|
| Course total | 50%; cert 2165 locked |
| Reformation spark | Luther vs indulgences (1517) |
| Luther’s order | Augustinian (not Dominican) |
| Zwingli death | Battle, 1531 |
| Servetus | Calvin responsible for burning for heresy |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Luther / Zwingli / Calvin
- Luther: Wittenberg, Augustinian, faith/grace, German Bible, chorales
- Zwingli: Zurich, Scripture alone, symbolic Lord’s Supper, civil gov under Christ, died 1531
- Calvin: Christian society, Institutes (not 1517), valued music, Servetus
Church music streams
- Luther: German chorales teaching doctrine; singing in the people’s language
- Calvin: Psalter; congregational singing generally in unison; instruments less direct
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- Preach grace through faith against any “buy your way” spirituality.
- Hold Scripture as sole religious authority (Zwingli’s Zurich lesson).
- Recover congregational singing as the people’s praise, not a show.
- Name the hard history honestly (Servetus) while teaching Calvin’s larger vision.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 100% · 1 attempt
1. The Renaissance began in Italy.
TrueItaly.
2. John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion was published in 1517.
FalseNot 1517.
3. The big issue sparking the Reformation was Luther's opposition to the sale of Indulgences.
TrueIndulgences spark.
4. Zwingli believed that the civil government should be under the leadership of Christ.
TrueCivil gov under Christ.
5. Zwingli was killed in battle in 1531.
TrueDied 1531.
6. Calvin sought to establish a Christian socioeconomic and political way of life and government.
TrueChristian society.
7. Calvin disdained the use of music in the church as vulgar and undignified.
FalseHe valued music.
8. Luther was a Dominican monk.
FalseAugustinian, not Dominican.
9. John Calvin was responsible for burning Michael Servetus at the stake for heresy.
TrueServetus.
10. Isaac Watts was a great proponent of Congregational singing.
TrueCongregational singing.
Essay themes
If you preach or review
Summarize the life of Martin Luther
Martin Luther (1483–1546) was an Augustinian monk and teacher in Wittenberg. Through studying Galatians and Romans, he came to emphasize salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ rather than indulgences or the merits of the church. In 1517 he posted his Ninety-Five Theses, challenging the sale of indulgences and sparking the Protestant Reformation. At the Diet of Worms he stood by his conscience and the Scriptures, and Frederick protected him afterward. Luther translated the Bible into German and helped bring the Word of God to ordinary people. His teaching and example shaped Protestant Christianity.
Summarize the impact of Ulrich Zwingli on the Reformation
Ulrich Zwingli was the Swiss preacher in Zurich who helped lead the Reformation alongside Luther. He opposed the traditional fast during Lent and other practices that lacked scriptural support, and he taught that the Bible—not the Pope or church government—was the sole religious authority. He supported civil government being submitted to Christ and helped establish Reformed churches in Zurich and other Swiss cities. He taught that the Lord’s Supper was symbolic rather than the actual physical presence of Christ in the elements. His influence spread the Reformation through Switzerland until his death in battle in 1531.
What do we know about church music during the Reformation?
Church music became an important part of the Reformation because the reformers believed the whole congregation should praise God, not only a professional choir or priest. Luther encouraged singing in the language of the people and wrote German chorales to teach biblical truth and doctrine. Calvin emphasized the Psalter, with congregational singing generally in unison. Protestant worship music therefore included Lutheran chorales and Calvinist psalm singing, while instruments were used less directly during congregational hymn singing. The result was active participation by ordinary believers in worship.