Word: melanchthon
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Lutheranism - and Protestantism-came formally into being 16 years before Luther's death with the public reading on June 25, 1530, of the Augsburg Confession. This official summation of the doctrinal position of the Lutherans was drawn up by Philip Melanchthon, Luther's wise and temperate friend, and like Luther a well-founded theologian. This and two later creedal statements are included in the Book of Concord of 1580 and supply the Lutheran answers to almost every spiritual problem the Christian soul is prone to-Anti-Trinitarianism, humanism, Pelagianism, synergism, determinism, Manichaeism, spiritualism, enthusiasm, sacerdotalism, sacramentalism, mysticism, asceticism...
...Calvin's predestination and Luther's "justification by faith alone." By the time Servetus was 22, the "Wanted" posters were up for him in both camps. Calvin denounced his writings as "a rhapsody composed of the impious ravings of all the ages." Added Luther's disciple, Melanchthon: "Astute and impious . . . blowing smoke perfidiously before his hearers." For the Catholics, Jerome Aleander, Luther's debating opponent at the Diet of Worms, commented: "I never saw or read anything more nauseating, though the man is very keen...