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Philipp Melanchthon
Philipp Melanchthon (Melan-chthon: Greek for "black earth")
was born in Bretten on February 16, 1497. His parents were Georg
Schwartzerdt, master of armoury, and Barbara Reuter. Philipp Schwartzerdt
(German for "black earth") was a humanist, reformer, scholar
and a close co-worker and friend Martin Luther´s. At the age
of 12, he was admitted to the University of Heidelberg and continued
his studies in Tübingen. In 1518, Melanchthon was recommended
for the new chair of Greek literature at the University of Wittenberg.
In Wittenberg, he became acquainted with Dr. Martin Luther.
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Their relationship was to develop over the years into a life-long
friendship. Luther introduced him to the elements of his theology.
Melanchthon was directly involved in Luther´s Bible translation
into German, since he was an expert in Greek language.
Being an outlaw, Luther could not participate in debates and imperial
diets. Therefore, Melanchthon officially represented the Reformation
theology of Wittenberg in imperial diets and religious debates from
1529 onwards. Among his works we find writings and confessions of
paramount importance to the Reformation theology: "Loci communes"
(1521) was the first highly influential dogmatic work of the Protestant
Church. The "Augsburg Confession" (1530) continues to
be the central confession of all the Protestant churches to the
present day. In his debates with the Roman Catholic theologians,
Melanchthon had always tried to safeguard the unity of the Church
Ð on a Protestant basis. He is therefore described as being a "father
of the ecumenical movement". His works do not only comprise
a considerable number of theological writings, but also include
grammars and text books in almost all areas of knowledge of that
time, as well as translations of classical authors. Thanks to his
books, which were printed in numerous editions, and his influence
on administration and curriculum of various schools and universities,
he was posthumously given the honorary title "Praeceptor Germaniae"
(Germany´s Teacher). Owing to his close correspondence with
distinguished personalities all over Europe (we know of more than
11,000 letters) and to his remarkable abilities as a lecturer, he
was conferred the title "Praeceptor Europae" (Europe´s
Teacher). Melanchthon died in Wittenberg on April 19, 1560 where
he was buried next to Martin Luther in the Castle Church.
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