The Reformation: Roots and Ramifications

by Heiko A. Oberman

In this wide-ranging volume Heiko Oberman traces threads of continuity flowing to and through the Reformation. Many his most important studies appear here in English for the first time.
Professor Oberman explores "experiential" mysticism; the "battle on two fronts" waged by the Wittenburg circle against Pierias and Eck; Luther's medieval and apocalyptical conception of reformatio and its purpose; the pre-history of "confessionalization" in the Confession of Ausburg and its "Confutatio" byt Luther's Roman opponents; Zwingli's plans for a Godly alliance in the southern Germanic ecumene and the destructive tensions between Zwingli and Luther.
In the final chapter, Oberman describes a model of three long-term "Reformations" that can also be seen as the Concillar Reformation, the City Reformation, and the Calvinist Reformation of the Refugees. The often denied and generally misunderstood "continuities" between theological directions of the later Middle Ages, the theological reformation of the early sixteenth century and subsequent developments are constantly illuminated through exacting detail and compelling insights.

250 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Heiko Augustinus Oberman was a Dutch historian and theologian who specialized in the study of the Reformation. After earning his doctorate in theology from the University of Utrecht in 1957, he taught at the Harvard Divinity School from 1958 until 1966 and then at the University of Tübingen, Germany from 1966 until 1988, when he became Regents Professor of History at the University of Arizona, Tucson.

Reviews

[Ryan Jankowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oberman is known for his work on Luther and for illuminating the period between the middle ages and the Reformation. This particular work is a collection of 10 essays (originally written in German) which focus primarily on Luther, though there is brief mention of Zwingli/Zurich and Calvin in the final chapters.

[Albert Meier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frustrating echo chamber scholarship. Even for a collection of essays delivered on other occasions it had little cohesion.