German Reformers
Andreas Carlstadt
A short biography of Andreas Bodenstein von Carlstadt (1486–1541), Luther’s senior colleague at Wittenberg, leader of the Wittenberg reforms of 1521–22, and later professor at Basel.
Caspar Olevianus
A short biography of Caspar Olevianus (1536–1587), the preacher of Trier and Heidelberg who shared in the making of the Heidelberg Catechism and ended his days at Herborn.
Johannes Brenz
A short biography of Johannes Brenz (1499–1570), Luther’s hearer at Heidelberg, reformer of Schwäbisch Hall and Württemberg, author of the Württemberg Confession, and catechist.
Johannes Bugenhagen
A short biography of Johannes Bugenhagen (1485–1558), “Doctor Pomeranus,” Luther’s pastor at Wittenberg and the organizer of the Lutheran churches of northern Germany and Denmark.
Justus Jonas
A short biography of Justus Jonas (1493–1555), Luther’s colleague at Wittenberg, translator, preacher, reformer of Halle, and witness of Luther’s death.
Martin Bucer
A short biography of Martin Bucer (1491–1551), reformer of Strasbourg, peacemaker among the Protestants, mentor of John Calvin, and Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge.
Martin Chemnitz
A short biography of Martin Chemnitz (1522–1586), Lutheran theologian of Brunswick, author of the Examination of the Council of Trent and a chief architect of the Formula of Concord.
Mikael Agricola
A short biography of Mikael Agricola (c. 1509–1557), Luther’s student, translator of the Finnish New Testament, first Protestant bishop of Turku, and father of Finnish literature.
Nikolaus von Amsdorf
A short biography of Nikolaus von Amsdorf (1483–1565), Luther’s friend at Leipzig and Worms, reformer of Magdeburg, first Protestant bishop of Naumburg, and strict defender of Luther’s teaching.
Philip Melanchthon
A short biography of Philip Melanchthon (1497–1560), Luther’s colleague at Wittenberg, author of the Loci Communes and the Augsburg Confession, and the Preceptor of Germany.
Urbanus Rhegius
A short biography of Urbanus Rhegius (1489–1541), preacher at Augsburg, superintendent of Lüneburg, and author of a handbook for preachers.
Wolfgang Capito
A short biography of Wolfgang Capito (1478–1541), Hebraist, preacher at Basel and Mainz, and Bucer’s colleague in the Reformation of Strasbourg.
Zacharias Ursinus
A short biography of Zacharias Ursinus (1534–1583), pupil of Melanchthon and Vermigli, professor at Heidelberg, and principal author of the Heidelberg Catechism.
