Melanchthon, << muh LANGK thuhn, >> Philipp (1497-1560), a German humanist and scholar, was Martin Luther’s chief associate in starting and leading the Protestant Reformation. Melanchthon wrote the Loci Communes (Commonplaces, 1521), a widely read handbook that set down Lutheran doctrines in a systematic way for easy reference. He was also the chief author of the Augsburg Confession, which became the basic statement of faith of the Lutheran Church.
Melanchthon had a calmer personality than did Luther. He continually tried to find compromise solutions to issues that divided Protestants and Catholics, and Protestants from each other. Melanchthon declared that many such issues were unimportant for salvation and should not block unity among Christians. However, Melanchthon also believed that the Roman Catholic Church had forsaken the true Christian tradition several hundred years after Christ. He especially opposed the power of the popes.
Melanchthon was born on Feb. 15, 1497, near Karlsruhe. Like Luther, he was a professor at the University of Wittenberg. He was a brilliant student of classical literature and of the works of the early church fathers. He has been called the “teacher of Germany” because of his influence on high school and university education in that country. Melanchton died on April 19, 1560.
