Reformed Heritage

Book of the Month/April 2012

Engaging the Culture - Book Review
Written by Douglas Wilson
Sunday, 01 April 2012 16:48

Reformer of Basel
Diane Poythress
Reformation Heritage Books

This might seem like an odd book to get excited about (at least to some), but I have wanted to see a book like this for years. In Reformer of Basel, Diane Poythress has given us a very fine introduction to the life and influence of John Oecolampadius, the great Reformer of Basel. It is available at Amazon here, but they don't seem to have a deep bench on this title, and so you can also obtain it here.

I call them the lost Reformers. Men like Luther and Calvin are the A team, and men like John Knox are right behind them. The B team would be men like Zwingli, Bucer, and Bullinger -- the names are generally known to those who know the period at all, but not a lot is known about them. And then . . . the lost Reformers.
I speak here about Junius, Tremellius, Ursinus, and Oecolampadius. Then there are the Reformers out in the deep weeds, men like Wolfgang Musculus, not to mention that other notable Wolfgang, a gent with the last name of Capito.

Speaking of Capito, this is as good a place as any to mention that after Oecolampadius died, his widow, an able woman named Wibrandis was married by Capito, a widower with children of his own, who took in Oecolampadius's kids as well. And then, after Capito died, Martin Bucer, another widower with children, married her, and took in Oecolampadius's kids, along with Capito's (p. 23).



At any rate, I have wanted someone to introduce us to Oecolampadius for years. To begin with, who doesn't want to know more about a Reformer with such a great name? The name is the Latin form of the more pedestrian German name Hausshein, which simply means "house lamp."

Part of the reason for wanting modern Reformed believers to know more about men like Oecolampadius is that their obscurity is richly undeserved. His influence on the history of the church was enormous, even though largely unremarked currently.

"Calvin became both a brother and a son to Oecolampadius. The implication is clear that although Calvin is perceived as the father of the Reformed church, he is actually the son of Oecolampadius" (p. 55).

Think, as an example, of the evangelistic impact of the no-name, whoever it was, that led Billy Graham to the Lord.

Diane Poythress, wife of theologian Vern Poythress, has provided us with just what we needed around here. She writes ably and clearly, and her learning on this subject is quite obviously deep. At the same time, the book is written on an accessible level, and will be a blessing to anybody who loves the history of the Reformation.

The book divides into three general sections. The first is an overview of Oecolampadius's life, a brief biography. The second goes into the nature of his theological and ecclesiastical influence. At the time of the Reformation, he was a major player. That makes him a major player now, just one we have forgotten. The last section is a detail bibliography of all that he wrote, along with a translation (by Poythress) of a section of his influential commentary on Isaiah.

Here at New St. Andrews, we are engaged in the task of recovering a widespread expertise in Latin. One of the obvious benefits that could come from this is the translation of the many Reformation resources available only in Latin. When that happens, we might see another remarkable movement of the Spirit -- the Reformation's afterburners kicking in. Diane Poythress has shown us the real value of this kind of labor. This book is highly recommended. Get three.