GRPL HISTORY THREAD: "The Place of the Printing Press in the Reformation"

unpublished doctoral paper | drstevej

[drstevej]

***Perhaps you could help me understand the Reformed position on this, but it almost seems to be saying that Protestantism depended on the printing press to work. ***

I am saying that the issues of the Reformation "sola scriptura and fola fide" (to abbreviate them) were advanced by both men AND media. And from an unashamedly Protestant perspective I am suggesting that this is providentially the case.

It is my conviction that the Reformation was a wonderful work of God, a sovereign God, Who raised up men who clearly articulated a biblical gospel and whose views made a profound impact in a short time due to availability and exploitation of the new technology.

The press along with protestantism's encouragement of lay people to read the Bible was a boon to literacy. As people read the Bible for themselves things happened! (Mostly good, IMHO).

[Dr. Eckleburg]

As people read the Bible for themselves, things happened! (Mostly good, IMHO.)

As it continues to this day.

The more a person reads Scripture, the louder the Holy Spirit speaks to them. As it was intended.

[SoothingDave]

There's some type of "embalming" joke just waiting to come out with a name like that.

SD

[SoothingDave]

I am not sure about Cardinal Newman, but if the KJV does not have the imprimatur I am surprised he would.

The KJV is recognized as a touchstone of English culture and literature. There is nothing wrong with a convert using the KJV per se, as long as he didn't get any funny ideas from it.

SD

[drstevej]

***There is nothing wrong with a convert using the KJV per se, as long as he didn't get any funny ideas from it.
****

ROTFL. Better reading the KJV than listening to Cardinal Mahoney's homilees. Agree?

[SoothingDave]

Agreed. Speaking of bishops, I get a brand new one today. Prayers for a good, faithful reign would be appreciated. His name is Lawrence.

SD

[ponyespresso]

The paper was written by your truly (drstevej) in 1978 for a doctoral course at Westminster Seminary (Philadelphia) entitled "The Cultural Setting of the Reformation."

Protestant tradition are today the benefactors of new technology far beyond the imagination of Luther or Calvin. Radio, television and the personal computer have unmistakably shaped twentieth century culture at least to the degree that printing shaped the culture of the reformers. Radio, television and the worldwide web offer great potential for the advance of the gospel.

Wow, you guys had the worldwide web at Westminster Seminary way back in 1978. Holy cow. I bet Dallas Seminary was sooooo jealous!

pony

[drstevej]

Good catch pony.

I updated the conclusion for submission to a journal.

drstevej

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

Agreed. Speaking of bishops, I get a brand new one today. Prayers for a good, faithful reign would be appreciated. His name is Lawrence.

His Predicessor, Anthony Bosco, was a good guy, somebody who should have been promoted on to bigger and better things than Bishop of the Greensburg Diocese. Not that i'm knocking that job mind you.

[SoothingDave]

Bishop Bosco was a nice enough guy, he answered his own email (or at least gave that impression) from me on a few occasions. He was in general a middle-of-the-road type of guy, not one to attract a lot of attention. I could probably name 50 or more really bad bishops. He wasn't one of them, by any means.

I hope the new guy puts a little more fire into things, maybe shakes up a few things. .

SD

[ponyespresso]

that's what I figured, I just couldn't help razzin' you a little.

Ah, 1978...The Jonestown Massacre, The Pacer, the worst blizzard in decades, The middle of Jimmy Carter's presidency, Superman The Movie.....

they don't make years like that anymore.

pony

[Claud]

I do remember a time when Catholics were forbidden to read the Bible on their own.

You'll forgive me if I don't hold to your memory's infallibility. :)

Perhaps if you can produce a reference to said document....

[Claud]

I am saying that the issues of the Reformation "sola scriptura and fola fide" (to abbreviate them) were advanced by both men AND media. And from an unashamedly Protestant perspective I am suggesting that this is providentially the case.

Believe me, I understand the position you've staked out. I actually happen to agree with the historical analysis (though obviously not the "providential" part). But I'm saying--equally unashamedly--that if that's the case, then the previous 1500 years of Christians were in a hopelessly difficult position not being able to read and not affording a Bible.

Moreover, if the doctrine of Sola Scriptura requires a literate populace and a printing press to be viable, then could it have been a doctrine held by the first century Church?

[drstevej]

***But I'm saying--equally unashamedly--that if that's the case, then the previous 1500 years of Christians were in a hopelessly difficult position not being able to read and not affording a Bible.***

Difficult, but not hopeless. Many Christians could read. tne NT was obviously widely circulated and copied (given the means available). The position of the emerging RCC that the Church interprets scripture and the paucity of translations beyond the Vulgate significantly inhibited it's distribution. The Index later intensified the disincentive to propagate the Bile into languages people knew.

***Moreover, if the doctrine of Sola Scriptura requires a literate populace and a printing press to be viable, then could it have been a doctrine held by the first century Church?***

First, I reject the premise and think you misunderstand my point. Literacy and the press didn't make sola scriptura viable. Luther and Calvin (et al.) embraced sola scriptura and placed Scripture over tradition. Literacy and the press had nothing to do with this.

Having embraced sola scriptura, they saw the importance of disseminating the Bible to the masses, hence they used the press and they promoted literacy.

It is quite sad that reading the Bible was not encouraged by the RCC and that efforts were not more aggressive to place the scriptures into languages other than greek, hebrew and latin.

Furthermore, the role of Erasmus' publication of the Greek new Testament on the eve of the Reformation should not be underestimated. It allowed a scrutiny of the Vulgate and raised questions of doctrines like pennance. At the time of the Reformation there were few Christian Hebrew scholars.

The emphasis on sola scriptura encouraged study of greek and hebrew in order to examine the text in the original language rather than accepting the vulgate uncritically.

Sola scriptura Protestants have been responsible for translating the Bible into thousands of languages, many of which were not even written languages prior to missionary translator efforts. Wycliffe Bible Translators are exceptionally commendable in this area. Their passion is to get the Bible into a language a people can read. AS that has occurred a number of many ethnic reformations have occurred.

[drstevej]

Please pardon the typos in the above. I am rushing to get away for a mens retreat.

Bile clearly should be Bible.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." -- Matthew 7:14

I take great comfort in knowing that God wrote the names of His elect in the Book of Life from before the foundation of the world.

All who've been given ears to hear Him will come to Him. The more, the better, IMO. But it's His call.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

I had this debate three years ago on FR. Looking for "documentation" to back-up this well-known and long-accepted factoid turned out to be difficult.

The idea that Catholics were not permitted to read the Bible on their own prior to 1952-54 was accepted church teaching and agreed upon by dozens of Catholics I knew.

However, I think it's become like Mel Gibson's faith -- now viewed as extreme, but prior to 1964, it was mainstream American Catholicism.

Just more rewritten history, IMO. But I'll give you that any supporting documentation today is ambiguous.