Frederick the Wise: Luther’s protector
This article examines Frederick the Wise, the Elector of Saxony who protected Martin Luther during the Reformation, exploring whether his reputation for wisdom was justified and how God used him to advance the Reformation cause. The author contrasts Frederick the Wise with the later Frederick the Pious (Frederick III of the Palatinate) and investigates the political acumen and character of Luther's powerful patron. The resource provides historical context for understanding how God's providence worked through secular rulers to preserve and promote the Protestant Reformation.
Let us begin by listening in on an eighth and ninth-grade Heidelberg Catechism class. The pastor, beginning the class as he often does with a time of review to drive deep in the students' minds important facts and main ideas, asks about the history of the Heidelberg Catechism. The pastor asks, "When was the Heidelberg Catechism written?" A student answers, "1563." The pastor asks, "By whom was the Heidelberg Catechism written?" A student answers, "Caspar Olevianus and Zacharias Ursinus." Along...
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