Abstract

This paper aims to highlight a certain aspect of Filippo Melantone's role in defining and promoting the Reformation. The series of theses redacted by Melantone to be debated at the University of Wittenberg will be examined. Melantone was one of the most prominent and esteemed professors at the University during the years in which it was one of the driving forces behind the Reformation. Examination of the theses, which at times are accompanied by documentation relating to their presentation, allows a greater understanding of what, and how many, were the themes dealt with by Melantone. Although his ideas for the Reformation extended well beyond the ecclesial perspective, it is important to focus on the sort of Church that emerges from Melantone's ideas, and take into account contrasting ideas and developments over the years.