Wolfgang Capito
Wolfgang Capito, 1478-1541
Overview for Chapter C: Tells the story of the Reformation through the experiences of a cautious theologian who helped bring Protestantism to Strasbourg, France. After 1517, Capito devoted himself to seeking compromise and conciliation between various Protestant factions. The futility of his persistent efforts illustrate the irreconcilable theological differences between Anabaptists, Calvinists, Catholics, and Lutherans. The chapter also examines the importance of Erasmus, humanism, the Holy Roman Empire, and scholasticism.
additional resources and scholarship
Discussion Questions and Writing Prompts:
1. Capito seems to have both spiritually and temporally feared making the wrong choice the first decades of Reformation. What would be the equivalent moral and practical choice today?
2. Capito believed in the value of compromise. Does that make him a historical figure who was strong? weak? admirable? foolish?
Classroom Activities:
Let’s pretend it’s 1540 and you live in a town near the modern borders between Germany, France and Luxembourg. Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism and Calvinism compete for Europe’s faith, but your town isn’t satisfied with these three choices and wants to form a new church with a new, Christian theology.
1) Things to think about generally:
Sabbath, communion, baptism, music, membership, diet, service, pilgrimage, clergy, symbols, marriage, holidays and ________________.
2) Now, specifically decide:
How will your church be governed? Who will be in charge?
What will a religious ceremony involve? What is your liturgy?
What will distinguish your church from the other three denominations?
What is your theology?
What traditions will you seek to develop?
What steps will you take to expand your new churc
Links to New Scholarship
• This article discusses Capito and Bucer's Tetrapolitan Confession at some length and discusses several ways in which leaders of the Reformation shared an often-overlooked ecumenical vision. See: Carl Mosser, “Recovering the Reformation’s Ecumenical Vision of Redemption as Deification and Beatific Vision,” Perichoresis, Volume 18: Issue 1, June 2, 2020, DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2020-0001