SOURCE: Buzogany, Deszo. “Melanchthon As Humanist and Reformer.” In Melanchthon in Europe: His Work and Influence beyond Wittenberg, edited by Karin Maag, pp. 87-101. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 1999.

In the essay below, Buzogany bridges the gap between the theological and philosophical positions taken by Melanchthon.

Melanchthon is usually considered as both a humanist and a reformer. Many of the books and studies written about him present him as a theologian. It is also worthwhile studying the humanist intellectual components of his personality, since, after all, a great proportion of his works are ones which present him as a deep thinking, thorough intellectual, writing with sublime eloquence.

Both theological debates and the newly-organized church profited a great deal from his humanism; and one should mention in this regard the service he rendered in composing and compiling the confessions. Thus, everything that shapes Melanchthon's theological work with class, its...