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Eras: Early Modern

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Early Modern

Martin Luther

Passionate reformer

Indonesian
John Wesley

Methodical pietist
Why the Enslaved Adopted the Religion of Their Masters—and Transformed It

The story of early African-American Christianity proves the power of the Resurrection against oppression.

Dante Stewart

Explore Past Issues

The Gospel According to J.S. Bach
Issue 95, 2007
Michelangelo: Art for Faith’s Sake
Issue 91, 2006
Richard Baxter & the English Puritans
Issue 89, 2006
Pilgrims & Exiles: Amish, Mennonites, & Brethren
Issue 84, 2004
John Newton: Author of “Amazing Grace”
Issue 81, 2004
Jonathan Edwards: Puritan Pastor & Theologian
Issue 77, 2003
The Christian Face of the Scientific Revolution
Issue 76, 2002
The French Huguenots and the Wars of Religion
Issue 71, 2001
The Wesleys: Founders of Methodism
Issue 69, 2001
William Wilberforce: Fighting the Slave Trade
Issue 53, 1997
Christianity & the American Revolution
Issue 50, 1996
Thomas Cranmer & the English Reformation
Issue 48, 1995
John Knox & the Scottish Reformation
Issue 46, 1995
The American Puritans
Issue 41, 1994
Martin Luther: The Later Years
Issue 39, 1993
George Whitefield: 17th c. Preacher & Revivalist
Issue 38, 1993
Columbus & Christianity in the Americas
Issue 35, 1992
Martin Luther: The Reformer’s Early Years
Issue 34, 1992
Golden Age of Hymns
Issue 31, 1991
Spiritual Awakenings in North America
Issue 23, 1989
Casper Schwenckfeld: Forgotten Reformer
Issue 21, 1989
William Tyndale: Early Reformer & Bible Translator
Issue 16, 1987
Jan Amos Comenius: Father of Modern Education
Issue 13, 1987
John Calvin: Reformer, Pastor, Theologian
Issue 12, 1986
John Bunyan & Pilgrim's Progress
Issue 11, 1986
Pietism: The Inner Experience of Faith
Issue 10, 1986
Jonathan Edwards & the Great Awakening
Issue 8, 1985
The Baptists
Issue 6, 1985
Radical Reformation: The Anabaptists
Issue 5, 1985
Zwingli: Father of the Swiss Reformation
Issue 4, 1984
John Wesley: Leader of the Methodist Movement
Issue 2, 1983
Zinzendorf & the Moravians
Issue 1, 1982

More From This Era

Philipp Jakob Spener

Protestant pastor who founded pietism.

Christopher Gehrz
Story Behind

Meet the Student-Professor Team Who Cracked Andrew Fuller’s Shorthand

Undergraduate Jonny Woods and theology professor Steve Holmes are the first to read Fuller’s sermons in 200 years.

Interview by Caleb Lindgren
All Loves Excelling: How Romance Inspired Charles Wesley’s View of God

The famous hymn-writer’s understanding of divine love was reflected in his mortal marriage.

Jeffrey W. Barbeau
Story Behind

Why a Compassionate Baptist Pastor Led a Revolution

John Chilembwe’s revolt against colonial Britain failed, but he is still hailed as a hero in Malawi.

Matthew Loftus
Excerpt | Theology

Jonathan Edwards Taught More Than Just an Angry God

The Puritan preacher’s theology actually depends on God’s love, not God’s wrath.

Oliver D. Crisp and Kyle C. Strobel
How the Philippines Became Catholic

The complex history behind Asia's most Christian country.

Jayeel Cornelio
Why the Enslaved Adopted the Religion of Their Masters—and Transformed It

The story of early African-American Christianity proves the power of the Resurrection against oppression.

Dante Stewart
Story Behind

The Contexts for Our Carols

Cherished Christmas carols help us to sing with the saints through the ages.

Josh Herring

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Philipp Jakob Spener
Protestant pastor who founded pietism.
William Wilberforce
Antislavery politician
John Woolman
Quaker mystic and abolitionist
George Fox
First friend
John Knox
Presbyterian with a sword
Menno Simons
Anabaptist peacemaker
John Smyth
The "Se-Baptist"
John Wesley
Methodical pietist
Blaise Pascal
Scientific and spiritual prodigy
George Whitefield
Sensational Evangelist of Britain and America
Brother Lawrence
Practitioner of God's presence
John of the Cross
Spanish mystic of the soul's dark night
William Law
Champion of the serious, devout, and holy life
Thomas Cranmer
Genius behind Anglicanism
John Eliot
Apostle to Native Americans
Matthew Ricci
Controversial evangelist to China
Francis Xavier
First missionary to Japan
Ulrich Zwingli
Militant Swiss reformer
Johann Sebastian Bach
"The Fifth Evangelist"
John Bunyan
Pilgrim who made progress in prison.
George Frideric Handel
The German-born English composer behind the "Messiah."
Rembrandt Harmensz Van Rijn
Dutch painter of the soul
Richard Baxter
Moderate in an Age of Extremes
Thomas Chalmers
Unrelenting advocate for the poor
John Newton
Reformed slave trader
Anne Bradstreet
America's first poet
Charles Wesley
Greatest hymn writer of all time
John Donne
Poet of God's love
George Herbert
England's greatest religious poet
John Milton
Puritan author of Paradise Lost
Isaac Watts
Father of English hymnody
Henry VIII
Defender of the faith
Francis Bacon
Philosopher of science
Erasmus
Pious humanist who sparked the Reformation
John Foxe
Martyrologist
Galileo Galilei
Misjudged astronomer
William Tyndale
Translator of the first English New Testament
Jacob Arminius
Irenic anti-Calvinist
John Calvin
Father of the Reformed faith
Jonathan Edwards
America's greatest theologian
Martin Luther
Passionate reformer

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