An Introduction to the History and Theology of the Reformation

The 16th-century Reformation was a historical event of paramount importance in the history of the West and can be studied from many different perspectives. The Reformation had profound implications for every aspect of Western history; in the development of political structures, social and economic relations, education, science, art, among others.

As Christians, we are most interested in the consequences the Reformation has had for the church and its history. Within the Latin American context, the controversies and divisions that arose during the Reformation are very current. Here, perhaps in a more pronounced way than anywhere else in the world, we have an opposition between a traditional Roman Catholic church that has enjoyed a religious monopoly since the time of the conquest, and a proliferation of relatively new (in Latin America) Protestant or evangelical denominations that claim to represent true Christianity.

Within this same context, we can note that, both on the evangelical side and on the Roman Catholic side, there is a lack of knowledge and understanding regarding the Reformation itself. On the evangelical side, there is little knowledge about the roots of the evangelical church. Many of the most important concepts and doctrines of the reformers are unknown or even rejected by today's evangelical church.

In this book, we propose to analyze the phenomenon of the Reformation from a historical and theological perspective. We encourage you to study it to gain a better understanding of what is included in the book.