The Reformation and Robert Barnes: History, Theology and Polemic in Early Modern England

by Korey Maas

Overview

The first extensive examination of Robert Barnes, his career, misconstrued theology and wide-ranging influence beyond England.

By the time of his death at the stake in 1540, Robert Barnes was recognized as one of the most influential evangelical reformers in Henrician England. Friend and foe alike judged him the most popular and persuasive preacher of the'new learning'. He enjoyed the patronage of King, Archbishop, and Vicegerent at home, and the praise of evangelical princes and theologians abroad. He wrote what would be the closest the Henrician reformers came to a systematic theology, as well as the first Protestant history of the papacy. Then his dramatic, and not entirely explicable, execution quickly ensured his lasting place in the century's popular propaganda.
In this first extensive examination of Robert Barnes and his reformation significance the author provides a comprehensive survey of the reformer's stormy career, a clear and convincing analysis of his often misconstrued theology, and a persuasive argument that the influence of Barnes and his novel polemical programme extended not only into the century following his death, but was as prominent on the continent as it was in his native England.

KOREY MAAS is Associate Professor of Church History, Concordia University, Irvine, California

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781843835349
Publisher:	BOYDELL & BREWER INC
Publication date:	04/15/2010
Series:	ISSN , #23
Pages:	266
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Abbreviations and short titles xi

Introduction 1

Part I The Life and Theology of Robert Barnes

1 The Life of Robert Barnes 9

Early years to exile 10

From exile to ambassador 21

From ambassador to martyr 27

2 The Theology of Robert Barnes 42

The doctrine of justification 42

The sacrament of the altar 50

Church, state, and supremacy 58

Part II Barnes's Programme: History, Theology, and Polemic

3 History In Theology: Sentenciae and Supplications 71

Sentenciae ex doctoribus collectae (1530) 72

A supplicatyon made by Robert Barnes (1531) 82

A supplicacion unto the most gracyous prynce (1534) 93

4 Theology In History: Vitae Romanorum Pontificum (1536) 107

The nature and use of Barnes's sources 110

The content and method of the Vitae 115

The thesis and goal of the Vitae 130

5 The Historical-Theological Programme of Robert Barnes 137

History, theology, and authority 138

Contemporary polemics: comparisons and contrasts 146

A summary of Barnes's programme 159

Part III The Reception and Revision of Barnes's Programme

6 The Evangelical Evaluation of Barnes's Programme 167

Early modern commentary on Barnes's programme 168

The republication of Barnes's works 176

The translation of Barnes's works 195

7 Robert Barnes: His Successors and His Legacy 206

Barnes's works as early modern sources 206

Barnes's works as early modern models 213

The reformation significance of Robert Barnes 222

Bibliography 227

Index 243

Editorial Reviews

This ably researched and well written book does full justice to [Barnes'] life and the writings that ensured his influence long after his death. [...] Once barely present in later Protestant historiography, Robert Barnes has now happily been accorded the recognition he surely deserved.

TLS

This splendid study of Robert Barnes surpasses previous works in giving us a full and perceptive picture of a figure who [...] held an important place in the early English evangelical movement. [This] insightful work will be a definitive source on Barnes.

JOURNAL OF CHURCH HISTORY

Reveals more of the interconnected nature of the international Protestant movement in its early years.

THE EXPOSITORY TIMES

A complex and sophisticated analysis of [Barnes's] life, writings and the impact of his teachings in the religious and political debates of early sixteenth-century England and beyond. [...] It offers us a comprehensive study of this important figure.

RENAISSANCE QUARTLERY

Represents a significant effort in rehabilitating the reputation of Barnes. . It is a substantial contribution to the field.

TRINITY JOURNAL

Korey Maas' gut lesbare, klar strukturierte und beispielgesättigte Dissertation schließt eine Forschungslücke zu einem der wichtigsten englischen Protestanten des 16. Jahrhunderts [...] Zudem gelingt es Maas [...] Robert Barnes etwas aus dem theologischen Schatten seines Ordensbruders und Freundes Martin Luther treten zu lassen.

SEHEPUNKTE

A valuable and thoughtful study of the life and writings of an important figure in the development of the early English Reformation.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES REVIEW

Professor Maas is to be congratulated on a work of thorough scholarship, which has raised our awareness of this secondary figure, and filled a long standing gap in our knowledge of the English Reformation.

ARCHIV FÜR REFORMATIONSGESCHICHTE

This is a tremendous monograph: well-researched, reliably informed, rigorously referenced and carefully nuanced. Maas not only succeeds in providing a much needed new assessment of the English Lutheran and his historical-theological programme, but opens up many new and exciting avenues for future research.

JOURNAL OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY

Represents a significant effort in rehabilitating the reputation of Barnes. . It is a substantial contribution to the field. TRINITY JOURNAL

This splendid study of Robert Barnes surpasses previous works in giving us a full and perceptive picture of a figure who [...] held an important place in the early English evangelical movement. [This] insightful work will be a definitive source on Barnes. JOURNAL OF CHURCH HISTORY

A valuable and thoughtful study of the life and writings of an important figure in the development of the early English Reformation. RELIGIOUS STUDIES REVIEW

Professor Maas is to be congratulated on a work of thorough scholarship, which has raised our awareness of this secondary figure, and filled a long standing gap in our knowledge of the English Reformation. ARCHIV FÜR REFORMATIONSGESCHICHTE

Reveals more of the interconnected nature of the international Protestant movement in its early years. THE EXPOSITORY TIMES

This is a tremendous monograph: well-researched, reliably informed, rigorously referenced and carefully nuanced. Maas not only succeeds in providing a much needed new assessment of the English Lutheran and his historical-theological programme, but opens up many new and exciting avenues for future research. JOURNAL OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY

A complex and sophisticated analysis of [Barnes's] life, writings and the impact of his teachings in the religious and political debates of early sixteenth-century England and beyond. [...] It offers us a comprehensive study of this important figure. RENAISSANCE QUARTLERY

Korey Maas' gut lesbare, klar strukturierte und beispielgesättigte Dissertation schließt eine Forschungslücke zu einem der wichtigsten englischen Protestanten des 16. Jahrhunderts [...] Zudem gelingt es Maas [...] Robert Barnes etwas aus dem theologischen Schatten seines Ordensbruders und Freundes Martin Luther treten zu lassen. SEHEPUNKTE
This ably researched and well written book does full justice to [Barnes'] life and the writings that ensured his influence long after his death. [...] Once barely present in later Protestant historiography, Robert Barnes has now happily been accorded the recognition he surely deserved. TLS

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