Martin Bucer

Martin Bucer (November 11, 1491–February 28, 1551) was a Protestant Reformer and scholar who is best known for reconciling differing Reform groups and contributing to the development of various Protestant traditions.

Early life

Bucer was born on November 11, 1491 in the town of Schlettstadt, near Strasbourg in the German-speaking area of modern-day France. Although from a very poor family (his father was a cobbler), Bucer was able to attend a prestigious Dominican-led Latin school in Schlettstadt, in which he took to join in 1506. In 1516, Bucer transferred to Heidelberg, in modern-day Germany, to another Dominican institution for the purpose of continuing his education. One of his professors there was Johannes Brenz, who would also become a Reformer, and Bucer became influenced by Erasmus during this time.

Becoming a Reformer

In April of 1518, Bucer happened to attend to Heidelberg Disputation, where he heard Martin Luther criticize the unbiblical views held by the Roman Catholic Church. He quickly became convinced by Luther and received permission by the Pope to leave the Dominican Order in 1521. After working for the count palatine of the Rhine, and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Bucer became a pastor at Landstuhl, in modern-day far-western Germany.

While at Landstuhl, Bucer married Elizabeth Silbereisen, a former nun. After the leader of Landstuhl, Franz von Sickingen, unsuccessfully led the Knights’ War against the elector of Trier, Bucer was excommunicated by the Roman Catholic Church in 1523 and went to Strasbourg. Along the way, Bucer stopped at Weissenburg to help the Reform movement there, and he preached several sermons and wrote his first theological treatise.

Arriving in Strasbourg in 1523, Bucer took part in the Reform movement there. He pastored the St. Aurelia’s church from 1524 to 1531 and the St. Thomas church from 1531 to 1540. He also wrote several texts including commentaries and catechisms. Among Bucer's many actions, in 1529 he persuaded the city to abolish the Mass. Although he opposed capital punishment against anabaptists, he worked to banish them from the city.

Role as mediator

Starting in 1529, Bucer became involved in the controversies of the Eucharist. His city, Strasbourg was located between the areas influenced by Luther and Ulrich Zwingli. Although Bucer held both Luther's and Zwingli's view of the Eucharist at different times, eventually adopting a middle-ground view, and despite his friendship with Zwingli, he could help the two reach an agreement in the 1529 Marburg Colloquy. Bucer wrote a compromise statement on the issue, but it was affirmed by only four cities including his own.

After this, Bucer worked hard and frequently to create unity among Protestant Christians. Additionally, he "participated in nearly every meeting on religious questions held in Germany and Switzerland between 1524 and 1548." Bucer often supported using "obscure language and ambiguous formulas" when trying to reach a consensus on extremely divisive issues where any explicit agreement could not be achieved. He supported this because he thought that general theological reform among the people was more important than solving specific theological disagreements, which could be done at a later time. The agreements Bucer played a part in included the First Helvetic Confession and the Wittenberg Concord, both in 1536. Despite their limited success, both agreements could not create real or permanent unity among Protestants.

Further reading

• Greschat, Martin. Martin Bucer: A Reformer and His Times. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004).