In Conversation with Philip Melanchthon
In Conversation with Philip Melanchthon
The final of three introductory discussions with the main characters of Broken Bonds
This week, I’m once again traveling back in time to 1524 to get to know Philip Melanchthon, the final main character in my book Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation. Read on to make his acquaintance.
Amy: You’re Philip Melanchthon, right?
Melanchthon: That depends. My birth name is Philip Schwarzerdt, but when I became a scholar I changed my surname to Melanchthon, the Greek version of the same name.
A: That’s confusing.
M: I think you’ll find that many people are doing it.
A: And how old are you?
M: Twenty-seven.
A: So you’re still rather young.
M: I assure you, I don’t feel like it.
A: Tell me about your childhood.
M: I was born and raised in the city of Bretten, which is in a region of Germany known as the Palatinate. My father was a skilled armorer. He even made some armor for the emperor. My grandfather on my mother’s side was mayor of our town. My father was often away, so it was my mother who raised my siblings and me.
A: And was it a happy time growing up?
M: Sometimes yes, sometimes no. My parents were pious people who did their best to care for us, but they could not protect us from war. When I was about ten years old, Bretten was placed under siege. It was an awful time: many of my friend’s fathers died. Then my own father drank from a well that had been poisoned. Soon after, my father and grandfather both died within days of each other.
A: Wow. That’s rough. What kind of schooling did you have?
M: I was tutored in Latin from a young age, and then in Greek. My great-uncle Reuchlin was a famous scholar of the Hebrew language. He managed my educational career, but it was difficult for me to get ahead. I had some different ideas, and universities do not always like different ideas.
A: I’m sorry to say things haven’t changed in 2024.
M: I was eventually able to make a name for myself in the study of languages. Everyone said I was the best linguist they had ever seen at such a young age. Even the great Erasmus sung my praises.
A: Hey, I met that guy!
M: Did he say anything about me?
A: Not that I recall. But what happened next?
M: I could not get a professorship in the Palatinate because they were too set in their old ways. So my great-uncle found me a position at the University of Wittenberg in Saxony, which is where I teach now. There I met my wife, Katharina, and I also grew close to two of my fellow professors: Andreas Karlstadt and Martin Luther.
A: Ah, I talked to Luther and he mentioned that Karlstadt had caused a disturbance.
M: Yes, I prefer not to discuss that. It was a painful chapter. When Luther began his protest against corruption in the church, Karlstadt and I were both there supporting him. We shared his understanding of the gospel as revealed in Scripture. But as time went on and Luther was called to appear before the emperor, I noticed a distance developing between Luther and Karlstadt. While Luther was away at the Wartburg Castle under the elector’s protection, Karlstadt and I tried to pursue church reform in Wittenberg, but he moved in a more radical direction, and everything started to fall apart. Luther had to come back. Karlstadt was banished. I can’t help feeling that I failed somehow. I ought to have taken a stronger stand against Karlstadt.
A: I’m sure you had your reasons.
M: My reasons are rarely treated with any respect by my fellows.
A: It sounds like you are carrying around a lot of frustration. At least you still have your great-uncle Reuchlin to offer you advice.
M: He disowned me when I started supporting Luther. Wrote me out of his will and everything.
A: That seems rather extreme.
M: You’ll find this is a time of extremes where people like me who search for common ground are constantly derided. Perhaps things are better in your own time?
A: No, I’m afraid things are exactly the same. But what has happened since Luther returned to Wittenberg?
M: We’ve made little progress getting the emperor and the pope to see our point of view. Worse yet, Erasmus is getting ready to oppose Luther in print.
A: I heard something about that.
M: If he attacks our movement, it will be terrible. Most scholars respect Erasmus greatly, including myself.
A: That’s funny. Luther seemed otherwise inclined.
M: Yes, his extreme hatred of Erasmus is a real problem. He does not know how to moderate his temper.
A: Pardon me for asking, but would you say that you and Luther are friends?
M: Yes, of course. But that does not mean we always agree, and in truth, he is much closer with some of the other professors. But he values my skills, as I do his. We both know the work of reform needs us. Relationships can be so difficult.
A: Tell me about it! Last question: Do you have any children?
M: Yes, I have a lovely daughter named Anna. She is only two years old, but already very clever. I hope the Lord will bless us with more children, but until then, I will treasure her as my one princess.
A: That’s sweet. Alright, I wish you well in all your endeavors.
M: Thank you. No good wishes would go awry at this point.
This completes my series of three conversations with the leading characters of my book, Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, which releases on November 12. Stay tuned over the next few weeks as I will be exploring some of the themes of this novel and its eventual sequel, Face to Face, due in late 2025.
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