Know What You Believe with Michael Horton Reformers or Revolutionaries? Why the Church Needed the Reformation
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Oct 31, 2025 
Gavin Ortlund, a historical theologian, and Jordan B. Cooper, a systematic theologian, delve into the complexities of the Reformation. They explore whether the Reformers were reformers or radicals, discussing the historical context that led to significant changes in the church. The conversation highlights the corruption of the late medieval church and the evolution of Luther's doctrine. They also tackle the balance between conservation and change, questioning if reform could have emerged from within the church instead of breaking away.
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Reformation Inherited A Divided Church
- The Reformation did not split a united church but arose within an already divided medieval Christianity.
- Protestantism reframed unity away from a single visible hierarchy to a broader conception of church unity.
Reformation Expanded Access To Scripture
- Access to Scripture and theological learning widened dramatically because of the Reformation's effects.
- Later apologetic and theological choices depend on literacy and resources made available by Protestant reform.
Conserve While Reforming
- A balanced 'conservative Reformation' seeks to reform abuses while conserving historic Christian truth.
- Radical revolutionaries like the Anabaptists represented a different, more disruptive strand.
