Three Early Female Protestant Reformers' Appropriation of Prophecy as Interpretation of Scripture

After setting forth a wider context of the role of prophecy for German medieval women, the dual medieval tradition of prophecy as visionary and as interpretation of scripture, and the protestant emphasis on prophecy as interpretation of scripture, this essay demonstrates that Argula von Grumbach, Ka...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Pak, G. Sujin 1971- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Cambridge Univ. Press [2015]
In: Church history
Year: 2015, Volume: 84, Issue: 1, Pages: 90-123
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Grumbach, Argula von 1492-1554 / Zell, Katharina 1497-1562 / Dentière, Marie 1495-1561 / Reformation / Prophetess
IxTheo Classification:CB Christian life; spirituality
FD Contextual theology
KAG Church history 1500-1648; Reformation; humanism; Renaissance
KBB German language area
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
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Description
Summary:After setting forth a wider context of the role of prophecy for German medieval women, the dual medieval tradition of prophecy as visionary and as interpretation of scripture, and the protestant emphasis on prophecy as interpretation of scripture, this essay demonstrates that Argula von Grumbach, Katharina Schütz Zell, and Marie Dentière not only echoed the appeals to the priesthood of all believers made by contemporary male reformers, they also embraced the teachings of these same male reformers that viewed prophecy as interpretation of scripture. In this way, prophecy became a significant lens by which Argula von Grumbach, Katharina Schütz Zell, and Marie Dentière conceived of themselves and their ministries—an understanding often lacking in the secondary sources that study these women. Specifically, it will be shown that each of these women employed Old Testament prophecy in ways that parallel contemporary male reformers' use of prophecy: presenting herself as speaking God's Word and not her own, locating her ministry within a larger biblical prophetic tradition, interpreting contemporary situations in the light of biblical prophecy and to distinguish between true and false prophets. The article concludes by exploring whether the male reformers actually intended this application of their teachings for women and exploring what is distinctive in these women's views and uses of prophecy.
ISSN:1755-2613
Contains:Enthalten in: Church history
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1017/S0009640714001723