Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560) was a German Reformer. He studied Greek at the University of Heidelberg before taking a teaching position in Greek studies at the University of Wittenberg. Here he met Martin Luther and the two became close allies and like-minded associates. Melancthon is often called the organizational genius behind the German Reformation. He wrote the Augsburg Confession and assumed Luther’s mantle of leadership after the great Reformer’s death. Melancthon’s personality was quite different from Luther’s, however, and his tendency to seek compromise rather than stand firm on certain key issues resulted in an early schism in the Lutheran church. His great intellect produced many of the early, official writings of the Lutheran church and he was the developer of the German system of education that continues to influence the schooling of children in that nation.
