English Reformer John Frith on Catholic Theology of Purgatory

Autor: T. G. Chugunova, L. V. Sofronova, A. V. Khazina
Jazyk: ruština
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: Научный диалог, Vol 0, Iss 3, Pp 439-452 (2020)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2225-756X
2227-1295
DOI: 10.24224/2227-1295-2020-3-439-452
Popis: The Catholic theology of purgatory and its refutation in the works of the ideologists of Protestantism in the first third of the XVI century is analyzed in the article. The works of the little-known in the domestic historiography of the English reformer John Frith (1503-1533) are investigated. Frith’s commitment to Protestant dogmas on justification by faith and the exceptional authority of Holy Scripture is shown. It is noted that Frith, following them, denied the existence of purgatory, since it cannot be confirmed by the Holy Scriptures, and he interpreted the “cleansing fire” mentioned in the New Testament texts symbolically as torment of conscience and repentance. It is claimed that the theologian considered faith to be the atoning sacrifice of Christ the only means of salvation. It is concluded that the denial of purgatory naturally led Frith to a refutation of the Catholic practice of papal acts of grace and their theological justification, for which he was arrested and sentenced to be burned. It is emphasized that J. Frith called purgatory "creation" of the Roman pontiff and saw purely material reasons for the emergence and existence of faith in purgatory. It is noted that criticism by the English reformer of the Catholic faith in purgatory was subsequently reflected in the Anglican creed.
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