Brethren Of The Common Life -- By: Lloyd A. Harsch
Journal: Journal for Baptist Theology & Ministry
Volume: JBTM 08:2 (Fall 2011)
Article: Brethren Of The Common Life
Author: Lloyd A. Harsch
JBTM 8:2 (Fall 2011) p. 70
Brethren Of The Common Life
Dr. Harsch is Professor Church History, occupying the SBC Chair of Cooperative Program Studies, and Director of the Institute for Faith in the Public Square at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a colleague of Dr. Holcomb in the Chuch History department at NOBTS.
The Reformation is one of the defining eras in the life of the Church. Such monumental change does not materialize without others laying the groundwork. One such movement emerged in the century preceding the Reformation. It was known as the Brethren of the Common Life.
The Brethren were a lay-led attempt at reforming the Church. They were not the first group to attempt such a task. Prior to their efforts, the Beguines (female) and the Beghards (male) brought some measure of reform to the Church in the eleventh century and the thirteenth centuries respectively.1 However, the impact of their work faded as their followers lost the zeal of their founders. The Brethren movement was a revival of these earlier attempts at reform. While essentially a local movement centered around Deventer in the Netherlands, Brethren schools and teachers could be found throughout Western Europe. The aim of these practical mystics was the reformation of the Church through the education of the youth and the instruction of the common people in the fundamentals of Christian living.2 The Christ-centered teachings and lifestyle of the Brethren greatly impacted the Church and the Reformation. Through their work, they either directly or indirectly influenced every major character on the Reformation stage.
JBTM 8:2 (Fall 2011) p. 71
Gerhard Groote (1340–1384)
The acknowledged founder of the Brethren of the Common Life was Gerhard Groote (or Greete), born into a wealthy family in Deventer. Deventer was the chief town of Overyssel, located in the south-central part of the Netherlands, and was a center for trade and manufacturing. It was also noted as a place of learning and culture.3
Wealth brought the advantage of education. Groote obtained a Master of Arts degree from the University of Paris in 1358 after three years of study.4 Magic and law were also interests of his at that time. He later continued his education at Prague.
The following years could be described as those of a wandering student/playboy, for Groote’s parents had left him quite a fortune upon which to live.5 To this, he added pre...
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