MELANCHTHON, PHILIPP

born Feb. 15, 1497, Bretten, Palatinate died April 19, 1560, probably Wittenberg, Saxony original name Philipp Schwartzerd (German: Black Earth; in Greek, Melanchthon) German author of the Confession of Augsburg of the Lutheran Church (1530), humanist, Reformer, theologian, and educator. He was a friend of Martin Luther and defended his views. In 1521 Melanchthon published the Loci communes, the first systematic treatment of evangelical doctrine. Because of his academic expertise he was asked to help in founding schools, and he virtually reorganized the whole educational system of Germany, founding and reforming several of its universities. Additional reading C.L. Manschreck, Melanchthon: The Quiet Reformer (1958), is the most complete biography; see also R. Stupperich, Der unbekannte Melanchthon (1961; Eng. trans. by R.H. Fischer, Melanchthon, 1965). M. Rogness, Philip Melanchthon: Reformer Without Honor (1969), contains aspects of Melanchthon's thought. His basic works and letters may be found in K.G. Bretschneider and E. Bindseil (eds.), Corpus Reformatorum, 28 vol. (183460); W. Pauck (ed.), Melanchthon and Bucer (1969), contains the 1521 Loci; and C.L. Manschreck (ed.), Melanchthon on Christian Doctrine (1965), the 1555 Loci. For information on Lutheran symbols, see T.G. Tappert (ed.), The Book of Concord (1959); for educational endeavours, C. Hartfelder, Philipp Melanchthon als Praeceptor Germania (1889), with bibliography. W. Hammer, Die Melanchthonforschung im Wandel der Jahrhunderte, 2 vol. (196768), has a good bibliography to 1965; for a discussion of Melanchthon's relation to patristics, see P. Fraenkel, Testimonia Patrum (1961).