Chapter 10, Question 1: How was the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers influential in the eventual development of free mass education for all?
The doctrine, the priesthood for all believers, was instrumental in the realization of free education. Martin Luther was a proponent of this doctrine and argued that it was wrong for clergy members to get educated while the public remained illiterate to the extent they could not read the Bible ( Smith, 2020 ). Martin Luther believed that the doctrine would help eliminate the clergy's dominance in ministry (Ruffcorn, 2004). He quoted Ephesians stating that by grace you are saved through faith; not for yourself; it is God's gift, not a product of your work, lest any person should brag (King James Bible., 1769/2017, Eph. 2: 8-9). Using this verse, Martin Luther argued that the public did not need a mediator to connect them with God except through Jesus Christ. He used the doctrine to promote universal literacy through free mass education. His pursuit was fruitful and laid the groundwork for the advancement of universal education.
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The doctrine also motivated John Calvin, who passed the first obligatory education legislation in 1647, the Old Deluder Satan Act. The legislation required towns with fifty or more families to employ a teacher ( Smith, 2020 ). Towns with a hundred families were required to start schools. The legislation was invaluable in establishing a tradition of literacy and education in northern colonies. John Calvin was also driven to reform higher education. His efforts took salvation out of the hands of the clergy and into the hands of the public (Criss, 2017). The approach required that each individual have adequate knowledge needed to understand the Bible. Calvin's efforts also steered Christian beliefs away from the confines of the church and encouraged people to derive their interpretation of the Bible. The doctrine of the universal priesthood helped to inspire great men such as Martin Luther and John Calvin. Their efforts were instrumental in developing traditions of education and literacy which led to the development of free education.
References
Criss, P., T. (2017, October 30). How the reformation reformed education. Belhaven University. http://blogs.belhaven.edu/asfaculty/2017/10/30/how-the-reformation-reformed-education/
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ephesians-Chapter-2/#8 (Original work published 1769).
Ruffcorn, K. E. (2004). Recovering the priesthood of all believers: a study of the discovery and deployment of spiritual gifts for service and their effect on the individual's assurance of God's grace and awareness of neighbor's need. Asbury Theological Seminary . https://place.asburyseminary.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1205&context=ecommonsatsdissertations
Smith, S., J. (2020). Windows into the history and philosophy of education. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque.
