Magisterial Reformation

The Reformation was a major movement from Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that, among other things, posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and to papal authority. The Reformation was the start of Protestantism and the Western Church that was inclusive of more than one church or denomination. Though, the Catholic Church continued its claim to be the one true church, the churches produced from the Magisterial Reformation have ongoing claims to being a part of the continuation of the Catholic Church as it was and is referred to in the Nicene Creed. There were several denominations looking at different ways to conduct Christian worship and Christian life relative to the Roman Church during this time period. Among these were the Magisterial Reformers and the Radical Reformers.

The Magisterial Reformation "denotes the Lutheran, Calvinist [Reformed], and Anglican churches" and how these denominations "related to secular authorities, such as princes, magistrates, or city councils", i.e. "the magistracy". While the Radical Reformation (that led to the Anabaptist Churches) rejected any secular authority over the church, the Magisterial Reformation argued for the interdependence of the church and secular authorities, i.e. "The magistrate had a right to authority within the church, just as the church could rely on the authority of the magistrate to enforce discipline, suppress heresy, or maintain order."

In addition, the term magister relates to the emphasis on authoritative teachers. The theological schools that are collectively known as magisterial Protestants include the Lutheran, Reformed, and Anglican traditions of Christianity.

The major reformers representing the Magisterial Reformation were Luther, Zwingli and Calvin, John Knox, as well as Thomas Cranmer. The Magisterial Reformers believed that secular authority should be followed, where it did not clash with biblical commands. An example of this was seen in the Peasant’s Rebellion of 1525 which Luther originally was sympathetic to, but later strongly condemned.