Written by Dr. Marcus J. Serven
“For we are an aroma of Christ to God among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.” 2 Cor. 3:15-16
Who was Girolamo Savonarola (A.D. 1452-1498)? Briefly stated, he was an Italian monk and preacher who arose just prior to the Reformation. Savonarola was under Dominican orders and vows throughout his adult life (from 1474); although he grew somewhat more independent as he became better known throughout Italy. Born in Ferrara, from 1482 he made his home and base of operations in Florence. There he became the Prior of the convent of San Marco and began to preach in the cathedral. Church historian, S. M. Houghton observes,
But whereas Wycliffe and Huss were involved in attacking the unbiblical teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, Savonarola was not a doctrinal reformer. He was a man who attacked the evil lives and immoral habits of many of his fellow countrymen. God had used the writings of Augustine of Hippo to open his eyes to the moral apostasy in the Church.
— S. M. Houghton, Sketches in Church History, 72
He called the city and the Roman Catholic Church to moral reform by a series of scathing sermons on a coming Apocalypse. This apocalyptic theme, which he garnered from reading the Old Testament prophets and the Book of Revelation, dominated his preaching and became his lifetime message. For example Savonarola proclaimed in one fiery sermon, “In the primitive church the chalices were of wood, the prelates of gold; in these days the church hath chalices of gold and prelates of wood.” This kind of direct confrontation of church leaders brought forth both praise from some and opposition from others. Moreover, Savonarola embraced an early version of the doctrine of biblical authority (Lat. Sola Scriptura = “by Scripture Alone”) and called the Church to reject the authority of the Pope by looking to the Bible alone.
In 1494 Charles VIII, King of France, sent his armies ravaging throughout Italy and twice spared Florence due to Savonarola’s requests. The people of Florence interpreted this to be an example of God protecting the city from judgment. Savonarola used this “victory” to call for further moral reforms in Florence, which were enforced at times with a strong hand—for example during the Carnival of 1496 many profane and lewd books were publicly burnt in a “bonfire of vanities.” Some people welcomed these changes, but others resisted his efforts at reformation. He was openly opposed by the rival Franciscans, and by citizens who were still loyal to Piero de’ Medici (who had fled when Charles VIII threatened the city with destruction).
Pope Alexander VI (also known as Alexander Borgia) responded to Savonarola’s criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church by threatening to place Florence under an interdict if they allowed Savonarola to continue his preaching. The Pope referred to Savonarola as “that meddlesome friar” and in 1497 excommunicated him. Savonarola responded with the charge that the Pope was “a representative of Satan not of Christ.” This led to Savonarola’s arrest in 1498, a trial for sedition and heresy, an extensive time of torture, and finally on May 23 a martyr’s death. Between episodes of torture he wrote meditations on Psalm 32 and 51, which Martin Luther later published and referred to them as “a piece of evangelical testing and Christian piety.” At his execution, Savonarola was stripped of his priestly vestments. The presiding Bishop said, “I separate thee from the church militant and from the church triumphant.” Savonarola boldly replied, “Militant, not triumphant, for you have no power to separate me from the church triumphant to which I go.” He was then hanged, and his body was burned at the stake. His remains, and those of two other men who were killed alongside of him, were thrown into the river Arno so that no relic of his life could be preserved. Dr. Howard F. Vos summarized Savonarola’s life with these words,
While Savonarola demanded reform in the church, he never took the more advanced position of Wycliffe and Huss. He had no quarrel with the teaching or the organization of the church, but seems to have believed in justification by faith. He was characterized by religious zeal and personal piety.
— Howard F. Vos, Who’s Who in Christian History, 607-608
Thus, a remarkable man passed from the scene. Yet, his energetic preaching, biblical teaching, and personal zeal laid the ground work for the Reformation which would spring forth into existence from the religious awakening of another monk in twenty years time–and that man was Martin Luther.
Resources for Further Study:
Douglas, J. D., Gen. Edit. The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church. Second Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1978.
- “Alexander VI,” by Robert C. Clouse
- “Dominicans” by A. S. Toon
- “Papal States,” by Marvin W. Anderson
- “Reformation, The” by Robert D. Linder
- “Roman Catholicism” by H. M. Carson
- “Savonarola, Girolamo,” by Robert C. Clouse
Houghton, S. M. Sketches from Church History. Edinburgh, Scotland: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1980.
Kuiper, R. B. The Glorious Body of Christ. Edinburgh, Scotland: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1966.
Sheldon, Henry C. History of the Christian Church. Vol. 2, “The Medieval Church.” New York, NY: Thomas Y. Crowell and Co., 1895; Peabody, MA: Hendricksen Publishers. Reprint, 1988.
Vos, Howard F. “Savonarola” in Who’s Who in Christian History. Douglas, J. D. and Philip W. Comfort (Co-editors). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale Publishers, 1992.
Dr. Marcus J. Serven, ThM and DMin
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