(Károli Gáspár Református Egyetem Hittudományi Kar Egyháztörténeti Kutatóintézet, 2025) Leeuw van Weenen, Marco de; Protestáns politikatörténeti kutatócsoport; Károli Gáspár Református Egyetem
During his studies in Braşov and Wittenberg, furthermore also when serving as a pastor in Gönc, Hungarian bible translator Gáspár Károlyi experienced life in a community ruled by chosen leaders. At the university in Wittenberg he probably became familiar with Melanchthon’s views on worldly authority, as a church leader he committed to the views laid down in the Confession of Tarcal and Torda (based on Beza’s confession) and the Second Helvetic Confession written by Bullinger. Károlyi also wrote a book on the causes of the good and bad luck of all countries, in which he stated his wishes for a protestant king and nobility. In his interactions with several persons of authority, he always emphasized their responsibility to defend and support the protestant religion. In Károlyi’s opinion the worldly authorities were supposed to be exemplary members of the Christian church, who have their own field of responsibilities, but can always be rectified by the leaders of the church.