In 1453, Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, fell to the Ottoman Turks. This was a disaster for the Greeks but it became a blessing for Western Europe. It was inevitable that those who had the means, that is, the educated elite, sought refuge in the West and they took with them valuable manuscripts.
The spark that ignited the Reformation
For the first time there was significant interaction between Western scholars educated in Latin and Eastern scholars educated in Greek. Direct access to classical Greek works and the Greek New Testament was now possible. There was a keen interest in classical literature, art, drama and philosophy.
This interaction became the spark that ignited the Renaissance. 'Ad fontes' was the motto meaning '[back] to the sources.' Research and consultation of the primary sources results in deeper insights and better understanding. 'Ad fontes' also became the motto of people such as Luther, Melanchthon, Zwingli, Calvin and Tyndale. In God’s providence, learning Koine Greek and studying the New Testament in the original language was the spark that ignited the Reformation. Some of the Reformers began to translate the Bible. The translation of the Scriptures directly from Greek and Hebrew into the vernacular language of the people meant that ordinary people could read and understand the Bible.
