Reformation Heroes Volume Two, book cover
Table of Contents
June 11, 2025
Reformation Heroes Volume Two By Diana Kleyn and Joel R. Beeke Book Review
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If Volume One got you hooked on the drama, depth, and conviction of the Reformation, Volume Two will remind you why it mattered—and why it still does. Diana Kleyn and Joel Beeke return with another round of gripping, accessible biographies that breathe life into the lesser-known but no-less-heroic figures who carried the Reformation flame into the next generation.
Like the first volume, this one doesn’t read like a textbook—it reads like a storybook for grown-ups who love church history. Every chapter is a miniature drama of conviction, courage, and costly obedience. You’re not bogged down with names and dates. Instead, you're pulled into the personal, the human—the moments that shaped not just theology but lives and nations.
So, who are the heroes this time around?
We meet Guido de Brès, the author of the Belgic Confession, who wrote one of the most beautiful summaries of Reformed theology from a prison cell—then sealed it with his life. There’s Caspar Olevianus and Zacharias Ursinus, two young theologians who helped craft the Heidelberg Catechism, a document that still comforts and teaches centuries later. And behind them stood Elector Frederick III, the ruler whose support made it all possible.
Then there’s John Knox, the Scottish firebrand who preached with such force that even queens trembled. Jeanne d’Albret, Queen of Navarre, brings a refreshing contrast—quiet, regal courage as she defended the Huguenots in France. Jan Laski, a Polish reformer, traveled and led across Europe, tirelessly working for unity among Protestants. These stories stretch the borders of the Reformation we usually hear about, reminding us it wasn’t just a German or Swiss movement—it was international, and it was unstoppable.
Council of Trent
What makes these stories even more remarkable is the historical backdrop they played out against. While reformers were risking everything to preach the gospel and teach sound doctrine, the Roman Catholic Church was digging in its heels through the Council of Trent (1545–1563). This was Rome’s official answer to the Reformation—a hardline reaffirmation of its doctrines, sacraments, and authority.
The council doubled down on the very issues reformers were confronting: indulgences, justification, Scripture, and the role of the Church. So these weren’t just personal risks—these believers were standing firm in the face of a global theological standoff. The stakes couldn’t have been higher.
Five Solas
What also shines in Volume Two is how the Reformers didn’t just fight for doctrine—they taught it. Many of the heroes here were educators at heart, shaping schools, writing catechisms, and training the next generation to love and live the gospel. At the core of their teaching were the five solas: sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), and soli Deo gloria (to the glory of God alone). These weren’t just slogans—they were the foundation of a whole new way of thinking about salvation, the Church, and the Christian life. Whether in classrooms, churches, or courtrooms, these truths were taught with clarity and conviction, equipping ordinary believers to stand firm in turbulent times.
Conclusion
And once again, Kleyn and Beeke bring out what made these people tick—not just what they did, but why they did it. These weren't just thinkers or rebels. They were people captured by the gospel, convinced that God's Word was worth living—and dying—for.
Volume Two is all about perseverance. It shows how the Reformation didn’t just explode and then fade—it spread and deepened, passed on by faithful believers in pulpits, palaces, and prisons. The writing is crisp and clear, the pacing tight, and the stories full of soul. You finish each chapter both moved and motivated.
If you enjoyed Volume One, this is an easy yes. And if you're just starting your journey into the world of Reformation history, this volume stands just as strong on its own. It’s history with a heartbeat—and these are heroes worth knowing.