History of Evangelicalism

In continental Europe since the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century Lutheran churches have been called "Evangelical" (German "Evangelische") churches, in contradistinction to the Reformed churches of Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin, and their associates. This usage is not widely standard in the English language.Fact|date=February 2008

From the 17th century onward the Puritan party in the Church of England, which sought to identify that church with the Reformed movement of the Reformation, was also called the "evangelical party". Some evangelicals withdrew from that Communion and became known as "Non-Conformists" and "Dissenters". The more radical of the Non-Conformist evangelicals were known as "Separatists" or "Independents". Today, Evangelicals in the Anglican Communion generally fall into three broad groups: conservative, open, charismatic.Fact|date=February 2008

In the 18th century the Wesleyan revival within the Church of England influenced the formation of a party of pietistic Anglicans, whose descendant movement is still called the "Evangelical party". In the United States, Jonathan Edwards and the "New Lights" (revival Calvinists) were opposed by "Old Lights" (confessional Calvinists). George Whitfield, a Methodist, continued and expanded this pietistic "New Light" revivalism together with the non-Calvinist, Arminian Methodist movement. This broad movement became known as the First Great Awakening, which is the foundation of what is most commonly called "Evangelicalism" in the United States today.Fact|date=February 2008

In the 19th century "evangelicals" were the supporters of the Revival and the social activism that arose from it ("Second Great Awakening" in the United States) everywhere that Protestantism had taken root.Fact|date=February 2008

From the late 20th century such conservative Protestant Christians, and their churches and social movements, are often called "evangelical" to distinguish them from Protestants who have a tendency towards more liberal Christianity.Fact|date=February 2008

In foreign languages, words derived from "ευαγγελιον evangelion" should not automatically be equated with "evangelical(ism)". In the German language, the word "evangelisch" means Protestant, contrasted to "evangelikal" (borrowed from English). Germany's union of Protestant churches, including mainstream Lutheran and Reformed churches, is the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland or Evangelical Church in Germany.

Note that in continental Europe the word "Evangelical" is often understood to mean simply Protestant, or specifically Lutheran, as a literal translation of the German "evangelisch". In Germany churches of the Protestant religious tradition known as Lutheran in the USA and other parts of the world are referred to specifically as "Evangelische" (literally "Evangelicals"), which is not the same as "evangelical" in English. See more under "Usage" below.Fact|date=February 2008