Wednesday, February 6, 2013

"Ninety-Five Theses" -- Martin Luther (1517)

Author Bio: Martin Luther was originally a German monk but turned reformer when he realized all of the corruption around him and was awakened spiritually. Luther was also a professor of theology and originally a priest but soon his teachings challenged the pope and was excommunicated and viewed as an outlaw in Europe. He realized the natural sin of humanity and that no amount of good deeds/prayers would get him to Heaven, instead he developed the belief of salvation by faith alone.

Context: This document's full name is Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences and was his response to the selling of indulgences by Johann Tetzel. Efficacy means the effectiveness. The essay was pinned on the door of of the church in Wittenberg. Indulgences are the cancelling out of a sin that has already been forgiven in hopes of reliving time in purgatory, they were normally bought in Luther's time. Selling indulgences, at the time, was being abused by the Church in order to raise more money. This is Luther's first condemnation of the Church and catalyzes the Protestant Reformation.

Summary: Martin Luther begins the document with addressing the reader/public, relaying that he hopes anyone who can read it does do so and that the word should spread the word to others who do not have access to it. In his first points he outright undermines the power of the Pope by declaring that he does not have the power/ability to "remit any guilt or penalties." Basically he is saying that the Church can not grant you pardons from purgatory. He also says that forgiveness or remittance cannot be bought from the Church but will only be granted by the will of God. He also calls out the Pope for building the Basilica of St. Peter with the money of his destitute believers and not with his own abundance of money. He ends his essay saying that Christians should enter heaven with sound belief and peace rather than after having to go through many obstacles and difficulties to secure eternity in heaven.

Key Quotation: "The true treasure of the Church is the Holy Gospel of the glory and grace of God."
"Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has a share in all the benefits of Christ and of the Church, given by God, even without letters of pardon"


3 comments:

  1. I really like how much information you put into the author information. It helped me understand why Luther wrote this and what was going on during his time period. Another quote to consider is number 33, "We must espcially beware of those who say that these pardons from the Pope are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to God..."

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  2. Notice the critical tone and the format - a numbered list.

    Another quote to consider: "43. Christians should be taught that he who gives to a poor man, or lends to a needy man, does better than if he bought pardons...45. Christians should be taught that he who sees any one in need, and, passing him by, gives money for pardons, is not purchasing for himself the indulgences of the Pope but the anger of God..."

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  3. Well done! Although the history mythology tells us the 95 theses were nailed to the door of the cathedral, a growing number of historians argue that these points were never public posted but printed and sent throughout the german free-towns. (Akin to George Washington & the cherry tree...)

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