Transcript Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Martin Luther (1483-1546)
For in the righteousness of God is revealed
through faith for faith; as it is written, "The one
who is righteous will live by faith" ( Romans 1:17 )
European History
Protestant Reformation
Childhood & Youth
born Nov. 10, 1483 – Martin Luder, son
of copper miner
German
Father worked himself up to middle
class -- middle class family
Father was a strict disciplinarian
Promise to become a monk
July 2, 1505 near
Sotterheim, nearly struck
by lightning
cried out to Saint Ann
Promised to be monk if
spared
1505 enters Augustinian
Monastery in Erfurt
Priest & Professor
Took vows & ordained 9 months after
entering
1 ½ Years of Theological study
Struggled with Scrupulosity: imagining sin
where there is none or imagining grave
matter where there is none
1512 Doctorate in Theology
Professorship at Wittenberg (1514-1518)
Luther’s image of God
Righteous lawgiver
Administer of justice
“severe” image of God (not uncommon
at the time)
Believed God would not forgive him
Went to confession many times a day
sometimes
Luther’s Objections to the Church
Misunderstanding of Divine Justice and
man’s sinfulness
The spark: The sale of indulgences…
Indulgences
as of 1514 Priest at
Wittenburg’s City
Church
enraged over sale of
indulgences and
manner in which
Tetzel sold them
Luther preaches
against the sale of
indulgences
Indulgences
Pope Leo X needs money to fund construction
of St. Peter’s Basilica
“As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the
soul from purgatory springs.” – Johannes
Tetzel
Luther questions the Pope’s authority to
maintain the claims of the indulgences and
worries that people are actually damning
themselves by purchasing them
95 Theses
Oct. 31, 1517: posted 95 Theses,
Castle Church of Wittenberg
The 95 Theses themselves are
not heretical
June 27, 1519 Leipzig Debate –
Johannes Eck made it clear to
Luther what his 95 Theses and
subsequent writings taught or
implied= opposition to Church,
dismissed Papal authority,
dismissed authority of Church
councils
The Divide Widens…(1520)
Address to the Nobility of the German Nation
Political plea in German to German princes to overthrow the
papacy in Germany and establish a reformed church
The Babylonian Captivity of the Church
Theological tract in Latin attacking sacramental system of
the Church has held the real meaning of Christianity captive
for thousands of years
On the Freedom of Christian Man
Doctrine of salvation – man is saved by grace and faith
alone
“Good works do not make a good man, but a good man
does good works.”
Burning the Papal Bull
June 15, 1520 – Papal Bull
(Pope Leo X), Luther must
recant or be excommunicated
– 2 months to decide
Luther protests: burns Bull and
Code of Canon Law
Jan. 3, 1521 – Luther is
excommunicated
Summoned by Reichstag and
Emperor Charles V to Diet of
Worms to recant
Diet of Worms, Jan. 1521
Luther declared an
outlaw
Works should be
burned and banned
Warrant for arrest
under penalty of
death
Luther’s protector
Elector Friedrich the
Wise of Saxon
The Wartburg
The Wartburg
1521 Luther goes
to Wartburg
in 11 weeks he translates the New
Testament, “September Testament”
published in 1522
standardizes the German language
Luther returns
Returns to Wittenburg
begins seriously writing to spread his beliefs
Dissemination of pamphlets
Help from German princes interested in gaining
independence from the Habsburg Emperor
Spread of Reform
Huldrych Zwingli
Believed that Luther had not gone far
enough
Banished images of Christ, saints
Rejected the Eucharist
Peasants’ War
1524 peasants led by Thomas Münzer
(priest/former Luther follower) demand more
just economical conditions
Luther encourages spiritual freedom from
despots, not economic or political freedom
Peasants are violently put down on May 15,
1525 (5 – 6,000 killed by Imperial Army)
After 1525, the reform moved out of the
realm of religion
Luther’s Theology
Luther downplays man’s capacity for
theological knowledge and the merit of
good works
Luther believed that man cannot do
good – he can never overcome his
sinfulness
The soul will always remain corrupt
Jesus covers the sin so that one can be
saved
Luther’s Theology
Romans 1:17
Justification through faith alone, no works
4 doctrines from this idea
• Sola scriptura – no Tradition
• Sola fide – no corporal/spiritual works of mercy
• Sola gratia
• Solo Christo
Luther’s Church
2 sacraments: Baptism and Communion
Transubstantiation vs. Consubstantiation
“Priesthood of all believers”
No hierarchy w/in the church SO Luther relies on princes
and political authorities to help organize and guide the
Lutheran church
Social & educational responsibilities taken over by
church
Community money box
need for well-educated pastors, teachers, & civil servants
Authorities obligated to provide a good education for
the youth
Luther marries
June 13, 1525 Luther
marries Katharina von Bora
Big happy family
6 children, 1 of Katharina’s
relatives, 6 of Luther’s sister’s
children, student boarders
Split of the Holy Roman Empire
After 1525, there are Lutheran states
and Catholic states
Charles V tries to bring unity
Truce between factions
Asked for a Church Council]
Tried to establish dialogue with Lutherans
1546 went to war against the Lutheran
princes
Peace of Augsburg
1555 Charles V hands the war over to
his brother Ferdinand
Ferdinand agrees to the Peace of
Augsburg
Acknowledges Lutheran as a religious
option in the empire
Rulers are free to determine if their realms
are Lutheran or Catholic
Protestant Reformation across
Europe, 1520-1570
Radical reform desired by Anabaptists
Separation of Church and State
Abolish infant baptism
Refused civil obligations (taxes, militia, etc.)
Charles V outlaws Anabaptist beliefs
John Calvin
French
Studied Theology then Law
Calvinism
Calvin converted to Protestantism
Fled from Paris because of pro Catholic
French government
Writes The Institutes of Christian
Religion in 1536
Most well known teaching is double
predestination
Ruled Geneva
Spread of Calvinism
Geneva is center
Sent out missionaries throughout
Europe
Calvinists in France are Huguenots
Gain adherents in the Netherlands
John Knox takes Calvinism to Scotland in
1558 – Presbyterian
Reform in England
Henry VIII is king
In 1521 he publishes a treatise against
Lutheranism
Wanted to marry Anne Boleyn (already
married to Catherine of Aragon)
Asks for annulment
• NO from the Pope
• YES from Archbishop of Canterbury
Henry VIII
Married Anne Boleyn
Pope excommunicated him
Henry responded with The Act of
Supremacy
“the supreme head on earth of the Church
in England”
Reform in England
1547 Henry VIII is succeed by his only
son Edward VI
1553 Edward VI dies
Mary (Henry and Catherine’s daughter)
succeeded Edward VI
She is Catholic & restores Catholicism in
England
Executed 300+ Protestants – “Bloody Mary”
Reform in England
1558 Mary died childless
Elizabeth I (daughter of Henry and
Anne Boleyn) succeeded Mary
She is Protestant
1571 declares official Theology of the
Church in England (39 Articles)