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101

Ninety-Five Theses

Dr. Martin Luther

Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a leader of the Protestant Reformation and namesake of the Lutheran Tradition. He was born in Eisleben and was well-educated before entering the University of Erfurt. It was there that, rather than pursue an advanced law degree, Luther became an Augustinian monk. Between 1505 and 1512 he studied and lectured in theology, punctuated by achievement of his Doctorate at Wittenberg. By 1517 Luther was realizing in full the doctrine of justification by faith, as declared by the apostle Paul and Augustine. His publication of 95 theses against indulgences sparked protest throughout Germany, forcing Luther to defend his theology in disputations at Heidelberg and Leipzig. His treatises of 1520 brought him into greater conflict with the papacy, and he was excommunicated. After the Diet of Worms in 1521, he continued to define and uphold his theology, seeking to reform the Church, emphasizing the authority of Scripture and the Pauline doctrine of justification.

Luther's propositions regarding indulgences, often considered the beginning of the Reformation.

Luther's propositions or points of disputation regarding indulgences. The sale and traffic of indulgences – grants of 'remission' of the temporal punishment due to sin – had become increasingly common and notorious, especially so for Luther in the person of the Dominican monk Johannes Tetzel. Luther's main concern is with the idea of purchasing forgiveness in place of genuine repentance before God. In attacking indulgences, he also condemned the worldliness of the Church, its interest in money, and the claims of power for the papacy. According to legend, the Reformation began with the Theses being posted on the door of Wittenberg Castle Church, October 31, 1517. They were soon translated into German and circulated widely.

Church History

Reformation