Fallout from the 95 Thesis

1
Fallout from the 95 Thesis

• Catholic Hangovers
• Still implied purgatory 15, 16
• Prayers for the dead 8-40
• Power of the keys (authority of the RCC clergy)
  (6,16,60,61) A symbolic term speaking of the
  authority of church leaders Rev 1 18 and 37,8
• Mentions Mary as mother of God 75

2
Some Evangelical glimmers in the 95 Thesis

• Luther has a biblical view of sin, repentance and
  forgiveness vs penance.
• He begins to attack the doctrine of the papacy.
• Remission of guilt can only come from God.
• The Treasury of the Church is not so much the
  Treasury of Merits but the gospel. 62-64

3
Why was the 95 Thesis so popular?

• They were unusual total attack mode. The normal
  posture was defense.
• They were immediately translated into German and
  spread throughout Germany in 2 weeks time.
• Luther attacked the Pope in the 95 Thesis. This
  produced excitement no one had the guts to do
  this before.

4
Why was the 95 Thesis so popular?

• Luther attacks Archbishop Albert who was disliked
  by the people. The people knew this sale of
  indulgences was to finance Alberts purchase of
  his job.

5
Why was the 95 Thesis so popular?

• Just prior to the 95 Thesis Albert had Tetzel
  prepare a 94 Thesis in which he says The soul
  after it is purified, flies from Purgatory to the
  vision of god without hindrance, and that it is
  an error to suppose that this cannot be done
  before the payment of money into the indulgence
  box. Phillip Schaff Vol III pg 152

6
Why was the 95 Thesis so popular?

• Tetzels jingle For every coin that into the
  indulgence box does ring, a soul from Purgatory
  does spring
• Nationalistic resentment of bilking the populace
  of money that should be spent in Germany
• The people hated Johan Tetzel. Greedy, dishonest,
  immoral

Johann Tetzel Sells Indulgences in Germany
7
Road to Worms

• The Pope was somewhat interested in Luther but
  had bigger fish to fry. Placed his trust in
  Frederick the Wise and the Emperor (who is in ill
  health) Maximilian.
• The Pope also believed that Luther was knocking
  Tetzel because he was a Dominican and Luther was
  Augustinian.

Maximillian, Holy Roman Empire
8
Road to Worms3 Attempts to bring Luther back

• Prierias1st Attempt to Rescue Luther
• May to July Sylvester Prierias dispatched by
  Leo X a Porfessor of Theology
• Prierias calls Luther a heretic is tried for
  heresy in Luthers absence

9
Road to Worms3 Attempts to bring Luther back

• August 5, 1518 Emperor Maximilian denounces
  Luther as a heretic
• October Luther begins series on Psalms (2nd time)
  that will go on for 3 years

10
Road to Worms3 Attempts to bring Luther back

• 1518 Cajetan 2nd Attempt to get Luther Back
• The Pope now sends Cardinal Cajetan to meet with
  Luther at Augsburg (in lieu of going to Rome)
  asks Luther to recant Luther say no way Jose in
  Latin, German Greek (although not confirmed)
• Luther flees Augsburg fearing for his life

11
Road to Worms3 Attempts to bring Luther back

• 3rd Try Carl Von Miltitz 
• Carl Von Miltitz a relative of Frederick the Wise
  is sent to Altenburg to meet with Luther
• After interview with Miltitz Luther agrees to
  make some concessions. Included in the
  concessions is a letter of apology to the Pope

Altenburg, Germany
12
Road to Worms3 Attempts to bring Luther back

• 3 months later the letter of apology goes to Leo
  X stating that Luther did not intend to undermine
  the Popes authority or the churchs.
• Miltitz had intended to arrest Luther but while
  traveling would stop at inns and pubs to
  question the people about Luther. Fearing a
  backlash because of Luthers immense popularity
  Miltitz is relatively soft on Luther.

13
Road to Worms3 Attempts to bring Luther back

• Miltitz still seeking to please the Pope and win
  popular approval and also to keep Martin Luther
  in his confidence Miltitz devises a brilliant
  scheme.
• Miltitz blames Tetzel for abuses in granting
  indulgences accuses Tetzel of having 2
  illegitimate children. Tetzel quits, retires to a
  convent and later dies in shame.

14
Road to Worms3 Attempts to bring Luther back

• Miltitz by removing the problem gets Frederick
  the Wise and Cardinal Cajatan to agree to a Diet
  at Worms to finally decide the issue with this
  rebellious monk
• The proper order for action in the RCC and HRE
  was
• Bull
• Ban
• Diet
• Edict

15
Road to Worms

•  After Militizs brilliant tactics the Pope is
  distracted from Luther by the death of HREs
  Maximilian. Henry VIII wanted the job as new
  emperor but the Pope only seriously considers
  Francis I of France or Charles I of Spain. Pope
  chooses Charles I of Spain who becomes Charles V
  of the HRE. Charles still has control over Spain
  while being Emperor in HRE.

16
Road to Worms

• 1519 Luther receives a copy of John Husss The
  Church from Prague. He declares himself in
  fundamental agreement.
• Luthers pen heats upknowing he has about a year
  before the Diet of Worms, Luther uses the only
  avenue he knows that would save his bacon. Public
  Opinion

John Huss
17
Road to Worms

• In 14 months Luther writesBrief Form of the 10
  Commandments, A Brief Form of the Creed, A Brief
  Form of the Lords Prayer, Meditations of
  Christs Passion, A Treatise on Good Works, The
  Papacy in Rome (large work) The Open Letter to
  the Christian Nobility of the German Nation,
  (large work) The Babylonian Captivity. (another
  large work) Freedom of the Christian Man. All the
  while lecturing daily on Psalms and preaching 2-3
  times per week

18
Road to Worms

•  Dec 10, 1520 Luther burns the Papal Bull Exsurge
  Domine Arise O God
• March 6, 1521 Charles V summons Luther to appear
  before the Diet of Worms. (Worms is a city, not a
  slimy critter)

19
Road to Worms

• April 6 Luther begins Journey to Worms, promised
  safe conduct by the Emperor. At Erfurt a crowd of
  40 professors and some 60 others cheer him on.

20
Road to Worms

• When Luther arrives at Worms about 2,000 cheering
  people greet himLuthers presence overshadows
  that of Charles V, probably not helping Luther
  much. Escorted to Worms by band of knights.
• At the diet (council) it was standing room
  onlyfilled with high ranking RCC officials and
  princes and nobles from the HRE.

21
Road to Worms

• On a table are Luthers books and tracts.
  Aleander asks Luther if they are his books. Then
  asks him to recant and retract. Luther asks for
  24 hours to ponder his answer. 
• During the 24 hour time, Luther bows in prayer.
  Hutten sends him a note telling him to stand
  fast. Others in the Diet come to his room to
  encourage Luther and pray with him.

Girolamo Aleandro
22
Road to Worms

• The next day Luther divides the books into 3
  groups
• I Books addressing moral and religious matters.
  These I cannot recant lest I deny the truth
• II Books against papal corruption and papal
  abuse Should I recant at this point, I would
  open the door to more tyranny and impiety and it
  will be all the worse should it appear that I had
  done so at the insistence of the HRE
• III Books against his opponents in defense of
  the Gospel. Here he admits he was a bit harsh but
  still could not recant

23
Road to Worms

• After these statements bout the pile of books
  Luther charges the Diet to show him where he has
  violated the Word of God. And he would recant.

24
Road to Worms

• Luther is again pressed for a clear recantation
  but says this Unless I am convicted by the
  testimony of sacred Scriptures or by evident
  reason my conscience is captive to the Word of
  God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for
  to go against my conscience is neither right nor
  safe. Here I standGod help me. Amen with this
  Luther hung his head.

25
Road to Worms

• Carlyle calls this The greatest moment in the
  modern history of man
•  May 26, 1521 the Emperor signs an edict against
  Martin LutherHe is as good as a dead man were it
  not for Frederick the Wise and the high esteem of
  the German people. The peasants shoe is posted
  all around Worms in the middle of the night.

26
Luther at Wartburg

• On his way back to Wittenberg, Luther is high
  jacked (prearranged) to Wartburg Castle. Old
  abandoned castle perched on a mountain top
  attended by only 5 staff.
• While at Wartburg Luther grows a beard and calls
  himself Junker George the Knight.

27
Luther at Wartburg

• Luther then translates the New Testament into
  classical German from Erasmus 2nd edition Greek
  New Testament. This translation is done with such
  skill that Luthers Bible becomes the cornerstone
  for German linguistics for centuries to come.

28
Luther at Wartburg

• While at Wartburg writes a tract On Monastic
  Vows when he returns to Wittenburg later to
  quiet things down he finds no one at the
  monastery except for Staupitzthe monks are all
  out on a date!
• Things really change at Wittenberg while Luther
  is at Wartburg. Sept 22, 1521 Melanchthon
  administers communion in both kinds (cup bread)
  Oct 23 The Mass is stopped. Dec 3 students and
  townsfolk destroy the Elkons (images)

29
Luther at Wartburg

• Dec 27, 1521 to Feb 1522 Prophets from Zwickau
  arrive at Wittenberg and begin teaching towns
  people that the Word of God is not necessary
  because God will speak directly to you. Luther is
  outraged and decides to risk coming back to
  Wittenberg to get stuff under control.
• March 9, 1522 Preaches 8 sermons in 8 days, and
  succeeds in bringing Wittenberg under control.
  However he loses his dear friend, Charlstadt
  because he defects to the Zwickau Prophets.