Martin Luther: The 95 Theses (1517)

1. Martin Luther: The 95 Theses (1517) Richard Fitzsimmons Strathallan School

2. Introduction … • The 95 Theses were Luther’s response to travelling salesmen such as Johan Tetzel (a Dominican friar) who were putting indulgences forward as a way of absolving people’s sins and reconciling them with God. • Luther had already (Oct. 1516) preached against indulgences, and had written to Archbishop Albrecht of Manz complaining about the sales pitch of Tetzel • He published his Theses on the door of the Church in Wittenberg as a way of inviting academic debate. He did not expect the reception the Theses found among ordinary people, nor the reaction he would provoke from the Church. • Luther did not intend a split or a reformation in the Church …

3. Thesis 4 As long as hatred of self remains the penalty of sin remains, that is, until we enter the kingdom of heaven Thesis 7 God never remits guilt to anyone without at the same time humbling him in total submission to the priest, his representative Luther here asserts that man never ceases to be a sinner, and cannot make himself perfect in the eyes of God. One should not try to take the easy way out through indulgences, but rather show true repentance by accepting punishment The 95 Theses … Theses Commentary

4. Thesis 21 Hence those preachers of Indulgences are wrong when they say that a man is absolved and saved from every penalty by the Pope’s Indulgences Thesis 27 It is mere human talk to preach that the soul flies out of purgatory immediately the money clinks in the collection box Here, Luther asserts that the Church has no real power over the souls of the dead in purgatory, while also referring to the aforementioned jingle The 95 Theses … Theses Commentary

5. Thesis 32 All those who believe themselves certain of salvation because of letters of pardon will be eternally damned, together with their teachers Thesis 38 Yet the Pope’s remission and dispensation are in no way to be despised for as already said they proclaim the divine remission Luther here states that those who are lulled into believing that buying indulgences will bring salvation will themselves be damned. Also, he interestingly notes that indulgences are not to be totally dismissed as they do bring some solace to the weak and insecure. The 95 Theses … Theses Commentary

6. Thesis 50 Christians should be taught that if the Pope knew the exactions of the preachers of Indulgences he would rather have the basilica of St Peter reduced to ashes than built with the skin, flesh and bone of his sheep Thesis 62 The true treasure of the Church is the Holy Gospel of the glory and grace of God. This shows a harsh and provocative attack on the corrupt practices of indulgence sellers Luther praises the virtues of preaching the Gospel, the true word of God, which is in danger of being obscured by indulgences The 95 Theses … Theses Commentary

7. Thesis 86 Since the Pope’s wealth is larger than that of the crassest Crassi of our time, why does he not build this one basilica of St Peter with his own money rather than with that of his faithful poor ? Thesis 94 Christians should be encouraged to seek earnestly to follow Christ their Head through penalties, deaths and hells. Although these Theses were not meant for widespread circulation, one wonders if Luther knew that they might be circulated in German, for here is a point aimed directly at the common man, reinforcing widespread anticlerical sentiments Luther brings the Theses to a close with a reiteration of the merits of true faith and repentance in attaining salvation The 95 Theses … Theses Commentary

8. The 95 Theses …reaction • Both Albrecht of Mainz and Johan Tetzel were furious with the 95 Theses. Tetzel was told to prepare a series of counter-Theses, attacking the ideas of Luther. 800 copies were sent to Wittenberg, but were burned by the local students. • In April 1518 Luther was summoned to defend his ideas at Heidelberg in a meeting of his Augustinian superiors – he received a favourable reception. • Pope Leo X summoned Luther to Rome to answer for his opinions, but Frederick of Saxony insisted that Luther be examined in Germany – hence Cardinal Cajetan travelled to see Luther at Augsburg in October 1518. • By now the 95 Theses had been printed, translated into German, and distributed all over Germany, and throughout Europe.

9. As far as the Pope was concerned, Luther was denying papal supremacy and had to be publicly rebuked … Cajetan’s aim was to persuade Luther to alter his opinions or recant, not to debate with Luther. Interestingly, Cajetan had himself written a work against Indulgences … But, Luther held firm to his beliefs … he appealed to the authority of Scripture to back up his views. Luther was now bordering on heresy – moving from an argumentative position to an ‘assertive’ one He had begun to question the fundamental authority of the papacy and the Church He said that Popes and Councils could make mistakes, but Scripture was infallible – he believed that the Church’s interpretation was flawed … The discussion was terminated when Luther, despite the promise of safe conduct, made a dash for it and fled. The meeting with Cajetan …

10. Cajetan asked for Luther to be handed over as a heretic, for trial at Rome – Frederick Elector of Saxony refused and demanded Luther stand trial in Germany Jan 1519 – Emperor Maximilian I died, therefore an election was in the offing and Leo X did not want to antagonise Frederick (senior Elector of the empire) – Frederick was a possible candidate – therefore Luther was left alone, for now. No other reformer had ever put such an emphasis on scripture in opposition to the authority of the Pope, Church councils and tradition. There was now a ‘stand-off’ position between Luther and the papacy. The political background …

11. Resources for further reading • A. Armstrong, The European Reformation 1500-1610 (2002) pp. 19-24 • M. Mullett, ‘Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses’, History Review, Sept 2003 • M. Mullett, Luther (1986) pp. 22-31 • K. Randell, Luther and the German Reformation, 1517-1555 pp. 21-27 • M. Jones, Clash of Empires (2000) pp. 124-27 • Summaries of the 95 Theses are taken from Armstrong pp. 21-23