AS UNIT F982 – LUTHER AND THE GERMAN REFORMATION

1. AS UNIT F982 – LUTHER AND THE GERMAN REFORMATION TOPIC ONE THE BEGINNINGS OF THE EUROPEAN REFORMATION

2. IN THIS TOPIC THE EXAMINERS REQUIRE KNOWLEDGE OF: • The ideas and beliefs that were held at the time • The actions that the key participants took • The key events that occurred

3. The key issues identified in the specification are: • The influence of Humanism on Luther • Differences between Luther and Erasmus • Reasons for Luther’s spiritual development • Reasons for Luther’s opposition to the sale of indulgences • His response – the 95 theses

4. 1. The Influence of Humanism on Luther • Humanism was an intellectual movement which helped to pave the way for the Renaissance and the Reformation • Humanists were seeking the true meaning of early writings – ad fontes • The main features are set out on p.58

5. It was based on the translation and study of ancient texts from Greece and Rome – classical civilization was a key influence on the humanists Robert Record's cosmology textbook The Castle of Knowledge demonstrated a humanist scholar's respect for and knowledge of the past. Final paragraph of Source 5, page 32, (core textbook) adds useful background information about “The Impact of the Renaissance”

6. How did this affect Luther? • Humanist translations allowed Luther to read ancient texts and develop his own ideas about them • Humanists believed in argument and debate – this encouraged Luther to be critical and not to accept the church’s arguments • Humanist criticisms of the church – abuses, laxity, corruption - prepared the way for Luther’s attack

7. Learning Objective • Understand society in early sixteenth century. • Role and importance of church in early sixteenth century. • Criticisms of the church at this time.

8. Religion in the early 16th Century • P.30, Source 5 • Write a paragraph to explain the role and influence of the Church. • Explain the belief regarding Holy Communion within Catholicism. • Explain the role of Purgatory in Catholic belief and the practices which this led to e.g. Chantries and Indulgences. Why might this lead to problems for the Church?

9. Society in the early 16th Century • Superstition - Religious and Pagan • Fear of Death – Black Death • Cult of Saints and relics • Holy Days and Feast Days (100)

10. Criticisms of the Church • Anti-Papalism(p.31, Source 5) Abuses • Corruption • Nepotism • Political abuse • High taxation of HRE • Exploitation of HRE Curia

11. Criticisms of the Church • Anti-clericalism Simony Nepotism Pluralism Absenteeism Clerical MarriageIlliteracy Economics - Tithes, Probates, Mortuaries

12. Criticisms of the Church • German humanists Jacob Wimpfeling was a stern critic of clerical abuses Johannes Reuchlin - translated Hebrew works and made links to Christianity. Johann von Staupitz, from the faculty of theology at the university of Wittenberg condemned the selling of indulgences

13. 2. Differences between Erasmus and Luther Timeline of Erasmus life – identify the key similarities and differences.

14. 2. Differences between Erasmus and Luther A3 sheet – highlight the key events which took place between Erasmus and Luther. What was the source of their disagreements?

15. 2. Differences between Erasmus and Luther Source exercise – read the sources, annotate them, get a clear idea of Erasmus’ attitude towards the reformation and towards Luther himself.

16. Question……….. • Definition of REFORMER • Definition of REVOLUTIONARY

17. 2. Differences between Erasmus and Luther Homework Use the sources, the A3 sheet and p.59-60 of Luther book.

18. 2. Differences between Erasmus and Luther NB – plenty of similarities: • Both concerned about abuses and corruption • Both held anti-clerical beliefs • Both sought to reform the church • Both based their teachings on the Bible – Sola Scriptura • Both produced translations of the Bible and believed in the concept of a vernacular Bible • Both challenged papal authority • Both experienced monastic life and rejected it

19. SO, WHAT WERE THE DIFFERENCES? Remained loyal to the papacy Luther was a heretic who rejected papal authority

20. Another Difference Complete belief on the reality of Christ’s body in the communion bread Less literal belief –but believed in the spiritual presence of Christ

21. And another difference RECONCILIATION CONFRONTATION Became associated with violent and revolutionary movements Wanted peaceful reform

22. Reformer v Revolutionary

23. EXAM QUESTION – FROM THE SPECIMEN PAPER 3 The Beginnings of the German Reformation (a) Explain the similarities and differences between the beliefs and attitudes of Luther and Erasmus. [25] [Explaining ideas, attitudes and beliefs] (b) Why did Luther find himself in dispute with the Church by the end of 1517? [25] [Explaining actions]

24. Answer Structure • Brief introduction to the two men. • How were the two men similar in beliefs and attitudes? • What was the focus of Erasmus’ complaints? • What was the focus of Luther’s complaints? • Why were they seen by outsiders as similar? Aleander quote. • When did it become apparent that the two men had differences? • What were the differences that developed between them? Beliefs? Actions? Intentions? • Difference between reformer and revolutionary. • Conclusion – more similar or more different?

25. Homework • Why were the views of Erasmus and other humanists important to the German Reformation? [25] • Why did Luther issue his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517? [25] Tuesday 26th November

26. Erasmus

27. Erasmus the Catholic In all his criticism of clerical follies and abuses he had always carefully hedged himself about with protests that he was not attacking church institutions themselves and had no hostility toward the persons of churchmen. Erasmus declined to commit himself to any party attitude (e.g. take sides). His argument was that to do so would endanger his position as a leader in the movement for pure scholarship which be regarded as his real work in life. Only through that position as an independent scholar could he hope to influence the reform of religion. He dreaded any change in the doctrine of the Church and believed there was room within existing formulas for the kind of reform he valued.

28. Julius Exclusus • 1514 – Erasmus. Pope Julius II is trying to persuade St Peter to allow him into heaven.

29. Julius Exclusus • The dialogue begins with a drunken Pope Julius II trying to open the gate of heaven with the key to his secret money-chest. He is accompanied by his Genius, his guardian angel. Behind him are the soldiers who died in his military campaigns, whom he promised would go to heaven regardless of their deeds. Peter denies him passage and questions him about his deeds on Earth, even when Julius threatens him with his army and papal bulls of excommunication. Julius then goes into a lengthy explanation of his deeds and justifies his sins, ranging from simony to pederasty, with the fact that the pope has the authority to excuse any sin.

30. Julius Exclusus PETER: Immortal God, what a sewer I smell here! Who are you? JULIUS: So you know what sort of a prince you’re insulting, listen a bit …The Venetians, previously not conquered by anyone, I crushed in battle…I drove the French, who were then the terror of the whole world, completely out of Italy…when I died I left five million ducats… PETER: Madman! All I hear about is a leader not of the church but of this world, more wicked than the pagans… JULIUS: You would say otherwise if you had witnessed even one of my triumphs…the horses, the parades of armed soldiers…the lavishness of the displays, the triumphs, the booty…myself carried aloft like some divine thing…So you won’t open? PETER: To any, sooner than to such a pestilence; you yourself are a great builder: build yourself a new paradise.

31. Enchiridion MilitisChristiani, Dagger of a Christian Gentleman or Manual of a Christian Gentleman. In this volume Erasmus outlines the views of the normal Christian life which he was to spend the rest of his days in elaborating. The chief evil of the day, he says, is formalism, a respect for traditions, a regard for what other people think essential, but never a thought of what the true teaching of Christ may be. The book is addressed to a Christian layman who needed spiritual guidance. Addressing a man with a military background, Erasmus defines the true Christian life as constant warfare against worldly temptation. Implied criticism?

32. Response to Aleander When Erasmus was accused of having "laid the egg that Luther hatched" he half admitted the truth of the charge, but said he “had expected quite another kind of a bird!”

33. Increasing the rift Luther's three revolutionary treatises of 1520, especially The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, where he flatly rejected the whole sacramental system of the medieval church and denied the authority of the institutional church and its established hierarchy, convinced Erasmus that the compromise and conciliation that he had been quietly but actively encouraging to end the conflict were no longer possible.

34. De liberoarbitriodiatribèsivecollatio A Discussion of Free Will - directly attacked a central doctrine of Martin Luther's theology, his assertion in his defence against the papal bull of excommunication that contrary to the opinion of scholastic theologians, the human will after Adam's sin was so disordered that it was unfree, unable through its own power to make even the slightest positive response to God's saving grace, unable to do anything that was not a sin. Luther's doctrine meant that only those sinners whom God by his own will had elected for salvation, without any merit on their own part, would escape eternal damnation for their sins. This was Erasmus’ rejection of Luther’s “predestination”.

35. De liberoarbitrio The open conflict with Luther began with publication of De liberoarbitrio in September 1524. Erasmus then had to wait well over a year before Luther's response, De servo arbitrio (On the Enslaved Will), a brutally hostile book that shocked and angered Erasmus by accusing him of being a hypocrite and an atheist,

38. The key issues identified in the specification are: • The influence of Humanism on Luther • Differences between Luther and Erasmus • Reasons for Luther’s spiritual development • Reasons for Luther’s opposition to the sale of indulgences • His response – the 95 theses

39. 3. Reasons for Luther’s Spiritual Development 1. His experiences in the thunder storm when he was “walled around with the terror and agony of sudden death” 2. His life in the monastery at Erfurt, where he found the Catholic Church unable to provide him with a sense of salvation – despite repeated confession he felt he was “dust and ashes and full of sin”.

40. 3. Reasons for Luther’s Spiritual Development 3. His visit to Rome, where he was shocked and scandalised by the corruption he observed and the laxity of the priests. “I was such a simple minded pilgrim that I believed everything I saw and was shown” 4. His great sense of doubt at the top of the stairs – “Who knows if it is really true?”

41. 3. Reasons for Luther’s Spiritual Development 5. His realisation that many Catholic rituals and the need for good deeds in life were a waste of time: “…he who is righteous through faith shall live.” 6. His sudden realisation on reading in the Bible Chapter 1, verse 7 of Romans the statement that “..he who is righteous through faith shall live” “It seemed to me as if I had been born again and as if I had entered paradise through newly opened doors” Luther was free, he no longer felt in terror of God and could share his revelation with others.

42. Martin Luther - Faith, Purgatory and Salvation Source 4 on pages 29 and 30 sets out some useful information. Highlight at least 2 key points from each of the four sections

43. 4. Reasons for Luther’s opposition to the sale of indulgences

44. Learning Objective • To explain the reasons for Luther's objections to indulgences.

45. Task • Explain the development of Luther’s idea of sola fide - notes from p.23/24 • Use p.25 to explain Luther’s objections. • Explain the contents of the letter to Albert of Brandenburg (Archbishop of Mainz – include details of who this person is) in your own words.

46. 5. Luther’s Response – the 95 Theses

47. Learning Objective • To explain the reasons for Luther's 95 Thesis. • To understand the content of the 95 Thesis.

48. Background • Explain the background of the 95 thesis.

49. 95 Thesis Thesis 4 Hence 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. 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 after  money clinks in the collection box. 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. Thesis 50 Christians should he taught that 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 bones of his sheep. Thesis 62 The true treasure of the Church is the holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God. 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 he exhorted to seek earnestly to follow Christ their Head through penalties, deaths and hells

50. Analysis of the 95 Thesis • Thesis 4 • Thesis 7 • Thesis 21 • Thesis 27 • Thesis 32 • Thesis 38 • Thesis 50 • Thesis 62 • Thesis 86 • Thesis 94