Reformation part III: The Fire

1. Reformation part III: The Fire By: James W. Huston

2. The Spark: Martin Luther • “Martin Luther is one of the most extraordinary persons in history and has left a deeper impression of his presence in the modern world than any other except Columbus.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

3. Early Life • Born November 10, 1483, Eisleben, Germany • Second of eight children • Son of Hans Luder and Margarethe Lindemann

4. Early Years • Identified very early as precocious child • Extremely bright • Father, a leaseholder of mines in Mansfield, wanted Martin to study law • In 1501 at age 19 he went to the University of Erfurt which he later described as a beerhouse and whorehouse • Received his master’s degree • Enrolled in law, but was drawn to philosophy • Thought it was unsatisfactory. Useful in reason, but little to say about God

5. Becoming a monk • July 22, 1505, at age 22, had a near death experience • Luther was riding a horse back to his university in a storm • Terrible thunder, then a bolt of lightning struck the ground next to him • Threw him to the ground and took his breath away • The fear of dying with unconfessed sin and no absolution from a priest drove him to make a vow • St. Anne save me! And I’ll be come a monk

6. Joined Augustinian Monastery • Devoted himself to fasting, prayer, and confession • During a time of great world change • Columbus sailed 1492 • Printing press—Johannes Guttenberg, 1450 • Copernicus 1473-1543—heliocentric view • Luther had difficulty adjusting • Sometimes confessed six hours a day • Couldn’t find peace from his known sins • At one point said he hated God. • God was unjust for holding man to a standard that was impossible to keep.

7. Continued his studies • Gifted at theology; lectured from 1508 on • Received a doctorate of theology in 1512 • Took position at the U. of Wittenberg • Took an oath to defend and propound the Scriptures • Started lectures: • Psalms • Galatians • Hebrews

8. Lectures and study • Received doctorate of theology in 1512 from the University of Wittenberg

9. The Tower Experience: Dramatic change/conversion? • What changed Luther from a fearful monk to the spark that ignited the reformation? • Was reading in his tower study: • “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.””(Romans 1:17 ESV) • “I felt I was born again…that place in Paul was truly my gate to paradise.” • The turning point in his life • Probably 1516

10. Indulgences • Johannes Tetzel • Dominican monk and indulgence salesman • Could earn forgiveness of sins by paying him • Could release family from purgatory by paying him

11. Indulgences Authorized? • Endorsed and authorized by Pope Leo X • Intended to raise money to build St. Peter’s cathedral in Rome • Pope distracted by wars, politics, and his pagan papacy in Rome • Probably homosexual • Spendthrift • Held parades in Rome on his pet elephant Hanno • Sold memberships to the order of Peter

12. Tetzel • Tetzel displayed a brass-bound chest, a stack of printed indulgences, an enormous cross and a banner with the papal crest. Tetzel banged a drum and launched into a chilling description of souls writhing in purgatory: "Listen." he said, "to the voices of your dear dead relatives and friends, saying, 'Pity us. Pity us. We are in dire torment from which you can redeem us for a pittance. Will you delay our promised glory?'" • To further entice his gullible listeners to make purchases he devised a catchy slogan, "As soon a coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs."

13. Luther’s annoyance • Luther was the parish priest of a small church • Noticed his parishioners were coming to confession less often • Learned of Tetzel • Was infuriated • Caused him to revolt against indulgences

14. Posting of the 95 Theses • Wrote criticism of indulgences • Title of the The 95 Theses : • “Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences” • Not a Reformation declaration at all • In Latin • Posted on the Castle Church door in Wittenberg • More in the nature of a bulletin board • Never intended it to start the Reformation

15. 95 Theses • #1 “Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when he said poenitentiam agite, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance” • NOT penance • Matthew 4:17 had been translated in the vulgate as penance • Luther thought translated wrong • As did Erasmus who was coming to the same conclusion at the same time, and published his own translation in 1516-20

16. 95 Theses • #82 If the church has the ability to forgive sins through indulgences of both the living and the dead, why not do it immediately for everyone? • Theses immediately translated into German (not by Luther) and sent to the printing press. • All over Germany in two weeks, and all over Europe in two months • Debate began • Shifted from indulgences to the authority of the church, and basic church doctrine • Tetzel furious • Published his own 107 Theses in response

17. Pope Leo X’s Response • Commissioned Cardinal Cajetan to dispute Luther • Commissioned Dominican Brother Prierias to respond • Said: Whoever does not accept the doctrine of the Roman Church and the Roman Pontiff as the infallible rule of faith from which Sacred Scripture derives strength and authority is a heretic.” • “Luther is a leper with a brain of brass and a nose of iron.”

18. Trial, October 1518 • Pope told Cardinal Cajetan to try him for heresy • Emperor Maximilian was against Luther • Everyone expected him to be burned • Trial was at Augsburg • Guaranteed “Safe Passage” from Wittenberg • A three day meeting/trial with Cajetan • Told “Recant your writings!” • Luther said: “I could have done that at Wittenberg. Why am I here?”

19. Augsburg • “Discussed” several things. Indulgences, and earlier popes • Fled to Wittenberg • In later account, said Cajetan was as competent to conduct the hearing as an ass was to play a harp.

20. Luther Examines all Doctrine • Publishes “Sermon on Good Works” 1520 • Important exposition of justification by faith • Publishes defiant tract “Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation.” • Argued it was necessary for the princes to intervene and call for a reforming council of the church • Leo’s response: • Burns Luther’s writings in Rome • Issues “Exurge Domine” (Lord Cast Out) which condemns 41 assertions of Luther • Issues papal bull

21. Luther’s Boldness Increases • Responds to the Pope • Burns the papal bull like a draft card • Publishes a second tract: “A Prelude Concerning the Babylonian Captivity of the Church” • Revolutionary: • Reduced 7 sacraments to 3 (baptism, Lord’s supper, penance) • Denied mass was a sacrifice • Denied transubstantiation • Vehement charges against papal authority • Asserted the supremacy of the Holy Scriptures and individual conscience

22. Luther Excommunicated • January 1521 Pope Leo X excommunicates Luther • German nobles think Luther should be heard first • ”Invited” to the Diet of Worms • To be examined by Cardinal Eck • Given “Safe Conduct” again • Escorted by knights—he goes

23. The Diet of Worms 1521 • Shown pile of books. “Yours?” • “Yes, and I’ve written more.” • “Do you defend them or want to reject them in part?” • “This touches God and His word. This effects the salvation of souls. Of this Christ said, “He who denies me before men, him I will deny before my father.” To say too little or too much would be dangerous. I beg you give me time to think it over.”

24. Trial continued • Eck amazed • Grants him a 24 hour reprieve • Next day, 6:00 PM. Lit by candles • Room is full, building surrounded by people trying to listen • Huge support for Luther • Luther asks Eck, “Show me the error of my ways.” • Eck refuses. Typical “ploy” of heretics • “You know so much more than all the saints and the councils? Answer candidly. Do you repudiate your books or not?”

25. Luther’s Response • “Since your majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason—I do not accept the authority of popes and councils for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other. God help me. Amen.” • Leaves Worms on foot • There’s a delay in signing the order declaring him an outlaw • He’s allowed to leave the region due to safe conduct • Group of mounted armed men surprise his group in the forest. His supporters run, and he is taken away.

26. Warburg Castle • Elector of Saxony had taken him • Made it look like Luther’s enemies captured him • Hid him in Warburg Castle • He was to be executed as a heretic • But couldn’t be found • Luther spent ten months in the castle • Grew a beard and dressed like a knight • Called himself Jorg • Began period of prolific writing • Did a complete German translation of the Greek New Testament

27. Luther’s New Testament in German

28. Theological Exploration • By 1520 had come to fully adopt concept of salvation by grace, through faith—not works • Now engaged in exchange with Erasmus of Rotterdam on freedom of the will • Erasmus was leading Humanist and scholar • Intellectual of the day • Sympathetic to the Reformation • But tried to stay neutral • Wrote book challenging Luther on free will • Luther wrote in response: • “Bondage of the Will”

29. Bondage of the Will • Luther called it his greatest work • Very polemical as was much of the writing of the day • “Your book…struck me as so worthless and poor that my heart went out to you for having defiled your lovely, brilliant flow of language with such vile stuff. I thought it outrageous to convey material of so low a quality in the trappings of such rare eloquence; it is like using gold or silver dishes to carry garden rubbish or dung.” • Erasmus thought the dispute of little importance • Luther said, “The whole gospel stands or falls according to the way one decides it.” • Erasmus: Christianity more about morality • Luther said no, DOCTRINE. “It is a matter of faith, and faith is correlative to truth.” • “Others before me attacked the Pope’s evil and scandalous life; I attack his doctrine.”

30. Marriage • Married a 25 year old nun, Katherine von Bora • Luther was 42 • He hesitated to marry, as he thought others would accuse him of leaving the church to marry • They had six children, two of whom died in infancy, another at 13

31. Council of Augsburg 1530 • Charles V tries to stem the surging tide of “evangelicalism” • Wanted to unite the kingdom again under the church • Called a council in Augsburg and asked Luther to prepare a statement of the evangelical position • Luther drafted the statement with Philip Melanchthon • Became the Augsburg Confession • Salvation by faith alone • Rejected by the council as heresy • As Luther expected, the attempt was futile, and a new church must be organized • Thus began the Lutheran church

32. Luther’s Dark Side • Anti-Semitism

33. Next week: John Calvin