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 3:7,8

Mentions Mary as mother of God #75

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

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.

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 Albert’s purchase of his job.

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

Why was the 95 Thesis so popular?Tetzel’s 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 GermanyThe people hated Johan Tetzel. Greedy, dishonest, immoral Johann Tetzel Sells Indulgences in

Germany

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

Road to Worms3 Attempts to bring Luther back

Prierias—1st 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 Luther’s absence

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

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

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 LutherAfter interview with Miltitz Luther agrees to make some concessions. Included in the concessions is a letter of apology to the Pope

Altenburg, Germany

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 Pope’s authority or the church’s.Miltitz had intended to arrest Luther but while traveling would stop at inn’s and pubs to question the people about Luther. Fearing a backlash because of Luther’s’ immense popularity Miltitz is relatively soft on Luther.

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.

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 monkThe proper order for action in the RCC and HRE was

BullBanDietEdict

Road to Worms After Militiz’s brilliant tactics the Pope is distracted from Luther by the death of HRE’s 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.

Road to Worms1519 Luther receives a copy of John Huss’s The Church from Prague. He declares himself in fundamental agreement.Luther’s pen heats up—knowing 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

Road to WormsIn 14 months Luther writes—Brief Form of the 10 Commandments, A Brief Form of the Creed, A Brief Form of the Lord’s Prayer, Meditations of Christ’s 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

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)

Road to WormsApril 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.

Road to WormsWhen Luther arrives at Worms about 2,000 cheering people greet him—Luther’s 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 only—filled with high ranking RCC officials and princes and nobles from the HRE.

Road to WormsOn a table are Luther’s 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

Road to WormsThe 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

Road to WormsAfter 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.

Road to WormsLuther 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 stand—God help me. Amen” with this Luther hung his head.

Road to WormsCarlyle calls this “The greatest moment in the modern history of man” May 26, 1521 the Emperor signs an edict against Martin Luther—He is as good as a dead man were it not for Frederick the Wise and the high esteem of the German people. The peasant’s shoe is posted all around Worms in the middle of the night.

Luther at WartburgOn 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.

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

Luther at WartburgWhile 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 Staupitz—the 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)

Luther at WartburgDec 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.