Martin LutherThe Reluctant

Reformer

History of the ChurchMaranatha Chapel

Randy Broberg2011

Lucas Cranach : Martin Luther 1529.

Europe

1500AD

Witness to the New Worldview:Albrecht Durer 1471 -1528

• Having rejected the Gothic art andphilosophy of Germany's past,Dürer is the first great Protestantpainter,

• Called Martin Luther ``thatChristian man who has helped meout of great anxieties''.

REFORMATION

The Course of the Protestant ReformationThe Course of the Protestant Reformation

Catholic CounterCatholic Counter--ReformationReformation

30 Years War30 Years War

The PuritansThe Puritans

Council of TrentCouncil of Trent

Lucas CranachPainter of theReformation

Martin Luther(1483-1546)

"Faith does not requireinformation, knowledge, andcertainty, but a free surrenderand a joyful bet on his [God's]unfelt, untried, and unknowngoodness. "

From his commentary on Galatians, 2.16:

Luther’s EarlyYears

• born in 1483 inEisleben.

• BA and MA from theUniversity of Erfurt.

• But just when he wouldhave entered the studyof law, Luther wascaught in athunderstorm and madea vow to St. Anne thathe would enter amonastery if his life wassaved.

Luther’s Boyhood Home

Luther Becomes a Monk, 1505

• He entered the order of theAugustinians and their monastery atErfurt in 1505.

• The Augustinian Friars or Hermitswere a preaching order whose namewas based on their following themonastic Rule of St. Augustine, notbecause of any other particularconnection with Augustine.

• But the name was perhaps ironic, forLuther was to derive much benefitfrom the study of Augustine as anantidote to the current theology ofhis day.

Luther as monk

• “Did all in his power” to pleaseGod

• Admitted that he came to hateGod

– Why are his laws soimpossible to uphold?

– “Why does God pick on mealone?”

• And his confessor, "God is notangry with you Martin, you areangry with God."

"I was a good monk, andkept my order so strictly thatif ever a monk could get toheaven by monasticdiscipline, I was that monk."

Luther the Priest and TheologyProfessor, 1507-1512

• In 1507 became a priest andsaid his first Mass, and in theview of the church, he wasnow able to create the bodyand blood of Christ. This wasone of many experienceswhich terrorized him.

• Luther was appointed tolecture at the newly foundedUniversity of Wittenberg in1508.

• He was made Doctor ofTheology in 1512 and BecameProfessor of Biblical Theology

Luther’s Journey to Rome, 1510

• traveled to Rome onmonastery business.

• shocked at corruption

• This was the time of theRenaissance Popes

• This was the time periodof the rebuilding of St.Peter's and the painting ofthe ceiling of the SistineChapel .

Pope Leo X (r. 1513-1523) Sells

Indulgences to Build St. Peter’s Basilica

• Leo X needed money to pay fornew St. Peter’s designed byMichaelangelo

• Pope held keys to kingdom ofheaven with power to forgive sins

• Indulgences (papal remission oftime in purgatory) had beenoffered for centuries to pilgrimsand crusaders

• Indulgences in Late Middle Ageswere sold for cash

• Pope and Albrecht agreed to sellindulgences in Germany and splitprofits

Tetzel Sells Indulgences, 1517

• In 1517, JohannTetzel appeared inGermany selling aspecial indulgenceissued by the Pope.

• According to Tetzel,the indulgence wentfurther than previousindulgences,procuring not onlyrelease from earthlypenance andPurgatorialpunishment, but alsofull forgiveness of allsins.

“When the coin in the cofferrings, the soul to heavensprings”

• Place yourmoney inthe drum,the pearlygates openand inwalksmum.

Does the pope have authority beyond this life?Why must we pay him to get remission of sins?Why would not the Pope simply release all souls fromPurgatory out of his sheer kindness, if such a thingwere possible? Why demand payment first?

• October 31,1517 Luthertacked the95 theses totheWittenburgChurch

The 95Theses

Luther’s 95 ThesesSpread Throughout Europe

• Luther sent out copies of the Theses– To humanists– To Albert -- who ran to Pope

Leo X for help• Even though the theses were written

in Latin and were only meant foracademic debate, they looked likedynamite to others, who beganrunning copies off on the printingpresses, both in Latin and inGerman.

• overnight, the theses wereeverywhere.

Luther’s “Conversion”

• He could not understand how, inRomans 1:17, it was said that the"righteousness" of God wasrevealed in the Gospel. If God'srighteousness was revealed, howcould it be good news, since God'srighteousness could do nothing butcondemn man's lawlessness?

• At last, in a flash of insight (or graceor faith), he understood that therighteousness in the verse was notthe righteousness God displayed injudgment, but the righteousness hebestowed on a man through puregrace on account of therighteousness of Jesus Christ. "As itis written, the just shall live BYFAITH.“

Luther’s Conversion

•• Martin Luther"I greatly longed to understand Paul's Epistle to

the Romans, and nothing stood in the way but thatone expression, 'the righteousness of God',because I took it to mean that righteousness

whereby God is righteous and deals righteously inpunishing the unrighteous. . . . Night and day Ipondered until . . . I grasped the truth that therighteousness of God is that righteousness

whereby, through grace and sheer mercy, hejustifies us by faith. Thereupon I felt myself to bereborn and to have gone through open doors intoparadise. The whole of Scripture took on a newmeaning, and whereas before 'the righteousnessof God' had filled me with hate, now it became to

me inexpressibly sweet in greater love. Thispassage of Paul became to me a gateway to

heaven."

Pope Asks Augustinians to Handle Luther

• Initially, the Pope wrote thewhole issue off as a quarrelamong monks. Three monthsafter the Theses appeared, PopeLeo directed the AugustinianOrder to quiet Luther.

• In April 1518 Luther was giventhe opportunity to defend hiscase at a meeting of theAugustinians.

• One of his hearers (andconverts) was the Dominicanmonk Martin Bucer, who laterbecame a great Reformerhimself.

• Luther’s popularity grewunchecked for 3 years

Pope’s Feet Being Kissed

“HeidelbergTheses"

• Johann Eck (1486-1543) was a professorof theology at another German university,and upon reading Luther's theses heaccused him of heresy.

• By the beginning of 1518, formal chargeshad been issued against Luther byRome. He was summoned before ageneral meeting in Heidelberg April of thatyear, and here Luther presented his"Heidelberg Theses" which argued againstfree will and the control of Aristotle intheology, and also outlined the keyfeatures of his "theology of the cross."

• At these meetings Luther won some new'converts,' most notably Martin Bucer(1491-1551), who would in Strasbourgbecome another German reformer.

• Two months after Heidelberg, the Popecensured Luther's writings and sent back areply which stated among other things, "Hewho says that the Roman church cannot dowhat it actually does regarding indulgencesis a heretic." He was summoned to appearin Rome within sixty days.Johann Eck

1518• On August 7, 1518 Luther was

given 60 days to appear in Rometo recant his heresies.

• Frederick intervened• He arranged a meeting with the

papal legate, Cajetan, in Germany.After three days things were worsethan ever. Cajetan threatened himwith all kinds of papal punishment,and would not budge on anypoints.

• Meanwhile Luther had beendeveloping and clarifying histhinking, but still believed that thePope would take his side once heunderstood the issues.

• By November 28 he had lost thisconfidence and appealed publiclyfor a general council of the churchto correct the Pope and the errorsof the church.

Propaganda, making fun of Luther’s detractors.

Wood cut by Lucas Cranach comparing Christ andthe Antichrist

Debates at Leipzig, 1519

• In 1519 it was arranged for Dr. Eck to debateDr. Carlstadt, Luther's senior colleague atWittenberg.

• Luther was at first not invited (not given animperial safe conduct), and attended only asa spectator, but he rose to the defense of thenew evangelical doctrines after Carlstadt hadfaltered in the debate.

• This debate, which lasted three weeks, wasvery important for the future development ofthe Reformation.

• Eck charged Luther with the errors of theacknowledged heretic John Hus. Thuschallenged, Luther considered the questionand finally declared that some of Hus'sdoctrines were true, that he was unjustlycondemned by the (reformist) Council ofConstance, and that both the Pope and ageneral council may err. John Eck

Lutheran Tract

Christ CastingMoney Changers From

Temple

Pope Selling Indulgences

SomeLutheran

Tracts

Luther asTheologian

• Luther wrote threemajor works whichconsolidated both thedirection ofreformation and histheology:– the Address to the

German Nobility,

– the BabylonianCaptivity of theChurch,

– The Freedom of aChristian.

"The Babylonian Captivity of theChurch" 1520

• Denies 7 sacraments, keeping onlybaptism, penance (?) and Eucharist.

• Denies transubstantiation (but not realpresence)

• Denies mass is a sacrifice and good work• Eliminates ex opere operato.• Rome as Babylon• Christians held captive by the hierarchy

of Rome.• In it Luther called for only two

sacraments, baptism and the Lord'sSupper,

• criticized the denial of the cup to the laity• monastic vows, pilgrimages and other

works of merit are man-made substitutesfor the forgiveness of sins freelypromised

“The Freedom of the Christian“ 1520

• "A Christian is aperfectly free lord of all,subject to none; aChristian is a perfectlydutiful servant of all,subject to all."

• Through the Gospel abeliever was freedthrough faith from thelaw of works, but yetwas bound now by loveand to live livesconforming to God's willand helpful to hisneighbor.

LutherExcommunicated,

1520

• In June 1520,the long-awaited bull ofexcommunication was issued.

• In December1520, Lutherpublicly burnedthe Pope'sbull.

This bull condemns Christ himself. Itsummons me not to an audience but a

recantation.. . . The faith and thechurch are at stake. I rejoice to suffer

in so noble a cause. I am not worthy ofso holy a trial. I feel much freer now

that I am certain the pope is Antichrist.

Invitation To TheDiet of Worms

• Charles V promised “safepassage” to and from the Diet(Parliament) and Luthertherefore decided to attend –even though he knew that JanHus in the previous century hadreceived a similar promise andended up burnt alive regardless.

Emperor Charles V(1519 - 1556)

Elector Frederick

Diet of Worms

Luther at Worms: “I shall not recant.”

Since then your serene majesty and yourlordships seek a simple answer, I will give itin this manner, neither horned nor toothed:Unless I am convinced by the testimony ofthe Scriptures or by clear reason (for I donot trust either in the pope or in councils

alone, since it is well known that they haveoften erred and contradicted themselves), Iam bound by the Scriptures I have quoted

and my conscience is captive to the Word ofGod. I cannot and I will against conscience

recant. "Here I stand. I can do no other. Godhelp me. Amen."

(Hie stehe ich, ich kan nicht anders. Gott helfmir. Amen._

CatholicReply atWorms

Imperial secretary. "What purpose does it serve to raise anew dispute about matters condemned through so manycenturies by church and council? Unless perhaps a reasonmust be given to just anyone about anything whatsoever. Butif it were granted that whoever contradicts the councils andthe common understanding of the church must be overcomeby Scripture passages, we will have nothing in Christianitythat is certain or decided.

Edict of Worms: Luther = Heretic

Emperor Charles V

"I am descended from a long lineof Christian emperors of thisnoble German nation. . . A singlefriar who goes counter to allChristianity for a thousand yearsmust be wrong. . .I regret that Ihave so long delayed . . . I willproceed against him as anotorious heretic."

Luther Hides at Wittenberg Castle

• Luther was able to get out oftown under the Emperor's safeconduct before Charles couldchange his mind and seizehim.

• Frederick was concerned forLuther's safety, since he wasnow declared an outlaw by theEmpire as well as the Pope, sohe secretly arranged to havehim "kidnapped" and taken tothe Wartburg castle forsafekeeping.

Luther Translates German Bible

• In Wittenberg Castle Lutherworked for almost a year, andtranslated the New Testament intoGerman from Greek

• Not first German Bible

• It has profoundly shaped Germanculture.

• Separated James, Jude, Hebrewsfrom the rest of the N.T.

• Didn’t translate Revelation

• Spoke of a canon within the canon

• Called James a “might strawyepistle”

Luther vs. Humanists

• Luther would also find opposition from thosethat had earlier supported him, the humanists.

• Recall that Erasmus and his ilk had been callingfor reforms within the Church even beforeLuther had. But they had come to view Luther'sviews on justification by faith alone as"predestinarian extremism."

• They opposed Luther on the basis of man'sfreewill, and they called for an ethical ratherthan a dogmatic interpretation of religion.

• This opposition prompted Luther to produce in1525 was of his best-known works, "On theBondage of the Will." In it Luther cut to theheart of the matter: man was in bondage to sinand could do nothing to save himself or producegood works pleasing to God. The sole goodwork was faith, and since man was in bondage tosin, faith must necessarily be a gift from God. Inthis stand, Luther lost the support of thehumanists.

Luther's Marriage, 1525

Luther marries Katherine Bora, a former nun, in 1525.

Luther’s Family Life

• During Luther's absence atWartburg he wrote againstmonastic vows .By the time hereturned to Wittenberg, themonastery there was entirelydissolved.

• Luther became the father of sixchildren

• His views upon marriagebecame the basis for theProtestant interest in goodmarriages and families.

• Luther was devoted to his wifeand family.

• He often referred to Katie as"my Lord."

Watershed year, 1525, 1529The Diets of Speyer

• The hostility of Charles V to the Reformers andhis devotion to the Catholic faith never altered,but he had to take account of political exigencies,his quarrels with the Pope and with the king ofFrance, and the need for support against theTurks.

• At the Diet of Speyer in 1526, the Edict ofWorms was suspended, pending a nationalcouncil; in the interval it was ruled that eachprince must behave as he could answer to Godand to the emperor.

• At the second Diet of Speyer in 1529, renewedCatholic pressure led to the reversal of earlierconcessions, drawing from the evangelicalprinces, and from a number of cities, a protestthat won them, for the first time, the name“Protestants”.

Luther the Charismatic? The Polygamist?The Ego-Maniac? The Persecutor?

• Prayers to and visions ofSatan

• Endorsed bigamy ofPhilip of Hesse

• Treatment of Karlstadt &Zwingli

• Attitude toward Peasants

• Endorsement ofpersecutions ofAnabaptists

Martin Luther the Anti-Semite?

• 1519: Luther appeals to Jews to abandon Judaismand embrace Christianity

• Luther offended by Jewish refusal to abandonJudaism and advocates burning synagogue andhomes of Jews, destroying Talmuds and banningrabbinical teaching

• Luther declares that Jews must be forced to earntheir bread by the sweat of their brows

• Luther claims that the only good Jew is one whohas converted to Christianity

• He advocates dissolving ghettos and forcing Jewsto work with the general population as an aid toassimilating them

• Luther declares that the three greatest enemies ofthe true faith are the Turks, the Jews and the Pope

Questionsto Consider

• Is another “Reformation” Possible?

• If Yes, what would bring about anotherReformation?

• If No, why not?

• What about you? To what extent areyour beliefs the product of yourupbringing? You may know doctrine, butcan you prove your beliefs citingScripture?

• Doesn’t an extreme emphasis onjustification by faith alone lead to license& immoral behavior?

• Can we allow every individual Christianto derive his own interpretation of theBible? Are different interpretationsequally valid? Should we allow“cafeteria Christinity?

Church inWittenberg WhereLuther Preached