Protestant Reformation

and the role of

Martin Luther
Introduction

Religious movement in Europe in the 16th century carried out by the followers of Martin Luther
and Martin Luther himself together to bring changes in the structure of the Roman catholic
Church.

Historical context

Origins :-

1. ecclesiastical corruption and inefficiency.

2. Financial burden of the Catholic Church.

3. Traditional methods of extracting revenue were intensified.

4. Sale of indulgences.

5. The practice of pluralism (holding of several church posts simultaneously) led to the
problem of absenteeism.

6. Increasing separation between the upper and the lower clergeries.

Background :-

1. After the feudal crisis, strong centralized states began to emerge in several parts of
Europe under absolute monarchies.

2. The Reformation in the sixteenth century was possible because of technological

innovation such as the printing press.

3. Rise of Renaissance humanism.

4. Confrontation between humanism and scholasticism.

 5. Influence of Erasmus on reformation leaders. Erasmus tried to make Christianity
meaningful.

Dominance of the catholic Church :-

Spiritual Authority: The Catholic Church claimed to be the sole legitimate authority in matters of
faith and spirituality. It held that salvation could only be obtained through the Church, its
sacraments, and the intercession of the clergy.

Political Power: The Church wielded immense political influence and power. It had close ties
with many European monarchs and rulers, and the Pope often played a role in political affairs,
including the excommunication of rulers deemed disobedient.

Religious Rituals and Practices: The Catholic Church was responsible for administering the
sacraments, which were considered essential for the salvation of one's soul. This included
baptism, confession, communion, and others. People attended Mass regularly, and religious
rituals were deeply ingrained in daily life.

Education and Culture: The Church was a major patron of education and culture. It operated
schools and universities, and many of the great works of art, literature, and music were
produced under its patronage.

Economic Power: The Church owned extensive lands, collected tithes (a portion of income), and
received donations from the faithful. It was one of the wealthiest institutions in Europe.

Martin Luther's early life-

● From a peasant background.

● His father provided him with a good education and wanted him to become a lawyer.

● While studying Law, he showed strong religious inclinations and in 1505 he decided to
become a monk.

● He entered the monastic order in Erfurt much against his father’s wish.

The 95 – Thesis

What can be done for the forgiveness of God and assurance of Salvation. The traditional views
of church didn't satisfy him and this led to Protestant reformation.

Church views :-
– Adherence to catholic sacraments.
– sale of indulgences.

● In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenberg and
directly challenged the sale of indulgences as means of seeking God's forgiveness.

● His theological development progressed in the three subsequent years till he finally
rejected the claim that the Pope was the sole ‘institution' to interpret scriptures.

● Later, the pope issued a bull ( a Roman catholic proclamation) of excommunication

which was publicly burnt by luther.

● In 1521, the Holy Roman Emperor asked Luther to appear before the Diet (parliament) at
Worms to face trial. Luther refused to recant his position and thus was outlawed by the
highest
civil authority in Germany.

● He remained under a sentence of death

throughout his life but was shielded and supported by the Elector of Saxony - Frederick,
who personally did not like Papal interference in an academic center.

● While in hiding Luther translated the New Testament. The supporters of his views came
to be called the Lutherans or the Protestants.

Spread of Luther's ideas

The imperial free cities were the chief centers of printing and humanist activities and these
factors contributed to the initial spread of Luther’s views.

Role of printing press -

- Mass production of writings - replaced the painstaking process of copying manuscripts

by hand.

- Faster dissemination
- Translation into vernacular languages
- Lower cost
- Reproducibility.

Lutheran books were more popular amongst the English upper classes by the third decade of
the sixteenth century because these classes were literate and had the money to pay for the
printed books.

Luther’s ideas were also appealing to the middle orders in the towns - the petty
burghers, small merchants, tradesmen and artisans as well as to the urban centers.
Formation of Lutheranism

Development of Lutheranism as a distinct Christian denomination :-

Formation of Lutheran Churches (1520s-1530s): Luther's followers organized into congregations

and began to separate from the Catholic Church. In 1529, they presented the Augsburg
Confession, a statement of their faith, to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. This marked an
early attempt to define Lutheran beliefs and practices.

Peace of Augsburg (1555): The Peace of Augsburg, a treaty signed in 1555, officially
recognized Lutheranism as a legitimate Christian denomination within the Holy Roman Empire.
It allowed individual rulers to choose the religion of their territories, either Catholicism or
Lutheranism. This legal recognition solidified Lutheranism's status as a separate religious entity.

Formation of Lutheran Churches in Other Nations: Lutheranism spread beyond Germany to

other European countries, including Scandinavia (where it became the state religion in
Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), Finland, and the Baltics. Each region developed its own
distinct Lutheran tradition.

The Book of Concord (1580): To unify Lutheranism doctrinally, theologians from various
Lutheran territories came together to create the Book of Concord. This compilation of Lutheran
confessional writings, including the Augsburg Confession and Luther's Small and Large
Catechisms, became the authoritative doctrinal standard for Lutheranism.

Here are some of the central theological beliefs of Lutheranism:

Justification by Faith Alone (Sola Fide): Lutheranism emphasizes that justification, or being
declared righteous before God, comes solely through faith in Jesus Christ. Good works or
human merit cannot earn salvation; it is a gift from God received by faith alone.

The Authority of Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura): Lutherans affirm the primacy of the Bible as
the ultimate source of Christian doctrine and guidance. The Bible is considered the inspired and
authoritative Word of God.

The Priesthood of All Believers: Lutheranism teaches that all baptized Christians share in the
priesthood of believers. This means that every believer has direct access to God and can
approach Him in prayer without the need for intermediaries.

The Sacraments: Lutherans recognize two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Holy
Communion). Baptism is seen as a means of grace by which God forgives sins and grants faith.
In the Lord's Supper, they believe that Christ's real presence is received alongside the bread
and wine.
Two Kingdoms Doctrine: Lutheranism distinguishes between the "kingdom of the left" (civil or
secular realm) and the "kingdom of the right" (spiritual or ecclesiastical realm). This doctrine
guides the relationship between the Church and the state.

Political impact

How Luther's ideas sparked political upheaval in Germany??

Peasants' Revolt (1524-1525): Luther's emphasis on the freedom of the Christian and his
critique of certain ecclesiastical practices inspired some segments of the peasant population to
demand social and economic reforms. The Peasants' Revolt of 1524-1525 saw widespread
uprisings across Germany, often with religious overtones. Luther initially sympathized with the
peasants' grievances but later condemned the violence that ensued.

Peasant's war and its relation to Luther.

The Peasants' War, also known as the German Peasants' War or the Great Peasants' Revolt,
was a major social and political upheaval in Germany between 1524 and 1525. While the
Peasants' War was not directly initiated by Martin Luther, his teachings and ideas had some
influence on the revolt, and his response to it played a significant role in shaping the course of
the conflict. Here's how Luther and the Peasants' War were related:

1. Luther's Teachings and Peasant Grievances:

Luther's emphasis on the "priesthood of all believers" and the authority of the Bible led some
peasants to believe that his teachings supported their demands for greater freedom and rights.
Luther's critique of certain ecclesiastical practices, including the sale of indulgences and the
authority of the Catholic Church, resonated with peasants who were frustrated by oppressive
social and economic conditions.

2. The Twelve Articles (1525):

In early 1525, a group of peasants composed a list of twelve demands known as the "Twelve
Articles." These articles called for various social and economic reforms, including the abolition of
serfdom, fair taxation, and the right to choose their own pastors.
Some of the language and ideas in the Twelve Articles reflected themes from Luther's
teachings, such as the notion of Christian liberty and opposition to corruption in the Church.

3. Luther's Response:

Initially, Luther expressed sympathy for some of the peasants' grievances and condemned the
oppressive actions of the nobility. However, as the Peasants' War escalated into violence and
chaos, Luther grew increasingly critical of the rebels.
Legacy of Martin Luther

1. Protestantism.
2. Emphasis on justification by faith.
3. Authority of scriptures.
4. Priesthood of all believers.
5. Translation of the Bible into German.
6. Abolished monasteries and practice of celibacy by priests.