Martin Luther Student Materials

Reformation Timeline 1517 Johann Tetzel travels in Germany preaching on indulgences. Oct. 31, 1517 Martin Luther sends his 95 Theses with a letter to the Archbishop of Mainz (Doc A). 1518 Pope Leo calls on Luther to take back the 95 Theses, but Luther refuses. June 15, 1520 The Pope excommunicates Martin Luther from the Catholic Church. 1521 The Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, declares Luther a criminal and attempts to arrest him. 1521 Frederick, a German prince, pledges his support to Luther and grants him protection at his castle. 1521-1545 Luther’s ideas spread throughout Europe and gain more and more support. Over the next twenty years, it becomes clear that an irreversible break has occurred between the Catholic Church and the Protestant movement. STANFORD HISTORY EDUCATION GROUP sheg.stanford.edu Document A: The Introduction to the 95 Theses (Modified) As a young man, Martin Luther became increasingly bothered by the practice of granting sinners indulgences to buy their way out of punishment for their sins. In 1517, Luther decided to write up his criticisms of indulgences and to send them to the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther’s criticisms, known as The 95 Theses Against Indulgences, eventually made their way to the Pope, who responded by attacking Luther and eventually excommunicating him from the Catholic Church. The passage below is an excerpt from the letter Luther sent to the Archbishop of Mainz with the 95 Theses. The grace of God be with you in all its fullness and power! Spare me, Most Reverend Father in Christ and Most Illustrious Prince, that I, the dregs of humanity, have so much boldness that I have dared to think of [writing] a letter to someone of your Sublimity. . . . Papal indulgences for the building of St. Peter's are circulating under your most distinguished name. I do not bring accusation against the outcries of the preachers, which I have not heard, so much as I grieve over the wholly false impressions which the people have conceived from [the indulgences]. The unhappy souls believe that if they have purchased letters of indulgence they are sure of their salvation. Source: Martin Luther’s letter to the Archbishop of Mainz, 1517. Vocabulary illustrious: respected and admired dregs: a worthless part of something sublimity: something of pure beauty or grandeur distinguished: successful and well-respected STANFORD HISTORY EDUCATION GROUP sheg.stanford.edu Document B: Against Catholicism (Modified) As Luther gained popularity, some of his followers began to write down things that Luther said in private. These notes were known as Luther’s Table Talk and were collected and published in the 1560s. The following is presumed to be from Luther’s Table Talk in 1535. The main reason I fell out with the pope was this: the pope boasted that he was the head of the Church, and condemned all that would not be under his power and authority. He said, although Christ is the head of the Church, there must be a physical head of the Church upon earth. With this I could have been content, if he had taught the gospel pure and clear, and not introduced human inventions and lies. Further, he took power, rule, and authority over the Christian Church, and over the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God. No man can explain the Scriptures. The pope did and he made himself lord over the Church, proclaiming [the Church] at the same time a powerful mother, and empress over the Scriptures. This could not be tolerated. Those who, against God's Word, boast of the Church's authority, are mere idiots. The pope gives more power to the Church, which is begotten and born, than to the Word [the Bible], which has conceived, and born the Church. Source: From Luther’s Table Talk, 1535. STANFORD HISTORY EDUCATION GROUP sheg.stanford.edu Reformation: Guiding Questions Document A: Luther in 1517 1) (Sourcing) When was this document written? What was Luther’s purpose in writing it? The document was written in 1517. Luthers purpose was to express his concerns about indulgences. 2) (Close reading) How would you describe Luther’s tone in this document? I would say hes respectful but a little concerend. 3) (Close reading) According to this document, why did Luther challenge the Catholic Church? Because of the false impressions people had about indulgences. Document B: Luther in 1535 1) (Sourcing) When was this document written? What was its purpose? The document was written in 1535. Its purpose was to record martin luthers personal views and conversations, specifically his criticisms of the catholic church and the pope. 2) (Close reading) How would you describe Luther’s tone in this document? maybe critical and defiant. 3) (Close reading) According to this document, why did Luther challenge the Catholic Church? Because he believed the pope had overstepped his authority by claiming to be the head of the church and asserting power over the holy scriptures. STANFORD HISTORY EDUCATION GROUP sheg.stanford.edu Corroboration What are the differences between Luther’s account from 1517 and his account of 1535? Difference in: 1517 Tone More respectful and pleading Place in Life Luther was at the beginning of his reform movement still hoping to work within the church Disagreement He disagreed with the sale of with the indulgences Church STANFORD HISTORY EDUCATION GROUP 1535 more assertive and critical he was a well known figure who had already broken away from the catholic church luther disagreed with the popes authoirty over the church and the interpretation of the scriptures sheg.stanford.edu Hypothesis: After reading Documents A and B, and discussing the Guiding Questions, create a hypothesis regarding the question: Why did Martin Luther’s account of his break with the Church change between 1517 and 1535? Is one account more reliable than the other? Luthers account of his break with the church changed between 1517 and 1535 due to the escalation of his theological disagreements and the hardening of his stance against the churches authority. The 1535 table talk provides a more comprehensive understanding of luthers fundamental issues with the catholic church. Explain your answer with specific evidence from the documents: DOCUMENT B "The main reason I fell out with the pope was this: the pope boasted that he was the head of the Church, and condemned all that would not be under his power and authority. ... With this I could have been content, if he had taught the gospel pure and clear, and not introduced human inventions and lies." "Further, he took power, rule, and authority over the Christian Church, and over the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God. No man can explain the Scriptures. The pope did and he made himself lord over the Church, proclaiming [the Church] at the same time a powerful mother, and empress over the Scriptures." "This could not be tolerated. Those who, against God's Word, boast of the Church's authority, are mere idiots. The pope gives more power to the Church, which is begotten and born, than to the Word [the Bible], which has conceived, and born the Church." STANFORD HISTORY EDUCATION GROUP sheg.stanford.edu