Topic 12- The Protestant Reformation

• The Protestant Reformation - Introduction, Basics

  • Begins 1517 - Martin Luther
  • Divides the Western Church
  • New Denominations
  • New Beliefs and Practices
  • New interiority (what should be happening in a person, recognizing your spirituality )
• Beginnings: The making of Martin Luther

  • The medieval Catholic
  • Born c. 1484
  • Saxony - part of Roman Empire
  • Law Student (wasn't happy studying law)
  • 1505 thunderstorm (he struggles in the thunderstorm)- vows to become a monk, and does
• From Catholic to Revolutionary

  • Studies/teaches in Wittenburg
  • Spiritual Dissatisfaction: prays, fasts, etc, but fears God as judge
  • His conclusion: Salvation by faith alone (sola fide)
  • Rejection of Catholicism
• The Revolution (1517 - 1521)

  • A new indulgence
  • Pope Leo X and German bishop to share proceeds
  • To help build St. Peter's Basilica in Rome
  • Plenary Indulgence ( buying spiritual blessings for Almsgiving)
  • Promoted in Germany
• Luther's 95 Theses

  • Against sale of indulgences
  • Posted on church door in Wittenburg
  • A call to debate
  • Printed or circulated widely (printing press)
• Luther's pamphlets

  • Against infallibility of Councils/pope
  • Recognizes 2 sacraments ( no Sacrament of Confession)
  • And 3 solas
  • Calls for reform of Church
• 3 Solas

  • Sola Scripture - "Scripture alone" as infallible authority
  • Sola Gratia - Salvation by "grace alone" ( free will in bondage to sin) (God steps in and reworks it)
  • Sola Fide - Salvation by Faith alone (works do not contribute) (faith in your soul saves you)
  • Only scripture, grace, faith
• Freedom of a Christian (1520)

  • Soul (inner person) - faith
  • Body (outer person) - works
  • Salvation by faith alone
  • Union of soul and Christ
  • "Imputed Righteousness" (like a cloak)
• Luther's Fate

  • Excommunicated by Pope Leo X in 1521
  • Declared outlaw by Emperor Charles V (1521)
  • But protected in Saxony
• Luther after 1521

  • Marries Katherine De Bora, a former nun
  • Live in a former monastery
  • 6 children, all healthy
  • Lutheranism in Germany
  • Peaceful Death for Luther, 1546
• The Revolution: Applications

  NO "religion of works"

  • Rejection of celibacy
  • Closure of monasteries/convents
  • No shrines
  • No relics/devotion to saints
  • No public fasts
• The Revolution: Sacraments down to 2

  • "Priesthood of all believers" =
  • No "priests; only ministers"
  • No confession
  • Baptism, yes
  • Eucharist, yes (but no transubstantiation)
  • No Mass
• The Revolution: Europe Divided

  Holy Roman Empire

  • Cuius regio, eius religio (1555)
  • Whose realm, his religion
  • Each local ruler decides
• The Revolution: Protestantism Divided

  • Lutherans
  • Anglicans (England)
  • Calvinists
  • Anabaptists
• The Revolution: America Divided

  Catholic lands

  • Latin America
  • New France (future Canada)

  Protestant lands

  • British Colonies (future U.S.)
• Martin Luther, The Freedom of A Christian

  Luther argues that this corruption and the misguided traditions that follow are harming the Church body. He believes the biggest hallmark of the Christian faith is the freedom believers find in it. Luther outlines how this faith accomplishes that freedom through faith and service. True freedom is found in all-consuming faith in Jesus Christ. Luther repeats his claim that believers are justified through faith alone.