THE REFORMATIONS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY
February 26 to Ãpril2,2017
Joel L. Pless, Ph.D.
- Wisconsin
Lutheran College
1. Martin Luther and the Reformation in Wittenberg
I.
The Back Story: Why was there a need for a reformation of the Christian
church? The church needed a return to the teachings of the Bible.
A) The New Testament church and the Judaizing Controversy.
B) The spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.
C) The persecution and often martyrdom of the early Christians (red
martyrdom).
D) The legalization of Christianity by Emperor Constantine through the Edict of
E)
Fl
Milan, A.D. 313.
The institutionalization of Christianity by Emperor Theodosius in A.D. 380
and the persecution ofheretics and pagans.
The development of monasticism in reaction to the secularization of the
Christian church [white martyrdom).
G) The rise of Islam and the conquest of the Byzantine Empire and the
weakening of Eastern Christianity, 622-1453.
H) The development of the office of the bishop of Rome into the medieval
papacy.
I)
The spread of Christianity into western and northern Europe, areas inhabited
by pagan barbarians; Christianity was often established by force.
The Christian crusades to reconquer the Holy Land from the forces of Islam.
K) The papacy's decision to grant indulgences to Crusaders who fought to win
back the Holy Land; an attempt to match the zeal of Islarnic fighters.
L) The papacy's decision to grant indulgences to non-combatants in exchange
for a payment of money matching the cost of sending a soldier on a Crusade.
M) The development of the Roman sacrament of penance: 1-) contrition; 2)
confession before a priest; 3) satisfaction by good works.
D
NJ The development of the doctrine of the treasury of merits and connecting it
to the sale and use of indulgences.
OJ The development of the papal Indulgence Letter in the early 1400s.
P) The decretal of Pope Sixtus IV to provide indulgences for the dead in
purgatory, L47 6.
Q) The increasing practice of the sale of church offices (simonyJ.
II.
The Front Story: What happened when a Roman Catholic monk/friar (who was
also a Doctor of Theology) protested the sale of indulgences? A reformation!
A) Martin Luther's formative years: born in Eisleben; educated in Mansfeld;
Magdeburg; Eisenach; and Erfurt.
B) Thunderstorm and decision to enter into the Augustinian monastery in
Erfurt, 1505.
C) Celebrates but falters at his first mass as an ordained priest in Erfurt, 1507.
D) Teaches philosophy at Wittenberg; visits Rome; becomes a Doctor of
Theology; begins a permanent professorship in Wittenberg; his Anfechtung
fexperiencing spiritual torment), 1508-1512.
E) Begins lectures on the Psalms, Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews.
Fl Posts The 9 5 Theses in protest of the abuse of the sale of indulgences by the
Dominican monk John Tetzel.
G) Diet of Augsburg, October L518; Cardinal Cajetan demands Luther take back
his attacks on Roman church teaching.
H) Karl von Miltitz's mission; tentative agreement: Luther would be silent if his
opponents would be silent.
I) Tower Experience; his rediscovery of the gospel through Romans I:L7 and
the concepts of active and passive righteousness, late 1518 or early 15L9? A
reformation in Luther began a reformation through Luther.
D LeipzigDebate vs. fohn Eck, fuly L519; Luther denies both the authority of
the pope and church councils; teaches that Christ is the head of the church.
K) Luther is excommunicated; authors three writings which sever his
connection to the Roman church, 7520.
L) Diet of Worms,1,52L; Luther refuses to recan! "Here I stand"; declared an
outlaw.
MJ Benevolent kidnapping of Luther to the Wartburg Castle; Knight George.
NJ Translation of the New Testament; return to Wittenb erg, 1522.
0) Peasants' War; marriage to Katherine von Bora; Diet of Speyer.
P) Saxon Visitations; writing of "A Mighty Fortress."
QJ The writing of both the Large and Small Catechisms; Marburg Colloquy with
Zwingli and the Swiss theologians,7529.
R) Diet of Augsburg;Augsburg Confession and the birth of the Lutheran Church.
S) Completion of the translation of the Bible into high German, L534.
T) Writing of the Schmalkald Articles; Luther nearly dies, 1537.
U) Opening of the Council of Trent,ltaly, 1545.
V) Martin Luther dies in Eisleben, Germany, February 78, L546.
III
God's Story: Salvation is believing in his DONE and not your DOING
A. Luther through the Bible found a gracious God in fesus Christ.
B. We through the same Bible see our sins but also our Savior.