I first published this Review of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, in January 2014, but decided to republish it again, because this year marks the 500th anniversary of the reformation. This post gives context to Martin Luther's 95 Thesis because I added information from a course I took on the History of Architecture.
Introduction: Martin Luther's 95 Theses
To fully understand Martin Luther's 95 Theses
by Martin Luther, requires knowledge of events that were the impetus for the book.
Background: Martin Luther's 95 Theses
Pope Julius II commissioned Donato Bramante to rebuild St. Peter’s Basilica. Bramante, a painter, who applied himself to architecture, had a very good architectural plan for the church. However, the project got stalled because he did not know how to build the dome.
Pope Julius II died on February 21, 1513, and was replaced by Pope Leo X. Pope Leo X was elected on March 9th of that year. Pope Leo X, Patron of the Arts, was a member of the powerful and wealthy de Medici family of Florence. Born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, he commissioned Raphael to complete the renovation to rebuild St. Peter’s Basilica.
After the project stalled when Bramante had been working on it, several architects were brought in to correct the problem. Michelangelo’s plan was subsequently accepted. Pope Leo X was,
“Determined to make Rome in general and St. Peter’s Basilica in particular cultural monuments. He commissioned many of the attractions that astound modern-day visitors to Rome. He enlisted the services of Raphael and Dürer and Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling.”
All these commissions depleted the church treasuries, so Pope Leo X needed money to finance the renovations. He was not willing to use any of his own. At the same time, Albert of Mainz wanted the new title, Archbishop of Mainz, but needed approval from the Pope to dispense of his other two titles.
Pope Leo X and Albert agreed on a sum that would ensure the Pope got the funds he needed. Albert got the position he wanted. But there was a big problem since Albert’s wealth was in land ownership and not currency. To solve the issue, Albert went to his Dominican priest, Johann Tetzel, for assistance.
Tetzel devised a scheme to sell indulgences, which means that anyone with money could buy an indulgence, and would be promised forgiveness of all sins – past and future. Quite the scheme, and on top of that, Tetzel created a marketing jingle touting the benefits of buying an indulgence – “Every time a coin in the coffer rings, A soul from purgatory it springs.” Pope Leo X granted his blessings.
Martin Luther's 95 Theses was his response to the selling of indulgences, and was the catalyst for the Protestant Reformation.
“The selling of indulgences grew out of the medieval sacrament of penance, which entailed four steps: contrition, confession, satisfaction and absolution….”
About Martin Luther
Born on November 10, 1483 in Eisleben, Germany, Martin Luther was a religious leader, reformer and hymnologist. “In 1517, Luther posted his “95 Theses for an academic debate on indulgences on the door of the castle church at Wittenberg.”
The Theses went viral, and in 1518, he was called before Cardinal Cajetan, and commanded to renounce his theses, which he refused. “Here I stand. I can do no other.””
The 95 Theses went viral because at that time the printing press had been invented.
Martin Luther's 95 Theses
Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses: With Introduction, Commentary, and Study GuideMartin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses and Selected Sermons
&
Read my profile, “Martin Luther – Religious Reformer and Symbol Of Protestantism.”
Summary of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses
In Thesis 5, Luther states that the Pope does not have the authority to forgive sins, and demonstrates that Tetzel’s indulgences are invalid. In Theses 36 and 37, he proclaims that if people are truly repentant, they will be forgiven and have no need for letters of pardon.
In Thesis 82, Luther asks the question “Why does the pope not empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love, and for the sake of desperate souls that are there?” Luther raised this question because one of the touted benefits of buying an indulgence was that it immediately gets people out of purgatory.
In Thesis 86, he speaks against the Pope financing the renovations of St. Peter’s Basilica with money from the poor, instead of using his own wealth, which was greater than the riches of the richest. Martin Luther’s 95 Theses (Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences) consists of a list of questions and arguments put forward for debate.
Martin Luther used his 95 theses to reject the validity of indulgences. There are two central beliefs in 95 Theses – the Bible is the central religious authority, and that humans may reach salvation only by their faith and not by their deeds.
Conclusion: Martin Luther's 95 Theses
Reading Martin Luther's 95 Theses will make you think. On top of that, it is still relevant today. If used as a metaphor, the buying of an indulgence is similar to taking a shortcut and refusing to do things the right way. It’s expecting to reap a crop, without having planted the seeds.
The book is about religious dogma, but there are still lessons for today. And you don’t have to be a Christian to read Martin Luther’s 95 Theses.
With this in mind, I recommend that you read Martin Luther's 95 Theses. And the good news is that it is a short read!
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