1. Church History Major Events continued
Martin Luther’s 95 theses begins the Protestant Reformation (10/31/1517)
Background--Social and Political Factors
Weaknesses in Catholic Church:
Administrative Divisions
Proliferation of Questionable Religious Rituals and Practices
Pilgrimages, saint worship, endowment of masses.
Corruption and Abuses of Power in Church:
Sale of Indulgences and other forms of forgiveness.
Simony (selling of church offices).

2. Church History Major Events continued
Central Beliefs of Protestantism
Accessibility by Laity: "Priesthood of all Believers"
No need for professional intermediaries (priests, confessors, etc.) between the individual and God.
Translations of the Bible into the vernacular
Lay communion.
Conviction that every profession is a religious "calling," not just the priesthood and monasticism.
Theological Doctrines
Martin Luther—justification by grace and faith, not by works
Sometimes led to belief in predestination (Calvin).
Some groups denied transubstantiation.
Rejection of Non-Biblical Traditions (sola scriptura):
e.g.: Clerical celibacy, monasticism, sacraments (e.g.: penance, extreme unction, marriage, confirmation, ordination of ministers), pilgrimage.
Many Protestant churches preferred adult (not infant) baptism.
Simplification of masses.

3. Church History Major Events continued
The Roman Catholic Reformation (Counter-Reformation)
Council of Trent ( )
Called for moral reform of clergy
Addressed issues of selling indulgences, etc.
Strengthening Church structures
Proclamation of dogmas
Affirmation of both Faith and Works
Affirmation of Transubstantiation
Establishment of Society of Jesus (Jesuits) under Loyola

4. The Bible Protestant version Catholic version
Old Testament—39 books
New Testament—27 books
Catholic version
Old Testament—46 books
Additions—Tobit, Judith, I Maccabees, II Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, and Baruch
Orthodox version is the mostly the same as the Catholic version, but some Orthodox groups have additional books

5. The New Testament First four books—The Gospels
Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark and Luke
The fourth Gospel—John
Gospel means “good news”
A Gospel is an account of the life of Jesus
Fifth book—The Acts of the Apostles
Early church history
Epistles—letters
13 or 14 Pauline epistles (authorship of Hebrews disputed)
7 or 8 other epistles
Prophecy—the book of Revelation