 Went to study law.  Got caught in a thunderstorm and vowed to dedicate his life to God.  Joined the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine.

 Developed many criticisms while there of the Church.  Ex. Selling of indulgences, brothels for clerics, purgatory lessens as view relics

 Plagued with his own sense of sinfulness against the perfect righteousness of God.  To be righteous, trust in Jesus Christ (Sola Fide) “faith alone.”  Good works and charity should be done, but were not the basis for one’s salvation.

 “Works of satisfaction” such as praying, fasting, pilgrimages, almsgiving for penitents.  Sixtus IV made indulgences available to those already in purgatory.  Leo X issued the Plenary Indulgence to gather funds for the building of St. Peter’s Basilica.

 Extraordinary indulgence-selling priest.

 95 Complaints about church doctrine nailed to the church door in Wittenberg in  "Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial." - #82

 Christians are to be taught that unless they have more than they need, they are bound to keep back what is necessary for their own families, and by no means to squander it on indulgences. -#46  Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better work than buying indulgences. -#43

 Why was Luther’s message so powerful?  Why did the peasants blindly purchase indulgences?  What did he hope to accomplish by his criticisms?  What actions were a direct threat to Roman doctrine and traditional teachings?

 Made the works of Luther readily available to the masses.

 Ruler of the Holy Roman Empire

 Challenged the pope’s infallibility, inconsistencies of Church councils.  Sovereign authority of Scripture

 Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation- urged princes to push for reform against the Church.  Babylonian Captivity of the Church - attacked the 7 sacraments, only 2 necessary: baptism and Eucharist  Freedom of a Christian - salvation by faith alone.

 “Arise of Lord, a wild boar has invaded thy vineyard.”  Luther excommunicated in 1521.

 Hidden for 1 year where he translated the Bible into German.