1. Quote from the Diet of Worms
Best title for a church meeting ever

2. The Reformation for the 21st Century
A Look Back in History
An Assessment of Its Meaning For Us Today, Week 3
Issues and Answers, October 15, 2017

3. “The most intrepid revolutionary is the one who has a fear greater than anything his opponents can inflict upon him. Luther, who had trembled before the face of God, had no fear before the face of man.” “Here I Stand”, Roland Bainton, p. 104
Right before the Diet or Worms

4. Tentative Class Outline
Today: The 95 Theses and the subsequent disputations leading up the Diet of Worms
Oct 22: The Diet of Worms and the theological differences on the doctrine of justification by faith
Oct 29: The doctrine of justification, the spread of the reformation and meaning for us today

5. Last Time The Roman Church’s Treasury of Merit
Types of merit
The keys to the treasury
Luther’s Pilgrimage to Rome
Luther transfers to Wittenberg Cloister
His Tower Experience
Romans 1:17 – The just shall live by faith
First time he understood the gospel!
The Construction of St Peter’s
Construction had been halted
Deal between Pope Leo and Albert
Pope and only the pope had the keys handed down from St Peter
Widespread use of buying church offices through the practice of simony
Surplus merit dispensed
Means to be declared righteous, to be made righteous, not to achieve righteousness
First time Luther understood the gospel – he now saw the gospel in the rest of the scriptures
Julius had annexed land even spilling blood to acquire it – his dream was to build a new bascillica suitable for housing the bones of Peter and Paul.
After his death succeeded by the Medici pope Leo who as one historian noted was a “Severe trial for the church”. Leo depleted the coffers of the church and was on the brink of bankruptcy so that St Peters construction had to be halted and weeds took over the land.
Most important key was the key to the treasury of merit
Leo had bankrupted the church
At the same time, a young German prince rose to power
Technically too young to be prince and he had two bishoprics rather than a limit of 1 acquiring them through the practice of simony. Third bishopric became available.
Simon magus had tried to purchase the HS from Peter who retorted, “may your money perish with you”. Albert did not have the funds to by a third bishopric so
Deal cut in which in exchange for the right to sell indulgences throughout Germany, half the proceeds had to be sent to Rome for the St Peter’s building fund and the rest sent to German Fuggar bankers.

6. Johann Tetzel
Prince Albert: A true spirit of contrition was required of those who purchased indulgences
Tetzel bypassed this
Tetzel’s procession entering a town
Great pomp and pageantry
Goal was to stir the heartstrings of the people about their deceased relatives in purgatory
Bainton, p.59-60
Luther was infuriated accusing Tetzel of abusing his authority and deceiving the people
This true spirit of contrition often did not occur because of the deceptive practices of Tetzel
Great pomp and pageantry
Used a cross on which there was a picture of the pope and a papal bull was corraied on a gold embroidered velet cushion – people would gather around Tetzel as he gave a seromon to pull on the heartstrings of his listeners
Famous quip, “Can you hear their cries and pleading for you thi sday to reduce their gime in purgatory?” to encourage them to toss a coin into his coffer
“Every time a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgaoty spings”

7. The written protest
Castle Church door: 95 objections to Tetzel and his tactics posted in Latin on Oct 31, 1517, All Saint’s Eve
Luther’s goal was to have an academic debate on indulgences
Three main components:
The object of the expenditure (St. Peter’s)
Denying the Pope’s sole power over purgatory
The well being of the sinner
Bainton, P
Fundamentally, indulgences were “cheap grace”
95 theses were about indulgences confronting Tetzel and his tactics accusing Tetzel of misrepresenting the church. Theses written in Latin which was the language of scholars not the people
Accompanied by his friend Agrechela, he walked down the street at noon time and tacked the document onto the door of the Castle which was used as a bulletin board for the university
Three main components of the theses
1. The object of the expenditure
Germans scoffed at calling St Peter’s the common treasure of Christendom
Denying the Pope’s sole power over purgatory
The wages of sin is imposed by God, the pope does not have at his disposal a treasury of credit available to transfer
The wellbeing of the sinner
Read bainton, page 62 to end of second sentence second paragraph page 63

9. The 95 Theses Backlash
Luther’s students recognized the importance of the 95 theses and immediately translated them into German
Copies appeared all over Germany within 2 weeks
Barth’s description
Luther sent a copy to Albert who sent a copy to Leo
Luther still had a high view of the church and the papacy
He was being a “dutiful son”
Leo’s reported response: “Luther is a drunken German. He will feel different when he is sober.”
No academician showed up to discuss it
Enterprising students recognized its importance, coped it and within weeks it was all over Germany.
What Karl Barth said of his own unexpected emergence as a reformer could be said equally of Luther, that he was like a man climbing in the darkness a winding staircase in the steeple of an ancient cathedral. In the blackness he reached out to steady himself and his hand laid hold of a rope. He was startled to hear the clanging of a bell.
Read Bainton, page – what Luther wrote on the even of All Saint’s

10. The Three subsequent disputations
Heidelberg triennial meeting of Augustinian and Dominicans, April, 1518
Luther required to defend the subject of human depravity and the theology of the cross as Augustine had understood it.
One of the young Dominican monks reflected on the debate: “Their wows were not able to move him (sic., Luther) an inch. His sweetness is remarkable, his patience in listening is incomparable, in his explanations you would recognize the acumen of Paul, his answers so brief and so wise and drawn from the scriptures easily made all his hearers became his admirers”.
Martin Bucer
John Calvin
This monk would later have a great influence on reformation and his name is Martin Bucer.
Bucer would also have a great influence on another RC priest named John Calvin.

11. After Heidelberg
Tetzel ended up getting his doctor of theology degree but he soon became discredited even among his ardent followers and ended up dying in 12 months.
Next debate:
Augsburg interview with Roman Catholic theologian, Cardinal Cajeton
Rome comes to Augsburg, Germany in the form of the most capable Roman Catholic theologian, Cardinal Cajeton
Following that a disputation is held in Leipzig Germany with Johann Eck

12. Augsburg
Leading up to Augsburg, Luther’s popularity swelled and many of his fellow monks advised him of the dangers of going to meet with Cajeton.
Luther was convinced he could foster a “reasoned discussion” with Cajeton
There was no discussion, no debate; Cajeton would not honor such a possibility
There were “four interviews” by Cajeton
Repent and recant; “Revoco”
Put Luther in the position of contradicting previous popes
Harp reference
But, Luther was convinced he could a “reasoned discussion” with Cajeton
But, there was no discussion, no debate; Cajeton would not honor such a possibility
There were “four interviews” by Cajeton
Cajeton first demanded that Luther must repent, recant and make a vow to never teach against the selling of indulgences the the use of the treasury of merit again.
Cajeton relied on his massive knowledge of Roman Church history particularly the authorization and use of indulgences by previous Popes as far back as the 10th century.

13. Augsburg continued
Luther argued that popes and councils are capable of error and if something was not in scripture, it ought to be challenged.
The idea of Papal infallibility did not become official until Vatican I in 1870 under Pope Pious the 9th.
Cajeton became enraged to the point that Luther barely escaped back to Wittenberg alive.
“Not fit to be put on paper“
Cajeton requested that Frederick either send Luther bound to Rome or to banish Luther from his territories.
Bainton page – Julius’s prior ruling
While Luther realized he was in direct conflict with the papacy, Luther said that popes and councils are capable of error and if something was not in scripture, he would challenge even the authority of popes.
The idea of Papal infallibility did not become official until Vatican I in 1870 under Pope Pious the 9th.
Cajeton became enraged to the point that Luther barely escaped back to Wittenberg alive.
Cajeton told Frederich that what had said was not fit to be put on paper
Cajeton requested the Frederick either send Luther bound to Rome or to banish Luther from his territories.
Bainton page – Julius’s prior ruling

14. The Swirling Winds Frederick is embarrassed,
Was he to believe his favorite scholar Luther to be in error?
The Wittenberg staff and many theologians believed Luther to be right.
If he did not comply with Leo would be he be charged with harboring a heretic?
“What is my duty as a Christian prince?”
Luther writes to Frederick and Staupitz (Salzburg)
Staupitz reply page 77
Frederich writes to Cajeton on Luther’s behalf
P 78

15. Calm sets in temporarily
Cajeton is appointed an assistant whose job was to keep Luther quiet and curry the favor of Frederick
Carl von Miltitz
Asked Luther to refrain from debate if his opponents would do the same
They did not
And the universities became more involved
Philip Melanchton
The man who arose in the court of the opposition was the leading RC theologian in Germany:
John Eck
“The Goliath of the Philistine who stepped forth to taunt Israel was a professor from the University of Ingolstadt, John Eck”

16. Leipzig
Eck succeeded in inducing the University of Leipzig to challenge Wittenberg in an 18 day disputation
Eck openly challenged Luther’s claim that the “occupant of the see of Peter had not always been recognized as the vicar of Christ”
Upshot was the papacy was of recent and of human origin!
Luther retort, page 83, Bainton.
Eck brought forth the writings of Jon Hus showing their similarity to Luther’s writings reminding Luther the consequences for Hus at the council of Constance
Eck brought forth the writings of Jon Hus showing their similarity to Luther’s writings and then consequences of those writings for Hus from the council at Constance

17. Eck vs. Luther Eck aligns Luther with Wycliff and Hus
Like Cajeton, Eck maneuvers Luther to admit that his own teachings contradict those of earlier popes charging Luther with teaching that the Roman church was in error.
Luther had drawn his line in the sand over and against both the papacy and church councils.
Luther becomes known as the “Saxon or German Hus”
Eck: “I see, that you are following the damned and pestiferous errors of John Wycliff, who said it is not necessary for salvation to believe that the Roman Church is above all others and you are espousing the pestilent errors of John Hus who claimed that Peter neither was nor is the head of the Holy Catholic Church.”
Like Cajeton, Eck maneuvered Luther to admit that his own teachings were in contradiction with earlier popes and to charge Luther with teaching that the Roman church was in error.
Luther had drawn his line in the sand over and against both the papacy and church councils.
How Luther became known as the “Saxon or German Hus

18. Debate over freedom of scholarship
Renaissance humanists formed an alliance with Reformation theologians to insist on the right of free investigation.
A clash occurred in Germany over the desire to burn anti-Christian Jewish literature
Resulted in freedom to publish even controversial works
A victory for Luther
A fanatical Jewish convert wanted Jewish books burned
Resistance from the German Hebraist Reuchlin, the great Uncle of Melanchthon
Book burners represented by Inquisitor Jacob Von Hochstratenb (in cartoon beneath Luther’s hand)
Luther’s battle for the right understanding of Paul appeared to him as a continuation of the Reuchlin affair.

19. After Leipzig, Luther was portrayed as, The “German Hercules”
Pope suspended from Luther’s nose
Von Hochstraten is under his hand
Amoing the vanquished are Aristotle, Peter Lombard, St Thomas, others
Devil disguised as a monk is fleeing in the background

20. Debate over freedom of scholarship
Renaissance humanists formed an alliance with Reformation theologians to insist on the right of free investigation.
Clash occurred in Germany over the desire to burn anti- Christian Jewish literature
Resulted in freedom to publish even controversial works
A victory for Luther
Luther’s works spread around Europe
A single edition of 95 theses, his sermons and other works
Tracts on important topics particularly the sacraments
Tracts included The Sermon on Good works, the Papacy at Rome, The Address to the German Nobility, The Babylonian Captivity, the Freedom of the Christian Man
Babylonian Captivity was an assault on the sacramental system of the Catholic church
Erasumus said the breach is irreparable
The RC taught that only through the sacraments can be the channels of grace and only through the RC clergy
If sacramentalism is undercut then so is sacerdotalism
Luther cut the # from 7 to 2
Confirmation, marriage, ordination, penance, and extreme unction are eliminated
Luther argued, “a sacrament must have been directly instituted by Christ and must be distinctively Christian”
Regarding penance, Luther only sought to eliminate absolution because only God can issue such a state in man; he sought to preserve contrition and confession as long as they were not institutionalized.

21. Sacraments: From 7 to 2 Repudiation of Ordination Change to Baptism
Change to the Lord’s supper
Transubstantiation rejected
Luther’s view of the church was derived from his view of the sacraments
Individual accounting to God not humanist individualism like we have in America today
Bainton, page 109
Repudiation of Ordination
Demolished the caste system of clericalism
Provided basis for Priesthood of All Believers
Ordination, Luther argued is a right of the church by which a minister is installed to discharge a particular office
Such a man Receives no indelible character, is not exempt from jurisdiction of civil courts, and is not empowered by such ordination to perform other sacraments
At this point, Luther argued, what a priest does any Christian may do if commissioned by the local congregation because all Christians are priests!
Baptism – not a Second receipt of Christ in your life’ only one vow required
Mass is a repetition of the cross and the incarnation
When the bread and wine are transubstantiated, God again becomes flesh and Christ again dies upon the altar
Luther’s concern was theological - mass is mystical not magical Faith is given by God when where and to whom he will and even without the sacrament is efficacious, whereas the reverse is not true that the sacrament is of efficacy without faith. “I may be wrong on indulgences declared Luther but as to the need for faith in the sacraments I will die before I recant

22. The Charges Laid Forth Against Luther
Charges were augmented now beyond just the indulgence controversy
Now the divine origin and rule of the papacy at Leipzig
The breach of the sacraments made the situation irreparable said Erasmus
Luther retorted that none of the charges against him drew upon scripture
“Why do we bit abolish the gospel and turn instead to them? Strange that handworkers give sounder judgment than theologians! If they burn my books I will repeat what I have said. In this I am so bold that for it I will suffer death. When Christ was filled with scorn against the Pharisees and Paul was outraged by the blindness of the Athenians what I beg you shall I do?”
Nothing further in correspondence came to Luther until March when an attempt was made to silence him through the Augustinian order.
Staupitx resigns as vicar
An appeal was made to Frederick
A gathering of some 40 theologians, cardinals from the Franciscans, Dominicans and Augustinians met – trying to decide what to do with Luther’s writings, books and his person.

23. Leo X issues The Papal Bull of 1520
Condemns Luther as a heretic

24. The Papal Bull of 1520 “Exurge Domine”
Translated means, “Rise Up, Oh Lord, there is wild boar in your vineyard”
It condemns Luther as a heretic requesting 41 of his 95 theses to be retracted
Shortly thereafter, many of Luther’s works were copied and burned in the square of St. Peter’s.
The news reaches Wittenberg three months later
In turn, the papal bull was burned in a bonfire at Wittenberg.
The swords are now drawn on both sides
Shortly thereafter, many of Luther’s works had been copied and burned in the square of St. Peter’s.
The news reaches Wittenberg three months later at which point a copy of the papal bull was burned in a bonfire at Wittenberg.

25. The Diet of Worms
Church leaders were urged to call an imperial council or trial (Diet) to be overseen by the new Emperor Charles of Spain.
Scheduled in 1521 in the German city of Worms.
Again, Luther believed he would be able to engage in a reasoned debate and the opportunity to present his case.
What can we learn from this?
Again, Luther was advised not to go to Worms
“The town will be filled with devils out to get you”
Charges were augmented now beyond just the indulgence controversy
Now the divine origin and rule of the papacy at Leipzig
The breach of the sacraments made the situation irreparable said Erasmus
Luther retorted that none of the charges against him drew upon scripture
“Why do we bit abolish the gospel and turn instead to them? Strange that handworkers give sounder judgment than theologians! If they burn my books I will repeat what I have said. In this I am so bold that for it I will suffer death. When Christ was filled with scorn against the Pharisees and Paul was outraged by the blindness of the Athenians what I beg you shall I do?”
Nothing further in correspondence came to Luther until March when an attempt was made to silence him through the Augustinian order.
Staupitx resigns as vicar
An appeal was made to Frederick
A gathering of some 40 theologians, cardinals from the Franciscans, Dominicans and Augustinians met – trying to decide what to do with Luther’s writings, books and his person.

26. Diet of Worms Streets lined with peasants cheering for Luther
Over 2,000 people escorted him to his lodging
The next day at 4 PM Luther is escorted to a meeting of the emperor, the electors, and others.
Luther examined by the Archbishop of Trier a man named Eck, but the Eck of Leipzig
Bainton, p 141- day one
Luther’s prayer that night

27. Next Week The Edict of Worms
Justification by Faith contrasting the Roman Church view with the Protestant view

29. Debate with Johann Eck in Leipzig 1519
Eck was the leading RC theologian in Germany
Eck cited the trial of Jon Hus

30. Leo issues the Papal Bull 1520
Luther branded a heretic
Luther’s works delivered to Rome and burned
“Rise up oh Lord, there is a wild boar loose in your vineyard”
Exurge Dominee – Papal Bull issued, takes 3 months to reach Wittenberg and in response Luther burns the papal bull in a bonfire

31. The Diet of Worms Greatest Name to any conference in history
Here I stand So Help Me God

32. Justification by Faith
Roman vs. Protestant understanding
The council of Trent
Roman view – you can have “faith” without being justified
The Five Solas

33. The Reformation for Today
Lutheran Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer said in the 1930’s that American Christianity was “Protestantism without the Reformation” (hillsdale dialogue)
Getting rid of superstition, purifiying the doctrine
Not enough about the Church
Do you agree?

35. In a park in the Old City of Geneva, Switzerland
Dr. Peter Jones, 2007