VERSE 7 continued “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write…”
“Luther possessed extraordinary talents, uncommon genius, a copious memory, astonishing industry and perseverance, superior eloquence, a greatness of soul that rose above all his human weaknesses, and consummate erudition for the age in which he lived. Under this great reformer—who was ably seconded by other leaders and men of learning, such as Melanchthon, Carlstadt, and Zwingli—the course of history changed.
An exemplary, very religious monk, Luther practiced all forms of fasting’s and scourging’s, and for two years endured indescribable anguish. In 1508 he became a teacher at the University of Wittenberg, a position he held till his death in 1546. Then in 1511 he went to Rome. Upon catching his first view of the city, he fell upon the earth and cried out, “O Holy Rome, I greet thee.” While he was climbing on his knees and halfway up the Scala Santa (or Pilate’s Staircase) as a reverent and penitential pilgrim, the Scripture came to him, “The just shall live by faith.” Immediately He descended the steps, left Rome, and returned to Germany.
Though appalled at the corruption and vice of the papal court, Luther still accepted the authority of the Roman Church. The impiety of Italian churchmen, the scandalous stories about Popes Alexander VI and Julius II, and the evidence of immorality against the popes all probably helped Luther later conclude that the head of that system was the chief enemy of religion.
Nearly a century after the invention of printing when men were beginning to think for themselves, the public sales of indulgences—authorized by the pope in this instance to raise money for the completion of St. Peter’s Cathedral at Rome—aroused general indignation. The sale of indulgences by John Tetzel, a Dominican monk of notorious character and shameless effrontery, was particularly offensive.
Papal indulgences had originated with Popes Pascal (817–824) and John VIII (872–882). Found to be exceedingly profitable, papal indulgences soon gained widespread use. They were offered as an inducement to go on Crusades, to wage wars against heretics, to oppose kings the pope wished to punish, to encourage Inquisitors, to foster pilgrimages to Rome, or to gain support for any public or private enterprise of the pope; or they were sold for money. Pope Sixtus IV in 1476 was the first to apply them to souls already purported to be in purgatory. Indulgences were farmed out to be retailed. Thus the selling of what in practice amounted to license to sin became one of the most lucrative sources of papal revenue.
In 1517 John Tetzel traveled through Germany selling certificates signed by the pope, offering pardon of all sins to buyers and their friends . . . without confession, repentance, penance, or absolution by the priest. “At the very instant,” Tetzel told the people, “when the piece of money chinks on the bottom of the strong box, the soul comes out of purgatory, and, set free, flies upward into heaven.” Martin Luther was horrified to hear such things.
On October 31, 1517, Luther posted ninety-five theses on the church door in Wittenberg. Relating primarily to indulgences but in substance striking at the authority of the pope, the ninety-five theses were merely a notice in Latin stating Luther’s willingness to discuss these things in the university and challenging all comers to debate. When printed copies were eagerly sought all over Germany, the theses proved “to be the spark that set Europe aflame.” Tract after tract followed, in Latin for the scholar, in German for the people. By 1520 Luther had become the most popular man in Germany.
Luther declared the indulgence was unimportant, urging the poor man to spend his money instead for household needs. The truly repentant, he argued, do not flee punishment but bear it willingly as a sign of their sorrow. Faith in God and the cleansing merit of the Redeemer’s blood, not the procuring of pardons, bring forgiveness; and every Christian who feels true contrition for his sins will receive remission of sins. Luther questioned:
If the Pope releases souls from purgatory for money, why not for charity’s sake?
Another question was,
Since the Pope is as rich as Croesus, why does he not build St. Peter’s with his own money, instead of taking that of the poor man?
Luther further remarked that the money of the Germans flew “feather-light” over the Alps to Italy, but it suddenly became like lead when there was a question of its coming back.
In 1520 the pope issued a bull excommunicating Luther and declaring that, unless he retracted within sixty days, he would receive the “penalty due for heresy” (i.e., death). Luther publicly burned the papal bull on December 10, 1520. A new age in history began that day.
Luther was subsequently summoned to appear before the Diet at Worms by Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire, which at that time included Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Austria. When ordered to retract in the presence of the assembled dignitaries of the empire, he replied that he could retract nothing except what was disproved by Scripture or reason: “Here I stand; I can do naught else; so help me God.” Although he was condemned, he had too many friends among the German princes for the edict to be carried out. On May 26, 1521, the official bill of outlawry was signed and issued against Luther.
While hiding for ten months in Wartburg Castle under the protection of Elector Frederick, Luther accomplished, among other things, the translation of the New Testament and part of the Old into German.”
In our next post we will continue with our look at Verse 7
