JCH10.1 Notes

Seite 1

Video Link: Martin Luther https://youtu.be/5froV5lOo8U

So, in short...

Name and introduce the reformer.

Talk about his beliefs.

Explain what inspired him to rebel against the Church.

Explain how the Catholic church responded, and what Luther did.

Describe what happened after he was excommunicated.

Explain Lutheranism.

Describe the results of Luther's reformation.

A key reformer – Martin Luther

Martin Luther was born in Eislebein Germany in 1483. He was caught in a storm one day and prayed to St Anne to save him, in return, he became a monk.

Luther was very concerned about saving his soul and getting into heaven.

He studied the Bible closely and eventually was convinced that only faith in God would save him. “Justification by faith alone”.

In 1517 John Tetzel came to Wittenberg selling indulgences for the Pope and some of the money was to be used to build St. Peter’s in Rome.

This angered Luther so he decided to do something in protest.

He wrote the 95 theses or arguments against the church. He nailed to the main church door in Wittenberg.

They were translated into German and printed using the printed press.

The Pope heard of Luther’s protest and he sent a letter called a Papal Bull ordering Luther to stop but he burned the Pope’s letter in public.

Next the Emperor of Germany got involved and a special meeting took place called the Diet of Worms. Luther spoke at the meeting and absolutely refused to change his views.

Then Emperor Charles V condemned Luther as a heretic which meant that his life was in danger

Prince Frederick of Saxony came to the aid of Luther and he hid Luther in his castle for nearly a full year. ◆ During his time in the castle he translated the old Latin bible into German and he also began to form a new Christian religion. ◆ His new religion was called the Lutheranism

Martin Luther a very important religious reformer during the time of the Reformation. Martin Luther was born in Germany and later became an Augustinian monk. He also held an important position as a university professor at Wittenberg. He was very concerned about saving his soul and going to heaven. He studied the Bible carefully and was finally convinced that only faith in God could save him.

John Tetzel came to Wittenberg in 1517 as a papal indulgence for the pope, and part of the funds would be used to build St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Many people were afraid to buy indulgences, which made Luther angry. He decided to do something in protest and wrote 95 theses, which he nailed to the main door of the church. It was later translated into German and printed using the printing press and his ideas spread quickly.

The leader of the Catholic Church, the Pope, heard of Luther's protest, and he sent a letter called "Papal Edict" ordering Luther to stop it, but he publicly burned the Pope's letter. The Pope could have excommunicated Luther for this. The German Emperor stepped in and called for a meeting called the "Diet of worms". Where they discussed Luther and his beliefs. Luther was given one last chance to take back his beliefs but he refused.

King Charles V issued the Edict of worms making Luther a heretic which meant that his life was in danger. At this stage, Prince Frederick of Saxony came to help Luther and hid Luther in his castle for almost a year. While at the castle, he translated the old Latin Bible into German and began to found the new Christianity.

In this new Lutheran church, the Bible took center stage; there were only two sacraments—baptism and communion; all services were conducted in the language of the region; there were priests in place of priests, and they were allowed to marry. The new Lutheranism soon spread throughout Germany, and many princes became Lutheran. Known as Protestants, they soon developed deep divisions between Catholics and Lutherans. This led to a religious war that lasted more than nine years.

BACKGOUND

● Born in Saxony, Germany in 1483

● First studied law and later became a monk

● Professor of Theology in Wittenberg University

● Fearful of the Catholic Church because of indulgences

● Read the Bible and discovered that justification by faith alone could get you to heaven and not by buying indulgences

PROTEST 1517

● Pope Leo X sent John Tetzel, a Dominican friar to sell indulgences because he needed money for the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and for simony

● Luther wrote the 95 Theses, or arguments, against the Catholic Church. He then nailed them to the door of Wittenberg Castle

● The 95 These were written in Latin

1519

● Cardinal Cajetan attempted to convince Luther to withdraw his beliefs and Luther refused

● John Eck tried to convince Luther that his beliefs were incorrect but Luther again refused to recant

1520

● Pope sent Luther a papal bull and Luther burnt this letter in public to show his disrespect towards the Catholic Church

● Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church as a result of his actions

1521

● A meeting was organised by King Charles V “Diet of Worms”, to discuss Luther and his beliefs

● Luther was given one last chance to take back his beliefs but he refused

● Luther was issued the Edict of Worms and he was declared a heretic and an outlaw

● Frederick the Wise’s soldiers brought Luther back to Wartburg Castle for a year

● At Wartburg Castle, Luther translated the New Testament into German and he wrote the “Confessions of Augsburg”

RESULTS

● Germany was divided (north was Protestant and south was Catholic)

● Use of vernacular increased

● Literacy and education spread (people read Bible in their own language)

● Lutherism is so popular that it still exists today as Protestantism because his followers protested against the Catholic Church

PEACE OF AUGSBURG

● Civil, religious war broke out in Germany for 9 years

● Treaty (Peace of Augsburg) was passed in 1555

● Each ruler was free to decide the religion of his/her state

● Catholics living in Lutheran states had to leave and Lutherans living in Catholic states had to leave

Seite 2