Martin Luther

Early Print - Frontispiece to Luther's "Prelude on the Babylonian Captivity"

Charles V

I.     The basic story

II.    Martin Luther (1483-1546)

a.    Biography

b.    Influences

                      i.   A personal struggle (1505) – causes and catalysts

                      ii.  Pauline/Augustinian

                     iii.  Lectureship at Wittenberg: The “Tower Experience”

III.   1517 and the controversy over indulgences

a.   Indulgences: theory and practice

b.   The 1517 campaign

                         i.     Plenary Jubilee

                        ii.    Julius II (1503-13) and Leo X (1513-21)

c.   The Ninety-five Theses

d.   Luther’s issue

e.   The bombshell: printing

f.   The Church’s response

IV.   The Road to Reformation: an attack on life and doctrine

a.   The Leipzig Disputation (1519)

                         i.   Andreas von Karlstadt (1480-1541) and Johann Eck (1486-1543)

                        ii.   Luther as Hussite

                       iii.   Two results

b.     Laying out his theology (1520-1521)

                         i.     3 important pamphlets

1.  “Address to the Christian Nobility of   the German Nation”

2.   "A Prelude on the Babylonian Captivity of the Church”

3.  “The Freedom of a Christian”

                        ii.     The message: Doctrine of Justification by 

                                Grace

1.   4 major, interconnected aspects

a.   Sola Gratia

b.   Solo Christo

c.   Sola Fide

d.   Sola Scriptura

c.      “Here I stand”: The Diet of Worms (1521)

                              i.     Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

                         ii.     excommunication

V.              Luther’s theological impact: 3 points

Johan Tetzel selling Indulgences

Leo X

Johanes Eck