The Reformation – Martin Luther

2nd YR

Who was he?

• He was the man who started the Reformation

• How?• He was a German monk• Got sick of abuses in the Catholic Church• Tried to get Church to change• ended up setting up a new church• Called the Lutheran Church

Early life

• Born Saxony in 1483• Studied law• caught in thunderstorm• prayed to St Anne• Promised to become a monk• so studied theology

Before fame

• became a priest and monk in Wittenberg

• Believed he was a terrible sinner• read bible closely• became convinced that there was

only way to get into Heaven• called ‘Justification by Faith alone’

Differences to Catholicism

• Catholic Church said both faith and good works were necessary

• Luther believed only faith was necessary

• why?• No mention of good works in Bible

Indulgences

• Pope Leo X - rebuilding St Peter’s Basilica

• Needed cash• Introduced a special indulgence• John Teazel sold this indulgence in

Wittenberg• Luther was furious• Saw this as ‘buying your way’ into

Heaven

95 Theses• Wrote a list

called ‘95 Theses’

• Contained 95 problems with the Catholic Church

• Posted it on the church door of Wittenberg

• Became famous

Printing Pamphlets• Invention of

printing in 1400s was crucial

• Helped spread Luther’s ideas all over Germany

• Wrote pamphlets containing his ideas

Luther’s Aims

• he didn’t want to leave the Church• he just wanted to reform the

Church• ie make it better• but the dispute became serious• The Church wouldn’t change

Pope’s Response

• Leo X - Papal Bull• Called ‘Exurge Domine’• Told Luther to ‘recant’ his beliefs• Condemned as a heretic• If he refused he would be

excommunicated• ie thrown out of Church

Luther’s Reponse

• Luther publicly burned the Papal Bull

• Refused to take back his ideas

• A clash was inevitable• Some people supported

Luther..• ..Some supported the Church

Luther burns papal bull

Who ruled Germany?

• Overall ruler of Germany was the Holy Roman Emperor

• He had close links to the Pope• Germany split into diff provinces• each province ruled by a prince• the prince of Saxony was

Frederick the Wise• He agreed with Luther

Diet of Worms

• Luther united to a meeting at Worms• ..to discuss his views• Called the Diet (Meeting) of Worms• He refused to recant his beliefs

Edict of Worms

• As a result, he was condemned as a heretic

• Made an outlaw by the Edict of Worms

• The Edict was the written decision of the meeting

• Luther’s life now in danger

Rescued

• Luther was ‘kidnapped’ by Frederick the Wise

• Hidden in his castle in disguise• Stayed there a yr in secret• He translated the Bible from Latin• ..into German• This is called the vernacular• Vernacular means whatever language

is spoken in the area

Why translate?

• Bible into Latin• No one but bishops could

understand it• Even most priests didn’t

understand it• Luther wanted people to be able

to read it• ..and see for themselves

Spread of his ideas

• Famous because of printing• Spread through German states• Up into Scandinavia• 1529 - Emperor tried to ban

Luther’s idea• But some princes protested• Became known as Protestants

War

• This dispute led to war between the states and the emperor

• Ended with the Peace of Augsburg in 1555

• Each prince could decide the religion of his state

• Lutheranism was the 1st Protestant Church

Why did Luther succeed?

• 1. His beliefs were based on the Bible • ..so he couldn’t be contradicted• 2. Printing press meant his ideas could

spread quickly• ..and couldn’t be controlled by the

Church• 3. He was supported by his Prince,

Frederick,• ..who stood up for him

Luther’s Beliefs

• 1. Bible was source of all beliefs• 2. Justification by faith alone• 3. Prince was head of Church• 4. Services would be in German

(the vernacular)

Luther’s Beliefs (2)

• 5. Only two sacraments (Baptism and Eucharist)

• 6. Both wine and blood were present in communion

• 7. People should read the Bible for themselves

• 8. Priests could marry

Recap Questions

• 1. Write down 5 problems in Catholic church

• 2. What were the 95 Theses?• 3. How did the Pope respond?• 4. Who was the Pope?• 5. What happened at Diet of Worms?• 6. How was Germany ruled?• 7. How was the religious problem in

Germany sorted?

Vocab recap

• 95 Theses• Indulgences• John Teazel• Frederick the Wise• Vernacular• Salvation by Faith alone• Edict

Vocab recap

• Diet of Worms• Heretic• Excommunicated• Peace of Augsburg• Protestant• Papal Bull

Recap – write down 5 diffs between catholics and

protestants