Martin Luther -- Part 4

This lecture has been edited and enhanced for ease of listening.

This lecture examines Luther's response to the Indulgence Controversy, first as a pastor and then as a Doctor of the Church. Particular attention is given to Luther's motives for writing his 95 Theses, as well as the details surrounding the nailing of this document to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. In addition, certain arguments from Luther's 95 Theses are read and briefly analyzed.

Thesis 5 – The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any penalties other than those which he has imposed either by his own authority; or by that of the Canons.
Thesis 6 – The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that it has been remitted by God and by assenting to God's remission...
Thesis 21 – Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in error, who say that by the pope's indulgences a man is freed from every penalty, and saved;
Thesis 27 – They preach MAN who say that so soon as the penny jingles into the money box, the soul flies out of purgatory.
Thesis 32 – They will be condemned eternally, together with their teachers, who believe themselves sure of salvation because they have letters of pardon.
Thesis 36 – Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without letters of pardon.