AHSS 2360 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Sola Scriptura, Ninety-Five Theses, Purgatory
28 Jun 2018
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Week 9: Reformation and Global South Christianity
Reformation (Early 16th century)
Major concerns:
a. Papal excess: for example, Pope Alexander bought the papacy in 1492
b. Clergy concerned with power more than faith
c. Appointments were based on who you knew
d. Unconscionable decisions, such as in 1451 naming an 8 year old boy as bishop of Geneva
e. Monasteries as dins of sin
f. Clergy couldn’t read
g. Clergy didn’t have to pay taxes
h. Leaders tired of papal meddling in political affairs
Reformation: Martin Luther
-Everyone admitted that the Church needed reform, especially regarding abuses among clergy
(wealth and ignorance)
-Was a Catholic monk
-In 1517 posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg church, listing what he saw as the
contemporary abuses of the Church.
-Did not intend originally to break away from Catholicism, only to reform it.
-The big issue was the sale of indulgences (to speed one’s way out of purgatory)—a practice
prohibited by the Church.
-Proceeds would go to pay the bishop’s salary and to build St. Peter’s in Rome
-Luther said: people are poor and should not have to buy them
-Luther was told to renounce the Theses he refused and found political support, also helped by
the printing press and rise of middle class
-He wanted clergy to be able to marry and a more personal religion
-Produced 3 central theological ideas to Protestantism: sola gratis, sola fides, and sola scriptura:
-Sola gratis: God saves persons, not because of their works, but by God’s own free choice.
-Sola fides: faith alone was essential, that one could be justified by it
-Sola scriptura: the Bible only, not “tradition”—the Bible should be available in the vernacular
Reformation—Major Points
1. Return to the roots of faith
2. Back to the New Testament
3. Belief that the good news of Jesus was “in chains” to the Church
4. Belief that people could read in the vernacular and understand without the mediations of
tradition (democratic tendency)
5. Justification by faith as central—if we are saved by God because of works, grace is compromised
6. Christian education should be available to all
7. There is no spiritual elite
8. Only 2 sacraments: baptism and Eucharist (not marriage, penance, ordination, confirmation, or
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Document Summary
Clergy couldn"t read f: clergy didn"t have to pay taxes, leaders tired of papal meddling in political affairs. Everyone admitted that the church needed reform, especially regarding abuses among clergy (wealth and ignorance) In 1517 posted his 95 theses on the door of the wittenberg church, listing what he saw as the contemporary abuses of the church. Did not intend originally to break away from catholicism, only to reform it. The big issue was the sale of indulgences (to speed one"s way out of purgatory) a practice prohibited by the church. Proceeds would go to pay the bishop"s salary and to build st. peter"s in rome. Luther said: people are poor and should not have to buy them. Luther was told to renounce the theses he refused and found political support, also helped by the printing press and rise of middle class. He wanted clergy to be able to marry and a more personal religion.
