The Reformation

The Reformation• Christianity during the Middle Ages

– Pope was God’s representative on earth– Control and influence over people’s lives– Hoc Est Corpus Meum

• Renaissance—the Church was nearly 1,400 years old, very wealthy and powerful.

• The papacy had become corrupt:– Sacraments—ceremonies that give spiritual grace– Indulgences—pardon from sins– Simony

Early Challenges• Babylonian Captivity 1309-1376• Great Schism 1378-1418

– Council of Constance

• Conciliar Movement– Assemblies– Marsiglio of Padua “Defensor Pacis”– John Wyclif: pope has no authority; Lollards

• Jan Hus– Czech Priest who verbally attacked the wealth and power

of the church.– Burned at the stake in 1415– Became a martyr for those who wanted to reform the

church

And that was just the beginning….• 1514—Pope Leo X—Indulgences

and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome

• Johann Tetzel

• Erasmus “In Praise of Folly

Martin Luther• October 31, 1517

• The 95 Theses– Sola Scriptura– Sola Fide

• Excommunication– 1520, Pope Leo issues a Papal bull

ordering Luther to recant

Martin Luther• Address to the Christian Nobility of the German

Nation

Why’d the Renaissance lead to the Reformation?

• People gained access to books, reading and writing

• People grew tired of the power and worldliness of the Church

• The Church became less important as people sought to understand God on their own

Four Views during the Reformation

“Against the Roman Church lying teachers are rising, introducing ruinous sects, and drawing upon themselves speedy doom. They boast and lie against the truth.”

—Pope Leo X condemning Luther, 1520

“Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better work than buying pardons.”

 —From the 95 Theses, Martin Luther

Four Views during the Reformation“As soon as gold in the basin rings, right

then the soul to heaven springs.” —John Tetzel on indulgences

“The fact that indulgences have so long stood safe and with impunity, and wantoned with so much fury and tyranny, may be regarded

as a proof into how deep a night of ignorance mankind were for some ages

plunged.”  —From Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin