Works of Martin Luther, with Introductions and Notes (Volume I)Luther, Martin
ReligionChristian
Works of Martin Luther, with Introductions and Notes (Volume I)
Luther, Martin
Lutheran Church -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 16th century -- Early works to 1800
These warnings are repeated in the Theses. The preaching of
indulgences has concealed the true nature of repentance; the
first thing to consider is what "our Lord and Master Jesus Christ
means," when He says, "Repent." [32] Without denying the pope's
right to the power of the keys, Luther wishes to come into the
clear about the extent of the pope's jurisdiction, which does not
reach as far as purgatory. He believes that the pope has the
right to remit "penalties," but these penalties are of the same
sort as those which were imposed in the early Church as a
condition precedent to the absolution; they are ecclesiastical
penalties merely, and do not extend beyond the grave; the true
penalty of sin is hatred of self, which continues until entrance
into the kingdom of heaven.[33]
The Theses are formulated with continual reference to the
statements of the indulgence-preachers, and of the Instruction to
the Commissaries issued under the name of the Archbishop of
Mainz. [34] For this reason there is little logical sequence in
the arrangement of the Theses, and none of the attempts to
discover a plan or scheme underlying them has been
successful.[35] In a general way it may be said that for the
positive views of Luther on the subjects discussed, Theses 30-37
and 41-51 are the most vital, while Theses 92-95 are sufficient
evidence of the motive which led Luther to make his protest.
5. Conclusion—The editors of this Translation present herewith a
new translation of the Theses, together with three letters, which
will help the reader to understand the mind of Luther at the time
of their composition and his motive in preparing them. The first
of these letters is that which was sent, with a copy of the
Theses, to Albrecht of Mainz. The second and third are addressed
respectively to Staupitz and Leo X., and were written to
accompany the "Resolutions," [36] an exhaustive explanation and
defense of the Theses, published in 1518, after the controversy
had become bitter.
6. Literature—(a) Sources. The source material for history of
indulgences is naturally widely scattered. The most convenient
collection is found in Koehler, Dokumente zum Ablassstreit,
Tübingen, 1900. For the indulgences against which Luther
protested, see, beside the Editions of Luther's Works, Kapp,
Schauplatz des Tetselischen Ablass-Krams, Leipzig, 1720;
Sammlung einiger zum päbstlichen Ablass gehörigen Schriften,
Leipzig, 1721; Kleine Nachlese zur Erläuterung der
Reformationsgeschicte, Leipzig, 1730 and 1733; also Loescher,
Vollständige Reformationsacta, I, Leipzig, 1720
(b) Secondary Works. Beside the general works in Church History
and History of Doctrine, see the Lives of Luther, in German
especially those of Köstlin-Kawerau, Kolde, Berger and Hausrath;
in English those of Beard, Jacobs, Lindsay, Smith and McGiffert;
also Boehmer, Luther im Lichte der neueren Forschung, ad ed.,
Leipzig, 1910.
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