[2] The Roman theology distinguishes between the "guilt" and the "penalty" of sin. See Introduction, p.19. [3] Decrees of the Church, having the force of law. The canons referred to here and below (Cf. Theses 8, 85) are the so-called penitential Canons. See Introduction, p.17. [4] Commenting on this Thesis in the Resolutions, Luther distinguishes between "temporal" and "eternal" necessity. "Necessity knows no law." "Death is the necessity of necessities" (Weimar Ed., I, 549; Erl. Ed. op. var. arg., II, 166). [5] This is not a denial of the power of the keys, i. e., the power to forgive and retain sin, but merely that the power of the keys extends to purgatory. [6] i. e., Merely human doctrine. [7] An alleged statement of indulgence-vendors. See Letter to Mainz and Introduction. [8] Luther refers again to this story in the Resolutions (Weimar Ed., I, p.586). The story is that these saints preferred to remain longer in purgatory that they might have greater glory in heaven. Luther adds, "Whoever will, may believe in these stories; it is no concern of mine." [9] Luther uses the terms "pardon" and "indulgence" interchangeably. [10] For meaning of the term "satisfaction," see Introduction, p. 19f. [11] Privileges entitling their holder to choose his own confessor and relieving him of certain satisfactions. See Introduction, p. 22. [12] See above, Thesis 6. [13] i. e., "Papal." [14] Cf. Thesis 32. [15] The commissioner who sold the letters of indulgence. [16] The best texts read illi, "on it," i. e., the Word of God. The Erl. Ed. has a variant verbis evangelics, "the words of the Gospel" (op. var. arg., I, 289). [17] See Introduction, p. 20, note 2. [18] i. e., Threatens with "thunder-bolt" of excommunication. [19] See Letter to Mainz, above p. 26. For repetition and defense of the statement against which Luther here protests, see Disp. I. Jo Tetzelii, Th. 99-101; Loescher. I, 513. [20] Cf. Thesis 6. [21] Cf. Thesis 5 and note. [22] Cf. Theses 36, 37. [23] The letter of indulgence entitled its possessor to absolution "once in life and in the article of death." [24] During the time when the Jubilee-indulgences were preached, other Indulgences were suspended. [25] In a letter to Michael Dressel, 22 June, 1516, Luther had written: "It is not that man, therefore whom no one disturbs who has peace—which is indeed, the peace of the world—but he whom all men and all things harass and who bears all quietly with joy. You say with Israel: 'Peace, peace,' and there is no peace; say rather with Christ, 'Cross, cross' and there is no cross. For the cross ceases to be a cross as soon as you say joyfully: 'Blessed cross, there is no tree like you'" (Preserved Smith, Luther, p. 32). III LETTER TO JOHN STAUPITZ ACCOMPANYING THE "RESOLUTIONS" TO THE XCV THESES 1518 To his Reverend and Dear Father JOHN STAUPITZ, Professor of Sacred Theology, Vicar of the Augustinian Order,