Martin Luther Activity

Document A: The Introduction to the 95 Theses (Modified) 
Source: Martin Luther’s letter to the Archbishop of Mainz, 1517. As a young man, Martin Luther became increasingly bothered by the practice of granting sinners indulgences to buy their way out of punishment for their sins. In 1517, Luther decided to write up his criticisms of indulgences and to send them to the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther’s criticisms, known as The 95 Theses Against Indulgences, eventually made their way to the Pope, who responded by attacking Luther and eventually excommunicating him from the Catholic Church. The passage below is an excerpt from the letter Luther sent to the Archbishop of Mainz with the 95 Theses. 

The grace of God be with you in all its fullness and power! 
Spare me, Most Reverend Father in Christ and Most Illustrious Prince, that I, the dregs of humanity, have so much boldness that I have dared to think of [writing] a letter to someone of your Sublimity. . . . 

Papal indulgences for the building of St. Peter's are circulating under your most distinguished name. I do not bring accusation against the outcries of the preachers, which I have not heard, so much as I grieve over the wholly false impressions which the people have conceived from [the indulgences]. The unhappy souls believe that if they have purchased letters of indulgence they are sure of their salvation.  

Vocabulary 
illustrious: respected and admired 
dregs: a worthless part of something 
sublimity: something of pure beauty or grandeur 
distinguished: successful and well-respected

Document A Questions:
(Sourcing) When was this document written? What was Luther’s purpose in writing it? 1517. It was written to list some of his issues with the church.

(Close reading) How would you describe Luther’s tone in this document? He is very respectful when writing this.
 
(Close reading) According to this document, why did Luther challenge the Catholic Church? He believes that people shouldn’t be able to achieve salvation no matter what based on only money.











Document B: Against Catholicism (Modified) 
Source: From Luther’s Table Talk, 1535. As Luther gained popularity, some of his followers began to write down things that Luther said in private. These notes were known as Luther’s Table Talk and were collected and published in the 1560s. The following is presumed to be from Luther’s Table Talk in 1535. 

The main reason I fell out with the pope was this: the pope boasted that he was the head of the Church, and condemned all that would not be under his power and authority. He said, although Christ is the head of the Church, there must be a physical head of the Church upon earth. With this I could have been content, if he had taught the gospel pure and clear, and not introduced human inventions and lies. Further, he took power, rule, and authority over the Christian Church, and over the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God. No man can explain the Scriptures. The pope did and he made himself lord over the Church, proclaiming [the Church] at the same time a powerful mother, and empress over the Scriptures. This could not be tolerated. Those who, against God's Word, boast of the Church's authority, are mere idiots. The pope gives more power to the Church, which is begotten and born, than to the Word [the Bible], which has conceived, and born the Church. 

Document B Questions:
(Sourcing) When was this document written? What was its purpose? 1535
 
(Close reading) How would you describe Luther’s tone in this document?

(Close reading) According to this document, why did Luther challenge the Catholic Church?






















Corroboration Chart
What are the differences between Luther’s account from 1517 and his account of 1535?
Difference In:
1517
1535
Tone
Respectful
Disrespectful
Place in Life




Disagreement with the Church




Hypothesis: After reading Documents A and B create a hypothesis regarding the question: Why did Martin Luther’s account of his break with the Church change between 1517 and 1535? Explain your answer using evidence from the documents.