Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses: An Analysis

Martin Luther was a significant part of the world history even if he didn’t plan for it. His Ninety-five Theses spread across Germany like wildfire, dawning the Protestant Reformation movement. Martin a monk at the age 34 who was finally pushed to the edge of his patience after a innoxious protest was met with a ‘overwhelmingly harsh response’ from the Church authorities. Under normal circumstances Martin would have been killed for heresy, but thanks to the duke of Saxony, Frederick the Wise Martin is given immunity from the churches hands. In an attempt to show the Church powers the corruption that is prevalent Martin posted the Ninety-five Theses which was later reproduced and distributed across Germany. Along with many citations from the Bible, Martin wrote “The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring and showing that it has been remitted by God” (6.) This basically stats that even if Pope Leo X were to forgive any past crimes/sins, the sinner will still be guilty in the eyes of God and only be forgiven from the pope’s penalties. Continuing Martin writes that the only way for remittents is to “…humbles [themselves] in all things and makes him submissive to the vicar, the priest” (7.) …show more content…
Regarding remission to souls in purgatory “not by the power of the keys, which he does not have, but by way of intercession for them,” (26) this means that the Pope Leo doesn’t have the power to free souls from purgatory but merrily ably to beg for their freedom. What’s sad is that bishops and curates demand money in order to administer a parchment stating that their soul is purgatory proof. Something about bargaining for souls that seems a tad creepy. The greed of these heretics has consumed their mind and now only money will get their