I am much afraid that schools will prove to be great gates of hell unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not increasingly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt. – Martin Luther (1483-1546)
Category Archives: Martin Luther
Martin Luther
In translating the holy Scriptures, Luther found that consolation and strength of which he stood so much in need. Solitary, in ill health, and saddened by the exertions of his enemies and the extravagances of some of his followers – seeing his life wearing away in the gloom of that old castle, he had, occasionally, to endure terrible struggles.
In those times, men were inclined to carry into the visible world the conflicts that the soul sustains with its spiritual enemies. Luther’s lively imagination easily embodied the emotions of his heart, and the superstitions of the Middle Ages had, still, some hold upon his mind, so that we might say of him, as it has been said of Calvin with regard to the punishment inflicted on heretics, there was, yet, a remnant of popery in him. Satan was not, in Luther’s view, simply an invisible, though real, being. He thought that this adversary of God appeared to men as he had appeared to Jesus Christ.
Although the authenticity of many of the stories on this subject contained in the Table Talk and elsewhere is more than doubtful, history must still record this failing in the Reformer. Never was he more assailed by these gloomy ideas than in the solitude of the Wartburg. In the days of his strength, he had braved the devil in Worms. But now, all the Reformer’s powers seemed broken and his glory tarnished. He was thrown aside. Satan was victorious, in his turn and, in the anguish of his soul, Luther imagined he saw his giant form standing before him, lifting his finger in threatening attitude, exulting with a bitter and hellish sneer and gnashing his teeth in fearful rage. One day, especially, it is said, as Luther was engaged on his translation of the New Testament, he fancied he beheld Satan, filled with horror at his work, tormenting him and prowling round him like a lion about to spring upon his prey. Luther, alarmed and incensed, snatched up his inkstand and flung it at the head of his enemy. The figure disappeared, and the missile was dashed in pieces against the wall.
From: History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century by J. H. Merle D’Aubigne; translated from the French by H. White; 5 volumes (New York: American Tract Society, 1835-1858), 3:52-53.
The Heart’s Experience
It is impossible for a human heart, without crosses and tribulations, to think upon God. – Martin Luther (1483-1546)
The Importance of the Bible
Let us not lose the Bible but, with diligence, in fear and invocation of God, read and preach it. While that remains and flourishes, all prospers with the state; ’tis head and empress of all arts and faculties. Let but divinity fall, and I would not give a straw for the rest.
From: The Table-Talk of Martin Luther: Luther’s Comments on Life, the Church, and the Bible by Martin Luther (Fearn: Christian Heritage, 2003), P. 95. This volume, first published in 1569, has been reprinted many times since.
Martin Luther (1483-1546) was, of course, the great German Reformer, the founder of what came to be called, even by him, Lutherans.
Advice
Be a sinner and sin strongly but, more strongly, have faith and rejoice in Christ. – Martin Luther (1483-1546)
On Gross Asses
So, our Lord God commonly gives riches to those gross asses to whom He vouchsafes nothing else. – Martin Luther (1483-1546), German leader of the Reformation
The Ninety-Five Theses of Martin Luther – 10
91. Now, if pardons were preached according to the spirit and mind of the pope, all these questions would easily be disposed of; nay, they would not arise.
92. And so, let all those prophets depart who say to Christ’s people, “Peace, peace,” and there is no peace.
93. And farewell to all those prophets who say to Christ’s people, “The cross, the cross,” and there is no cross.
94. Christians are to be exhorted to endeavor to follow Christ, their head, through pains, deaths, and hells.
95. And so, let them trust to enter heaven rather through many tribulations than through the false confidence of peace.
From: Documents of the Christian Church edited by Henry Bettenson; The World’s Classics series 495 (London: Oxford University Press, 1943), p. 268.
The Ninety-Five Theses of Martin Luther – 9
81. This wanton preaching of pardons makes it hard even for learned men to defend the honor of the pope against calumny or, at least, against the shrewd questions of the laity.
82. They ask: “Why does not the pope empty purgatory on account of most holy charity and the great need of souls, the most righteous of causes, seeing that he redeems an infinite number of souls on account of sordid money, given for the erection of a basilica, which is a most trivial cause?”
83. “Why do requiems and anniversaries of the departed continue, and why does he not return the benefactions offered on their behalf or suffer them to be taken back, since it is now wrong to pray for the redeemed?”
84. “What is this piety of God and the pope in allowing the impious and hostile to secure, on payment of money, a pious soul, in friendship with God, while they do not redeem, of free charity, a soul that is, of itself, pious and beloved, on account of its need?”
85. “The penitential canons have long been repealed and are dead, in effect and by disuse. Why, then, are dispensations from them still conceded by indulgences, for payment, as if they were still in full force?”
86. “The pope’s riches, at this day, far exceed the wealth of the richest millionaires (cuius opes sunt opulentissimis Crassis crassiores). Cannot he, therefore, build one single basilica of St. Peter out of his own money rather than out of the money of the faithful poor?”
87. “Why does the pope remit or dispense to those who, through perfect contrition, have the right to plenary remission and dispensation?”
88. “What greater good would be gained by the Church if the pope were to do, a hundred times a day, what he does once a day, i.e., distribute these remissions and dispensations to any of the faithful?”
89. “If the pope, by means of his pardons, now seeks the salvation of souls rather than payment, why does he suspend letters and pardons formerly granted, since they are equally efficacious?”
90. To suppress these careful arguments of the laity merely by papal authority, instead of clearing them up by a reasoned reply, is to expose the Church and the pope to the ridicule of the enemy and to render Christians unhappy.
From: Documents of the Christian Church edited by Henry Bettenson; The World’s Classics series 495 (London: Oxford University Press, 1943), pp. 266-268.
The Ninety-Five Theses of Martin Luther – 8
71. If anyone speaks against the truth of the apostolic pardons, let him be anathema and accursed.
72. But, blessed be he that strives against the wanton and disorderly preaching of the sellers of pardons.
73. As the pope, justly, inveighs against those who, by any device, contrive the detriment of the business of pardons,
74. So much the more he intends to inveigh against those who use the pretext of pardons to contrive the detriment of holy charity and truth.
75. To hold that papal pardons are of such power that they could absolve even a man who (to assume the impossible) had violated the mother of God is to rave like a lunatic.
76. We say, on the contrary, that papal pardons cannot take away the least of venial sins, as regards guilt.
77. To say that not even if St. Peter were pope could he give greater graces is a blasphemy against St. Peter and the pope.
78. We say, as against this, that any pope, even St. Peter, has greater graces than these, to wit, the Gospel, virtues, graces of administration [or of healings], etc., as in 1 Corinthians 12.
79. It is blasphemy to say that the cross, adorned with the papal arms, is as effectual as the cross of Christ.
80. Bishops, curates, and theologians who allow such teaching to be preached to the people will have to render an account.
From: Documents of the Christian Church edited by Henry Bettenson; The World’s Classics series 495 (London: Oxford University Press, 1943), p. 266.
The Ninety-Five Theses of Martin Luther – 7
61. For it is clear that, for the remission of penalties and the absolution of (special) cases, the power of the pope, alone, suffices.
62. The true treasure of the Church is the sacrosanct Gospel of the glory and grace of God.
63. But this is, deservedly, most hated, since it makes the first last,
64. Whereas the treasure of indulgences is, deservedly, most popular, since it makes the last first.
65. Thus, the Gospel treasures are nets with which, of old, they fished for men of riches.
66. The treasures of indulgences are nets with which they, now, fish for the riches of men.
67. Indulgences, according to the declarations of those who preach them, are the greatest graces, but “greatest” is to be understood to refer to them as producers of revenue.
68. They are, in fact, of little account, as compared with the grace of God and the piety of the cross.
69. Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of the apostolic pardons with all reverence.
70. But, still more, are they bound to apply their eyes and ears to the task of making sure that they do not preach the figments of their own imaginations instead of the pope’s commission.
From: Documents of the Christian Church edited by Henry Bettenson; The World’s Classics series 495 (London: Oxford University Press, 1943), pp. 265-266.
