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The Rise of Lutheranism and the Protestant Reformation in 16th Century Europe

The 16th century marked a pivotal period as Lutheranism emerged, challenging the Catholic Church's authority. Martin Luther's teachings emphasized justification by faith alone, reshaping religious beliefs amidst widespread discontent over church practices like indulgences. His 95 Theses ignited debates on salvation, authority, and the essence of the Church, leading to his excommunication and the spread of Protestantism across Europe. The era witnessed increased education, the proliferation of universities, and the utilization of the printing press, fundamentally altering society and faith.

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The Rise of Lutheranism and the Protestant Reformation in 16th Century Europe

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  1. Luther’s Revolution Lutheranism and Protestant Reformation

  2. Catholic Church in the 16th Century • Increased Education: • Spreading universities • Printing press to publish bibles • Political Power: • Popes possessing significant authority • Increased Religious Beliefs (Renaissance) • People becoming more religious • Vatican amongst the worlds most beautiful sites

  3. Cries of outrage grow louder • Wealth of church • Simony • Pluralism • Clergy immorality

  4. Religious sentiments of Europeans • Pilgrimages common • Shrines believed to cure illnesses • Yet people wanted more… • Humanists condemned many practice of the church • As suffering rose so did outcry against the church • Conflicts between Religion and Politics • Erosion of confession and the rise of indulgence

  5. Indulgences • Substitute for confession and penance. • Part of the Catholic doctrine of good works • “so as soon as the coin in coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs” • Came to be viewed as “pardons” • Sale had become big business

  6. Tetzel Controversy • Needed an agent to sell them to build the St. Peter’s Basilica. • Gave the ability to grant your ancestors freedom from their sins and removal from purgatory.

  7. St. Peters Basilica

  8. Martin Luther • Relatively obscure German professor. • Rose due to his intellectual achievements. • Preached and taught. • Successful and content on the outside, but internally tormented.

  9. Luther's Internal Struggle • “I was one who terribly feared the last judgment and who nevertheless wished with all my heart to be saved.” • He couldn’t erase his belief in his own sins • How could he liberate his own soul? • “I pondered night and day until I understood the connection between righteousness of God and the sentence “The just shall live by faith”, then I grasped that the justice of God is his righteousness by which through grace and pure mercy, God justifies us through Faith”

  10. Luther's 3 principles • Sola Fide: Justification by faith alone • Sola Scriptura: all that was needed to understand the mercy of God was contained in the Bible • All who believed in Gods righteousness were equal in God’s eyes.

  11. The 95 Theses • Luther’s scholarly response to Indulgences. • Nature of the act? • Content? • Placed him in direct conflict with the Roman Catholic Church.

  12. Consequences • Excommunication • Books burned • A public letter burning • “let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God.” Papal v. Bible

  13. New Answers to Four Theologic Questions • How is someone to be saved? • No longer both faith and good works. • Now salvation from Faith alone.

  14. Where does Religious Authority Lie? • In the Pope? • Now it shall lie in the word of God—the Bible. • Each person is capable of their own leadership.

  15. What is the Church? • Is it the clergy and the institution? • Lutheran view holds it that the church is the entire community of believers.

  16. What is the highest form of Christian life? • Previous teachings held the monastic and religious orders. • Luther emphasized that all vocations have equal merit and that every person should serve god per their individual calling. • The answers to these four questions becomes the basis of Protestantism

  17. Luther summoned by Charles V to Worms • Ordered to recant • “I cannot and I will not retract anything, since is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise.” • Asked Charles V and the Pope to use the Bible to contradict his words…

  18. Spread of Lutheranism • Encouraged local princes to allow their subjects to practice it. • Diminished power of the papacy. • Published over 30 works that were huge best sellers. • German princes long angry with politics in Europe were the quickest to embrace it

  19. Spread of Protestantism • John Calvin • Unwilling reformer • Geneva was largely under Catholic and prince control. • The region had been exposed to Protestantism by the reformer Huldrych Zwingli

  20. Calvin’s World in the 16c

  21. Calvinism • Luther/Calvin comparison • Calvin and Paris under Francis I (at right) • An avid defender of French Huegenots (Protestants) • Predestination • “Many are called but few are chosen” “The Elect” • Puritans (congregational elect government) • “infants themselves bring their own damnation from the mothers womb” • Discounts the good works doctrine

  22. Structure of Calvinism Pastors Doctors Deacons Elders

  23. ProtestantChurchesinFrance(Late 16c)

  24. The Anabaptists Dutch persecution of Anabaptists (Mennonites)

  25. ReformationEurope(Late 16c)

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