Question 1. What are the three "alones" of Reformation theology? How do they relate to one another in Luther's theology? How does Luther's use of them respond to the dominant question of the sixteenth century: How can I know that God is favorable to me?
The three "alones" in Reformation theology refer to that which is needed for "justification" or salvation favorableness in the sight of God. Luther describes them as 1) Christ, or the Gospel of Christ (Scripture), alone, 2) faith alone, and 3) grace alone. Each of these three are essentially united in Luther's theology.
Christ is the most important factor in the three, because without Christ and without His Word, as recorded in Scripture, one cannot begin to have faith or hope to receive the necessary grace that comes with faith and guarantees salvation. As Luther states, "One thing, and one alone, is necessary for life, justification, and Christian liberty; and that is the most holy word of God, the Gospel of Christ" (Luther, p. 9). Through Christ and the preaching of His Word comes belief. If one believes, that is has faith, which implies trust and commitment, then one is justified and has found favor in God's eyes: "For faith alone, and the efficacious use of the word of God, bring salvation" (Luther, p. 9)
Luther downplays the importance of "works" in the justification of man and instead emphasizes the place of faith and the grace that goes with it: "For the word of God cannot be received and honoured by any works,
What three most critical things caused of the protestant reformation? The three most important things that helped this were pope isn’t God; church can’t make laws, and the selling of indulgence.
The Reformation was a movement in the 16th century that was marked ultimately by rejection or modification of some Roman Catholic doctrine or practice and led to the establishment of the Protestant Churches. Although this was mostly viewed as just a religious movement, there we also many political and social aspects of it. In the beginning Johann Tetzel sold indulgences, a pardon for certain types of sin, the guilt that has been forgiven which was a position very harshly challenged by Martin Luther. Luther was later a German professor, but at this time came to be known as a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation. Anyway, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses which he wrote as a protest against the selling of indulgences. After this he was
The universities of Europe had a major impact on the start and spread of the Catholic Reformation. Both Source B and Source D agree that universities played a major role in the start of the Protestant Reformation and in the further spreading of the Reformation by allowing it to be taught. Both sources, however vary slightly on how they believe universities of Europe contributed to the Reformation. They both agree that the universities and how they responded were directly influential, however they disagree slightly on in what way it influenced the rise of the Reformation.
Martin Luther's "The Freedom of a Christian" discusses an in-depth look into the Christian faith, God's work in each individual. Refusing to believe in the established doctrine, Luther wrote this reforming treatise in response to Pope Leo's criticisms and to further explain the theological and ideological core of his thinking. Nevertheless, Luther centered his ideas around the concept that the joys and freedoms of a Christian were that in faith; humans, as sinners, should not look at ourselves, but instead at God's goodness. He goes on to elaborate that through the justification by faith, humans grasp the meaning of a whole Christian life. Throughout "The Freedom of a Christian", Luther expands on the threefold power of faith: faith frees
Martin Luther wrote “On Christian Liberty,” as an attempt to avoid conflict with the Church. In it, he justifies his beliefs, primarily on the importance of placing faith in Christ above works in the grand scheme of salvation. Throughout the treatise, he address who a Christian should be, the nature humanity, and the role he believes faith, works, and ceremonies playing in forming a good Christian. This, in turn, entices the reader to critique and search of his or her self, what it means to be a good Christian and how to gain salvation.
These two conflicting statements can stand because in the sight of God apart from the spirit in one’s own powers nothing will be achieved. Luther is trying to convey in this section that apart from the spirit your works alone will not justify you. The spirit is opposed to the works of the law and apart from the spirit people are condemned. Luther not only uses Paul’s writings to build upon his case but by looking at the book of the law (Deuteronomy) and some of Christ sayings in John; Luther is attempting to show that his argument of works outside of the spirit is meaningless. He wishes for the readers to understand that apart from the spirit of God everything that a person does is condemned no matter the works of the law that are carried out.
Martin Luther’s three major treaties were “attempts to persuade Pope Leo X and Roman Catholics that the theology of the Reformation was not a novelty in the faith, but a pure confession of the Word of God and consistent with the truth of the Holy Scriptures” Each one focused on various practices and beliefs of the Catholic Church that Martin Luther deemed were wrong. One of Martin Luther 's three major treatises, On A Freedom of a Christian, reprimands the widely held Christian belief that good works justified our salvation. Martin Luther had hoped that his writings would educate and remind the people and religious officials that salvation stems from our faith. Faith should not be categorized as a virtue but rather a trust in God in which one builds when they encounter the trials and temptations in life. Therefore, it is the Gospel, the word of God, that sets the Christian believer free. However, this new insight had led people to believe that both faith and good works is necessary for justification. Martin Luther wanted to separate the truth from the false teachings. Therefore, Martin Luther explains that although the Christian is freed good works are still compulsory because it’s function is to help Christians discipline themselves in order to better serve the needs of their neighbor as long as they have the faith first in order for their works to be considered good and pleasing to God.
In this chapter, it talks about Luther’s teachings about the doctrine of god, Luther always taught that the Father, Son, and Holy spirit are three distinct persons in one divine essence, but the son have become a human which from my understanding is Jesus Christ and he is with two natures divine and human. The article of justification which is two parts the first is justifying God and the second is ‘I, the sinner’ is explained by Luther in that God does not seek to be justified, and for the sinner God does not desire his death, but will reveals his merciful and loving heart.
The Protestant Reformation was a major 16th century European movement aimed initially at reforming the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. The Reformation in western and central Europe officially began in 1517 with Martin Luther and his 95 Theses. This was a debate over the Christian religion. At the time there was a difference in power. Roman Catholicism stands with the Pope as central and appointed by God. Luther’s arguments referred to a direct relationship with God and using the local vernacular to speak to the people. Luther’s arguments remove the absolute power from the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church in general. The revenue from the taxes paid to the Church would be reduced with Luther’s ideas, in part because of
Luther believes that works cannot glorify God, but one’s faith can. He says, “God cannot be worshiped unless you ascribe to Him the glory of truthfulness and all goodness which is due to Him” (22). No amount of good works that a person completes here on Earth is enough to give God the praise and honor He deserves, however, someone who dedicates their heart to God and walks through their life in faith is worshipping God just by believing in Him. Faith is what makes Christians righteous. This does not mean that works are meaningless. If good works are done with faith they bring glory to God, but faith is the main focus. Some believe that works must be done to be able to fulfill the commandments, but Luther rejects this claim. He says that works proceed from the fulfillment of the commandments within oneself.
From the time Christianity began to the time of the Protestant Reformation, for about a millennium and a half, there was only one sect of Christianity: Catholicism. After the Protestant Reformation, however, different Christian denominations sprang up in many parts of Europe. The Protestant Reformation’s beginning is most commonly associated with Martin Luther’s beliefs and his protest of the wrongdoings of the Catholic Church. Before the Reformation, the Catholic Church was more interested in raising funds for its leaders and keeping political ties healthy rather than the spiritual enhancement of the Christian people. There were problems with Catholic leadership years before during the Babylonian Captivity and the Great Schism, in which there were multiple popes as a result of political rivalries between regions. These two events greatly depreciated papal authority for years to come, and although many people still practiced Catholicism, their confidence and trust in the Church was never completely restored. Luther protested the sale of indulgences, the belief that the Church’s interpretation of the Scripture was the only right interpretation (that people should read the Bible themselves), and the corruption of the Catholic clergy. Catholics believed that, by purchasing an indulgence, a soul could escape from purgatory; the leaders of the Catholic Church took advantage of this belief in order to receive more revenue. Since the start of Christianity, the Catholic Church
By the late 1500s, Christian denominations had been popping up all over Europe. This was in response to the reports of indulgences (selling of freedom from purgatory), clerical immorality, abuse of money, along with many other bad actions that were rampant among the Church. It was these problems that Luther and others rebelled and created their own religions. With the rising of these Reformation movements, the Church needed to make some reforms itself. These reforms took the form of educating the clergy, opening monasteries, the Inquisition, and the organizing of councils. In fact, even though Protestant attacks brought these reforms, many of these reforms were needed anyway. The problems in the Church were so bad that the Church would not
Next, an important part of Luther’s thoughts on the freedom of the inner person was having the soul know its wicked nature. This was the purpose of the law or the Old Testament. To show how a person should live under God. But, no one could live up the commandments of the law. “For the commandments show us what we ought to do but do not give us power to do it.” The Old Testament was meant to humble humans and have them despair at the nature of their soul. However, the New Testament promised salvation
The reformation was a drastic event in the early modern period that launched Europe into a massive conflict of widespread violence, through both political and religious factors. The political scene had remained very much the same before the beginning of the reformation in 1517, with many philosophers sharing similar ideas on how to handle the issues of sovereignty and private property. Religion was a long debated factor before the reformation however was brought inadvertently to the forefront of most political works in the early years of the Protestant Reformation. This event completely changed the way in which philosophers constructed their political discourse as seen with More and Martin Luther, who although despite being placed on
Martin Luther lived to serve God and the world, but his most prominent Christian values and beliefs revolve around the importance of faith. Luther single-handedly brought the importance of faith and its relationship with salvation to the forefront of Christian debate and discussion. Martin Luther addresses the issue of people and their faith in his pamphlet, On the Freedom of a Christian, when he proclaims that faith is perceived to many as an easy concept to understand. According to Luther, faith is the single most essential subject pertaining to Christianity and the purpose of the Church. In Luther’s time, the Church spoke to the issue of salvation and responded by declaring that buying an indulgence was by far the best method for assuring entry into Heaven. However, Luther soon replied to this testimony when he argued that the only unquestionable way for one to obtain salvation is through faith alone. The concept of faith being the only thing humans need in order to obtain salvation is the most prominent and essential belief central to Martin Luther’s theory of Christianity.