Background of Lutheranism Flashcards
Who paved the way for Luther? What was different about Lutheranism? Luther's background
Give examples of some individuals who paved the way for Luther
John Wycliff, Jan Hus, Johannes Reuchlin, Desiderus Erasmus, Ulrich von Hutten
Dates and location for John Wyclifff
1320-1384, England
How did John Wycliff challenge the Church?
Denied the supremacy of the Pope, attacked the theology of the Catholic Church and said that the Holy Scriptures were the only source of truth, attacked the luxurious life of many members of the Catholic Church, dismissed transubstantiation. Translated the Bible into English
Did John Wycliff survive?
He died of a stroke in 1384
In 1415, he was declared a heretic and posthumously, in 1428, bones were dug up and publicly burned along with his key texts
What happened to John Wycliff after he died?
In 1415, he was declared a heretic and posthumously, in 1428, bones were dug up and publicly burned along with his key texts
Date and location for Jan Hus?
1369-1415 - Bohemia (Czech Republic)
How did Jan Hus challenge the Church?
De Ecclesia - Denied the supremacy of the Pope, attacked the theology of the Catholic Church and said that the Holy Scriptures were the only source of truth, attacked corruption within the Catholic Church
Did Jan Hus survive?
In 1415 he was burned at stake as a heretic
Date and location for Johannes Reuchlin?
1455-1522 - HRE
How did Johannes Reuchlin challenge the Church?
He was Catholic but keen on examining Hebrew texts and Jewish mysticism. Wrote De Arte Cabalistica. Caused controversy in Rome for studying this
Did Johannes Reuchlin survive?
Died of natural causes in 1522
Date and location for Erasmus
1466-1536
Netherlands
How did Erasmus challenge the Church?
Criticized the corruption of the Catholic Church in In Praise of Folly, but wanted to remain Catholic and for the Church to be reformed from within. Translated New Testament into Greek in 1516 and then Latin 1519, but never the vernacular. Initially supported Luther but then decided he was too radical and criticized him
Did Erasmus survive?
1536 of dysentery
Date and location for Ulrich von Hutten?
1488-1523
HRE
How did Ulrich von Hutten challenge the Catholic Church?
Very patriotic. Wrote Vadiscus in which he showed resentment of a ‘foreign’ Pope. Pledged military support for Luther in early years
Did Ulrich von Hutten survive?
He fled after the Knight’s war and died in 1523 of syphilis
What are the 3 key difference about Luther and his circumstances compared to others who challenged the Church?
- the nature, and extent of Luther’s attack on the Church did not seem to be a problem
- The attitude of the Princes of the HRE
- The rise of German Nationalism
How did the nature, and extent of Luther’s attack on the Church enable Lutheranism to spread?
Luther did not originally set out to break away from the Catholic Church so he was not immediately seen as a great heretical threat. This gave him time to gain support from high status figures and masses of lower classes
How did the attitude of the princes of the HRE enable Lutheranism to spread?
They were frustrated with the taxes imposed by the CC and the excessive control imposed by the emperor so they were actively looking for a way to exert their independence. Choosing to support Lutheran ideas would provide them with an excuse because they would be able to argue that they owed no allegiance to the Papacy or Emperor if they broke with the CC and pursued Lutheranism
How did the rise of German Nationalism enable Lutheranism to spread?
Both the elites (princes) and the middle and lower classes (peasants) felt that the CC took too much money from them, did not share power equally (as the Italians dominated the higher ranking positions in the Church). The rise of Nationalism opened the gateway to a desire for a German, Bible, services and German people in positions of power
When was Luther born?
1483
What particular skills did he have which made him a powerful reformer?
His training as a lawyer made him erudite and good at constructing persuasive arguments
Academic enough to translate the NT but also able to speak to all levels of people and inspire them
An energetic, charismatic and persuasive speaker
Fully understood the benefit of publicity
What incident changed Luther’s life?
A thunderstorm in 1505
How did a thunderstorm change Luther’s life?
In 1505, he was caught in a massive thunderstorm so he promised St Anne that he would become a monk if his life was spared. He quickly joined the order of ‘Augustinian Observants’ at Erfurt
What happened in Wittenberg in 1508?
Luther was transferred to the Augustinian monastery in Wittenberg and was made a professor under the guidance of Johannes von Staupitz
In what year was Luther sent to Rome where he witnessed corruption first hand?
1510
How did Luther’s visit to Rome his view of God?
Evidence of massive corruption undermined his understanding of the role of the Church
- how could man ever make himself good enough for God?
- If God was perfect what could humans do to be good enough for him?
What conclusions did Luther make from his studies after his visit to Rome?
- Mercy from God and salvation from sin was a gift
- It was available to anyone who believed through faith in Jesus Christ
- Humans would always be sinners in the eyes of God, only Jesus and God were perfect so only Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to save one’s soul
- Therefore, in order for someone to be saved and enter heaven, they had to put their trust in Jesus and God through faith alone - sola fide (this put Luther directly in opposition with the Church’s teachings on good works)
- Challenged the Church on indulgences and the idea of purgatory because if faith alone saved there was no need for such matters. This build upon previous writers who argued that the Church promoted rituals and ideas that were not actually in the scripture - sola scriptura
which of Luther’s ideas put him directly in opposition with the Church’s teachings on good works?
Sola fide
Which 4 people influenced Luther’s theological development?
St Augustine, St Paul, Von Staupitz, Erasmus
