Luther Quiz 9: Part 1, Chapters 1-3 Flashcards
cloudy or muddy
turbid
someone who lives by asking people for money or food
mendicant
made less effective; ruined or spoiled
vitiated
the act of bowing on a knee in worship or awe
genuflection
thoughts or careful reflections
cogitations
a downward slope
declivity
able to hold or contain a lot; large in capacity
capacious
quiet, modest, and polite
demure
quietly sad or thoughtful
pensive
extreme poverty
penury
How does the author describe the state of the Catholic Church at the time of Luther’s education?
It is a rather scathing critique: “a religion of law rather than of gospel; a Pelagian system of works rather than of divine grace … a religion of the senses and of poetical imagination rather than of saving faith … a religion founded more on the ignorance and superstition of the middle ages than on the revelation of the truth by Jesus Christ and HIs apostles.” (see page 35)
What effects did Luther’s mother have on her son?
She was pious, but much more religiously superstitious than his father. Her influence is one of the greatest reasons Luther chose to become a monk in the first place.
Describe Luther’s first encounter with a Bible. How was Luther able to go into adulthood without ever seeing a Bible? What does this tell you about the nature of the Church at this time in history?
Luther stumbled across a Bible while looking through other books. He marveled because the Bible contained much more than the postils circulated in the churches. He quickly devoured the story of Hannah and Samuel, and he began to wish for the day that he would one day have a Bible of his own. The Word of God was kept from the masses of people.
What two ideas did Luther first began to explore at Erfurt - ideas that would later be the backbone of the Reformation?
Justification by faith alone, and private judgement in interpreting Scripture.
Generally speaking, why did Luther consider becoming a monk? Specifically, what incident led him to make a vow to become a monk?
In his view, this pious life would be the surest way of pleasing God. He was nearly struck by lightning, and in his terror made this rash vow.
Describe the monastic process of biblical interpretation as outlined in this chapter.
The Bible was not studied as a whole, but in small pieces removed from context. The author could not be his own interpreter. The literal sense was “deserted at pleasure, and an allegorical one introduced to suit the object of the interpreter.”
How did Luther’s socio-economic background and geographic location benefit his efforts to reform the Church?
He was able to connect well with the greatest mass of people. His homely manner of speaking and writing served him with a great advantage. In addition, he came from a part of Germany that was “the most German” of all the districts, and it belonged to no other section. The Reformation also coincided with a larger period of social unrest amon the peasantry.
