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Martin Luther tried to revive the Catholic Church on October 31, 1517, when he nailed [[the 95 Theses]] or issues to the door of his [[Wittenberg Church]] in what is now Germany. The source of Luther's complaint was a project to rebuild [[St. Peter's Basilica]] in Rome, for which church officials were offering [[indulgences]] in exchange for donations. Martin Luther objected and produced a list of 95 complaints to spark public debate.
Martin Luther tried to revive the Catholic Church on October 31, 1517, when he nailed [[the 95 Theses]] or issues to the door of his [[Wittenberg Church]] in what is now Germany. The source of Luther's complaint was a project to rebuild [[St. Peter's Basilica]] in Rome, for which church officials were offering [[indulgences]] in exchange for donations. Martin Luther objected and produced a list of 95 complaints to spark public debate.
Here were four of Luther's most important Theses:
Here are two of Luther's most important Theses:
*Thesis 82<sup>a</sup>: ''Scilicet. Cur Papa non evacuat purgatorium propter sanctissimam charitatem et summam animarum necessitatem ut causam omnium iustissimam, Si infinitas animas redimit propter pecuniam funestissimam ad structuram Basilice ut causam levissimam?''
*Thesis 82: ''Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial.''<ref>Luther wrote the theses in latin. This one read, ''Scilicet. Cur Papa non evacuat purgatorium propter sanctissimam charitatem et summam animarum necessitatem ut causam omnium iustissimam, Si infinitas animas redimit propter pecuniam funestissimam ad structuram Basilice ut causam levissimam?''</ref>
*Thesis 86: ''Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers?''<ref> The Latin read, ''Item. Cur Papa, cuius opes hodie sunt opulentissimis Crassis crassiores, non de suis pecuniis magis quam pauperum fidelium struit unam tantummodo Basilicam sancti Petri?''</ref>
[[Pope Leo X]] spent his time on the beauty flourishing during the [[Renaissance]], and was a patron of the great artist [[Raphael]]. Pope Leo X probably never recognized the significance of Luther and his followers. Some historians feel that if the pope had responded more seriously, then the subsequent schism in Germany would not have occurred; others argue that a Reformation was inevitable and that many leaders were emerging.
[[Pope Leo X]] spent his time on the beauty flourishing during the [[Renaissance]], and was a patron of the great artist [[Raphael]]. Pope Leo X probably never recognized the significance of Martin Luther and his followers. Some historians feel that if the pope had responded more seriously, then the subsequent schism in Germany would not have occurred.
But German nobles did not like the flow of money to Rome, and they backed Martin Luther in order to cut off the donations by Germans to support Rome.
But German nobles did not like the flow of money to Rome, and they backed Martin Luther in order to cut off the donations by Germans to support Rome.
But Luther had already left the trial before the verdict was rendered. He hid at Wartburg Castle at Eisenach, where [[Frederick of Saxony|Frederick the Wise]], Elector of Saxony, protected him. Luther took the pseudonym Junker Jorg (Nobleman George), grew a wide beard and dressed like a knight. While in hiding he translated the [[New Testament]] from Greek into German in 1522. (By 1534, Luther had translated all of the [[Old Testament]] from Hebrew to German also.)
But Luther had already left the trial before the verdict was rendered. He hid at Wartburg Castle at Eisenach, where [[Frederick of Saxony|Frederick the Wise]], Elector of Saxony, protected him. Luther took the pseudonym Junker Jorg (Nobleman George), grew a wide beard and dressed like a knight. While in hiding he translated the [[New Testament]] from Greek into German in 1522. (By 1534, Luther had translated all of the [[Old Testament]] from Hebrew to German also.)
Luther translated Romans 3:28 by adding an extra German word for "alone" (alleine or alleyn) after the phrase: "justified by faith": "So halten wir nun dafür, daß der Mensch gerecht werde ohne des Gesetzes Werke, alleyn durch den Glauben." Luther believed that man is justified by faith alone, and that salvation comes only from faith. The Catholic Church (and [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]) taught that man is justified by faith, good works and confession to the Church authorities.
Luther translated Romans 3:28 by adding an extra German word for "alone" (alleine or alleyn) after the phrase: "justified by faith".<Ref> he wrote in german, "So halten wir nun dafür, daß der Mensch gerecht werde ohne des Gesetzes Werke, alleyn durch den Glauben."</ref> Luther believed that man is justified by faith alone, and that salvation comes only from faith. The Catholic Church taught that man is justified by faith, good works and confession to the Church authorities.
===The printing press and Luther's influence on history===
===The printing press and Luther's influence on history===