1517
Luther posts his 95 Theses
5th Lateran Council
Ends in 1517 - Pope Julius - Personal renewal - Order your own life to the doing of god’s will and the bringing of benefit to their neighbor
Luther’s Argument
The only response to a failed piety of achievement was not its intensification but its abolition.
Savonarola
d. 1498 Italian Dominican monk and struct ascetic. He was exccommunicated in 1497 and burned at the stake in 1498
THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS
PT. 1
God has revealed himself on the cross and it’s the task of the theologian to examine God in this way. Philosopher’s cannot come to this understanding
THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS
PT. 2
The revelation can only be understood by faith. Not by reason.
THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS
PT. 3
Rather than by the created order. Natural theology tells of nothing of the nature of God. He did not argue with all of “Natural” theology.
THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS
PT. 4
Faith is necessary to understand God
THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS
PT. 5
Not only that one knows God through suffering, but that God makes God’s self known through Christ’s suffering.
Nominalist in reaction to Semi-Pelagianist
Condine v. Congruous
Condign - Worthy merits. By our own efforts we cannot perform condign works.
Congruent - We do congruent works and God accepts them as condign.
Justification for Luther
5 Points
Contarini & Luther
Similarities
Both agreed that justification came through faith.
The Church was in need of reformation.
Contarini & Luther
Diffierences
C - Salvation came through sacraments i.e. works within the church.
C - Reformation will come from personal piety of Bishops and trickle down.
L - Salvation comes only through God.
L - Reformation will come through a change in doctrine.
Colloquy of Regensburg
1541 - Contarini is a key involved figure in trying to reach an agreement with Protestants on the issue of justification.
Diet of Worms 1521
Anfechtungen
Bouts of spiritual anxiety
Luther’s Notion of Christian Freedom
You can’t make liberty into a law.
- Destroying idols makes an idol out of the law.
Luther’s & Sola Scriptura
Did not believe that scripture gave a clear explanation of all doctrinal controversies.
Luther & The Epistle of James
An Epistle of Straw
Strengths of Luther’s approach to Scripture
- All scripture points to Christ.
Weaknesses of Luther’s approach to Scripture
Word of God
Luther
Has both the character of judgment(law) and grace(gospel).
One should always ask when interpreting scripture is this law or gospel?
1 st Commandment (Luther)
Contains all the others, but also contains the promise of God.
It’s both law and gospel.