Esther Buckner
September 9, 2022
Making of the Modern World
The 95 Theses
Martin Luther’s 95 theses were written to question the Catholic Church’s idea that works were
what got you into heaven, not faith and repentance. The 95 theses talk about repentance, and
questions the belief that the Pope or the church has the authority to remit guilt.
Luther believed that every Christian needed to repent inwardly, “Our Lord and Master Jesus
Christ, in saying, "Repent ye, etc.," intended that the whole life of his believers on earth should
be a constant penance.” This is the very first these that Luther wrote, proving that penance was
extremely important to him and his theology. The second these goes on to say that penance is not
the Sacrament of Penance through a priest, but penance must be outwardly shown. As he states
in these three: “Nevertheless He does not think of inward penance only: rather is inward penance
worthless unless it produces various outward mortifications of the flesh.” The majority of the
theses after this talk about penance and various ways penance must be enacted or the importance
of it.
The other main point of the theses was that the Pope and church did not have the authority to
remit guilt/sin. These number five says, “The Pope will not, and cannot, remit other punishments
than those which he has imposed by his own decree or according to the canons.” Martin Luther
was extremely adamant that the Pope did not have anymore power than the other bishops and
clergyman. The Pope was not a “god” ordained to forgive or condemn the people. Luther goes
even farther to say “The Pope can forgive sins only in the sense, that he declares and confirms
what may be forgiven of God; or that he doth it in those cases which he hath reserved to himself;
be this contemned, the sin remains unremitted.” He makes it clear that the Pope is not the one
that forgives sin.
In conclusion, Martin Luther’s 95 theses challenged the Catholic Church’s idea of repentance
and the authority they believed they had to forgive sins. The Theses started a radical movement
which led to the Reformation and to the Lutheran Church.