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.