MARTIN LUTHER (A.D. 1483 - 1546) next to Jesus and Paul, the greatest man of all ages (Halley, 1965). He led the world in its break for freedom from one of the most despotic institutions in history. Born of poor parents at Eisleben (1483), Luther entered University of Erfurt (1501), to study law.
"A fine student, great talker and debater, very sociable and very musical." He took his degrees in an unusually short time. In 1505 he suddenly decided to enter a monastery. An exemplary monk, and very religious, he practiced all the forms of fastings and scourgings, and invented new ones, and for two years endured, he said,"such anguish as no pen can describe."
One day, in 1508, while reading Romans, his enlightenment and peace came suddenly: "the just shall live by faith."(1:17 KJV) He saw, at last, that salvation was to be gained by trust in God through Christ, and not by the rituals and sacraments and penances of the church. It changed his own life, and the whole course of history, in 1508 he became a teacher in the University of Wittenburg, which position he held till his death in 1546. In 1511 he went to Rome, and was appalled at the corruption and vice of the Papal Court, he returned to Wittenburg. His sermons on the bible began to attract students from all parts of Germany.
Tetzel's sale of Indulgences was the occasion of Luther's break with Rome. According to Romanist teaching, Purgatory is very much the same as hell, only it does not last as long; but all have to pass through it. But the Pope claimed to have the power to lessen, or all together remit, these sufferings; and this prerogative belonged exclusively to the Pope.It began with the Popes Pascal I (817-24) and John VIII (872-82). Papal Indulgences were found to be exceedingly profitable, and soon came into general use. They were offered as inducement to go on Crusades, or Wars against Heretics, or against some king whom the Pope wished to punish, or to Inquisitors or to those who bought faggots for the burning of heretic, or sold for money. Pope Sixtus IV (1476), was the first to apply them to souls already in Purgatory. Indulgences were farmed out, to be retailed. Thus "selling the privilege to sin" became one of the main sources of Papal revenue. In 1517 John Tetzel came through Germany selling certificates, signed by the Pope, offering pardon of all sins, to buyers and their friends, without confession, repentance, penance, or absolution by the priest. He said to the people. "as soon as your coins clink in the chest the souls of your friends will rise out of Purgatory into Heaven." This horrified Luther.
On October 31, 1517. Luther posted on the church door in Whittingburg 95 theses nearly all of which related to the Indulgences, but which in substance struck at the authority of the Pope. It was merely a notice that he was willing to discuss these things in the University. But printed copies were eagerly sought all over Germany. It proved to be "the spark that set Europe aflame." By 1520 he had become the most popular man in Germany. In 1520 the Pope issued a Bull excommucating Luther, and declaring that, unless he would retract within 60 days, he should receive the "penally due for heresy" (which meant death). When Luther received the Bull he burned it publicly (December 10. 1520). "A new age in history began that day." (Nichols).
