The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is being celebrated this year, 2017. Why? Because historians acknowledge and date the beginning of the Reformation to October 31, 1517, the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.
Over the next couple of months, each day, I will offer a single theses for rumination and consideration. To be sure, some will be less invigorating that others. Still, if you follow along, you will cover each of them over the next 95 days.
Please note that I will be using Timothy Wengert's "95 Theses with Introduction, Commentary, and Study Guide." If you don't have a copy, pick one up, it is an excellent resource.
[The Ninety-Five Theses or] Disputation for Clarifying the Power of Indulgences
Out of love and zeal for bringing truth to light, what is written below will be debated in Wittenberg with the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology and regularly appointed lecturer on these subjects at that place, presiding. Therefore, he requests that those who cannot be present to discuss orally with us will in their absence do so by letter. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
5. The pope neither desires nor is able to remit any penalties except those imposed by his own discretion or that of the canons.
From Wengert's notes (pg. 14),
"Thesis 5 states Luther's central premise. Old church law had specified that penalties for sin be imposed before absolution was administered and were part of church discipline. Hence, Luther argues that the church could show leniency, or indulgence, only in regard to these ecclesiastical penalties, not God's punishment ... The phrase 'by his discretion or that of the canons' was a technical term describing how a priest in confession would first see if the sin in question had a penalty prescribed in the penitential canons and, if not, could use his discretion."
Lord Jesus, help me to be a willing confessor of my sin and a generous in my offering of forgiveness. Amen.
5. The pope neither desires nor is able to remit any penalties except those imposed by his own discretion or that of the canons.
From Wengert's notes (pg. 14),
"Thesis 5 states Luther's central premise. Old church law had specified that penalties for sin be imposed before absolution was administered and were part of church discipline. Hence, Luther argues that the church could show leniency, or indulgence, only in regard to these ecclesiastical penalties, not God's punishment ... The phrase 'by his discretion or that of the canons' was a technical term describing how a priest in confession would first see if the sin in question had a penalty prescribed in the penitential canons and, if not, could use his discretion."
Lord Jesus, help me to be a willing confessor of my sin and a generous in my offering of forgiveness. Amen.
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