The 95 Theses

by Dr. Martin Luther

Out of love and concern for the truth, and with
the object of eliciting it, the following heads will
be the subject of a public discussion at
Wittenberg under the presidency of the
reverend father, Martin Luther, Augustinian,
Master of Arts and Sacred Theology, and duly
appointed Lecturer on these subjects in that
place. e re!uests that whoever cannot be
present personally to debate the "atter orally
will do so in absence in writing.
#.When our Lord and Master, $esus %hrist,
said &'epent&, e called for the entire life
of believers to be one of repentance.
(.The word cannot be properly understood as
referring to the sacra"ent of penance, i.e.
confession and satisfaction, as
ad"inistered by the clergy.
).*et its "eaning is not restricted to
repentance in one+s heart, for such
repentance is null unless it produces
outward signs in various "orti-cations of
the .esh.
/.As long as hatred of self abides 0i.e. true
inward repentance1 the penalty of sin
abides, vi2., until we enter the 3ingdo" of
heaven.
4.The pope has neither the will nor the power
to re"it any penalties beyond those
i"posed either at his own discretion or by
canon law.
5.The pope hi"self cannot re"it guilt, but
only declare and con-r" that it has been
re"itted by 6od, or, at "ost, he can re"it
it in cases reserved to his discretion.
78cept for these cases, the guilt re"ains
untouched.
9.6od never re"its guilt to anyone without,
at the sa"e ti"e, "a3ing hi" hu"bly
sub"issive to the priest, is
representative.
:.The penitential canons apply only to "en
who are still alive, and, according to the
canons the"selves, none applies to the
dead.
;.Accordingly, the oly Spirit, acting in the
person of the pope, "anifests grace to us,
by the fact that the papal regulations
always cease to apply at death, or in any
hard case.
#<. =t is a wrongful act, due to ignorance,
when priests retain the canonical penalties
on the dead in purgatory.
##. When canonical penalties were
changed and "ade to apply to purgatory,
surely it would see" that tares were sown
while the bishops were asleep.
#(. =n for"er days, the canonical penalties
were i"posed, not after, but before
absolution was pronounced, and were
intended to be tests of true contrition.
#). >eath puts an end to all the clai"s of
the %hurch, even the dying are already
dead to the canon laws, and are no longer
bound by the".
#/. >efective piety or love in a dying
person is necessarily acco"panied by
great fear, which is greatest where the
piety or love is least.
#4. This fear or horror is su?cient in itself,
whatever else "ight be said, to constitute
the pain of purgatory, since it approaches
very closely to the horror of despair.
#5. There see"s to be the sa"e di@erence
between hell, purgatory, and heaven as
between despair, uncertainty, and
assurance.
#9. Of a truth, the pains of souls in
purgatory ought to be abated, and charity
ought to be proportionately increased.
#:. Moreover, it does not see" proved, on
any grounds of reason or Scripture, that
these souls are outside the state of "erit,
or unable to grow in grace.
#;. Aor does it see" proved to be always
the case that they are certain and assured
of salvation, even if we are very certain
ourselves.
(<. Therefore the pope, in spea3ing of the
plenary re"ission of all penalties, does not
"ean &all& in the strict sense, but only
those i"posed by hi"self.
(#. ence those who preach indulgences
are in error when they say that a "an is
absolved and saved fro" every penalty by
the pope+s indulgences.
((. =ndeed, he cannot re"it to souls in
purgatory any penalty which canon law
declares should be su@ered in the present
life.
(). =f plenary re"ission could be granted
to anyone at all, it would be only in the
cases of the "ost perfect, i.e. to very few.
(/. =t "ust therefore be the case that the
"ajor part of the people are deceived by
that indiscri"inate and highBsounding
pro"ise of relief fro" penalty.
(4. The sa"e power as the pope e8ercises
in general over purgatory is e8ercised in
particular by every single bishop in his
bishopric and priest in his parish.
(5. The pope does e8cellently when he
grants re"ission to the souls in purgatory
on account of intercessions "ade on their
behalf, and not by the power of the 3eys
0which he cannot e8ercise for the"1.
(9. There is no divine authority for
preaching that the soul .ies out of the
purgatory i""ediately the "oney clin3s in
the botto" of the chest.
(:. =t is certainly possible that when the
"oney clin3s in the botto" of the chest
avarice and greed increase, but when the
church o@ers intercession, all depends in
the will of 6od.
(;. Who 3nows whether all souls in
purgatory wish to be redee"ed in view of
what is said of St. Severinus and St. CascalD
0AoteE Caschal =, pope :#9B(/. The legend
is that he and Severinus were willing to
endure the pains of purgatory for the
bene-t of the faithful1.
)<. Ao one is sure of the reality of his own
contrition, "uch less of receiving plenary
forgiveness.
)#. One who bona -de buys indulgence is a
rare as a bona -de penitent "an, i.e. very
rare indeed.
)(. All those who believe the"selves
certain of their own salvation by "eans of
letters of indulgence, will be eternally
da"ned, together with their teachers.
)). We should be "ost carefully on our
guard against those who say that the papal
indulgences are an inesti"able divine gift,
and that a "an is reconciled to 6od by
the".
)/. For the grace conveyed by these
indulgences relates si"ply to the penalties
of the sacra"ental &satisfactions& decreed
"erely by "an.
)4. =t is not in accordance with %hristian
doctrines to preach and teach that those
who buy o@ souls, or purchase confessional
licenses, have no need to repent of their
own sins.
)5. Any %hristian whatsoever, who is truly
repentant, enjoys plenary re"ission fro"
penalty and guilt, and this is given hi"
without letters of indulgence.
)9. Any true %hristian whatsoever, living or
dead, participates in all the bene-ts of
%hrist and the %hurch, and this
participation is granted to hi" by 6od
without letters of indulgence.
):. *et the pope+s re"ission and
dispensation are in no way to be despised,
for, as already said, they proclai" the
divine re"ission.
);. =t is very di?cult, even for the "ost
learned theologians, to e8tol to the people
the great bounty contained in the
indulgences, while, at the sa"e ti"e,
praising contrition as a virtue.
/<. A truly contrite sinner see3s out, and
loves to pay, the penalties of his sins,
whereas the very "ultitude of indulgences
dulls "en+s consciences, and tends to
"a3e the" hate the penalties.
/#. Capal indulgences should only be
preached with caution, lest people gain a
wrong understanding, and thin3 that they
are preferable to other good wor3sE those
of love.
/(. %hristians should be taught that the
pope does not at all intend that the
purchase of indulgences should be
understood as at all co"parable with the
wor3s of "ercy.
/). %hristians should be taught that one
who gives to the poor, or lends to the
needy, does a better action than if he
purchases indulgences.
//. Gecause, by wor3s of love, love grows
and a "an beco"es a better "an,
whereas, by indulgences, he does not
beco"e a better "an, but only escapes
certain penalties.
/4. %hristians should be taught that he
who sees a needy person, but passes hi"
by although he gives "oney for
indulgences, gains no bene-t fro" the
pope+s pardon, but only incurs the wrath of
6od.
/5. %hristians should be taught that, unless
they have "ore than they need, they are
bound to retain what is only necessary for
the up3eep of their ho"e, and should in no
way s!uander it on indulgences.
/9. %hristians should be taught that they
purchase indulgences voluntarily, and are
not under obligation to do so.
/:. %hristians should be taught that, in
granting indulgences, the pope has "ore
need, and "ore desire, for devout prayer
on his own behalf than for ready "oney.
/;. %hristians should be taught that the
pope+s indulgences are useful only if one
does not rely on the", but "ost har"ful if
one loses the fear of 6od through the".
4<. %hristians should be taught that, if the
pope 3new the e8actions of the indulgenceB
preachers, he would rather the church of
St. Ceter were reduced to ashes than be
built with the s3in, .esh, and bones of the
sheep.
4#. %hristians should be taught that the
pope would be willing, as he ought if
necessity should arise, to sell the church of
St. Ceter, and give, too, his own "oney to
"any of those fro" who" the pardonB
"erchants conjure "oney.
4(. =t is vain to rely on salvation by letters
of indulgence, even if the co""issary, or
indeed the pope hi"self, were to pledge
his own soul for their validity.
4). Those are ene"ies of %hrist and the
pope who forbid the word of 6od to be
preached at all in so"e churches, in order
that indulgences "ay be preached in
others.
4/. The word of 6od su@ers injury if, in the
sa"e ser"on, an e!ual or longer ti"e is
devoted to indulgences than to that word.
44. The pope cannot help ta3ing the view
that if indulgences 0very s"all "atters1 are
celebrated by one bell, one pageant, or one
cere"ony, the gospel 0a very great "atter1
should be preached to the acco"pani"ent
of a hundred bells, a hundred processions,
a hundred cere"onies.
45. The treasures of the church, out of
which the pope dispenses indulgences, are
not su?ciently spo3en of or 3nown a"ong
the people of %hrist.
49. That these treasures are not te"poral
are clear fro" the fact that "any of the
"erchants do not grant the" freely, but
only collect the".
4:. Aor are they the "erits of %hrist and
the saints, because, even apart fro" the
pope, these "erits are always wor3ing
grace in the inner "an, and wor3ing the
cross, death, and hell in the outer "an.
4;. St. Laurence said that the poor were
the treasures of the church, but he used
the ter" in accordance with the custo" of
his own ti"e.
5<. We do not spea3 rashly in saying that
the treasures of the church are the 3eys of
the church, and are bestowed by the "erits
of %hrist.
5#. For it is clear that the power of the
pope su?ces, by itself, for the re"ission of
penalties and reserved cases.
5(. The true treasure of the church is the
oly gospel of the glory and the grace of
6od.
5). =t is right to regard this treasure as
"ost odious, for it "a3es the -rst to be the
last.
5/. On the other hand, the treasure of
indulgences is "ost acceptable, for it
"a3es the last to be the -rst.
54. Therefore the treasures of the gospel
are nets which, in for"er ti"es, they used
to -sh for "en of wealth.
55. The treasures of the indulgences are
the nets which toBday they use to -sh for
the wealth of "en.
59. The indulgences, which the "erchants
e8tol as the greatest of favours, are seen to
be, in fact, a favourite "eans for "oneyB
getting.
5:. Aevertheless, they are not to be
co"pared with the grace of 6od and the
co"passion shown in the %ross.
5;. Gishops and curates, in duty bound,
"ust receive the co""issaries of the papal
indulgences with all reverence.
9<. Gut they are under a "uch greater
obligation to watch closely and attend
carefully lest these "en preach their own
fancies instead of what the pope
co""issioned.
9#. Let hi" be anathe"a and accursed
who denies the apostolic character of the
indulgences.
9(. On the other hand, let hi" be blessed
who is on his guard against the wantonness
and license of the pardonB"erchant+s
words.
9). =n the sa"e way, the pope rightly
e8co""unicates those who "a3e any
plans to the detri"ent of the trade in
indulgences.
9/. =t is "uch "ore in 3eeping with his
views to e8co""unicate those who use the
prete8t of indulgences to plot anything to
the detri"ent of holy love and truth.
94. =t is foolish to thin3 that papal
indulgences have so "uch power that they
can absolve a "an even if he has done the
i"possible and violated the "other of 6od.
95. We assert the contrary, and say that
the pope+s pardons are not able to re"ove
the least venial of sins as far as their guilt
is concerned.
99. When it is said that not even St. Ceter,
if he were now pope, could grant a greater
grace, it is blasphe"y against St. Ceter and
the pope.
9:. We assert the contrary, and say that
he, and any pope whatever, possesses
greater graces, vi2., the gospel, spiritual
powers, gifts of healing, etc., as is declared
in = %orinthians #( HE(:I.
9;. =t is blasphe"y to say that the insignia
of the cross with the papal ar"s are of
e!ual value to the cross on which %hrist
died.
:<. The bishops, curates, and theologians,
who per"it assertions of that 3ind to be
"ade to the people without let or
hindrance, will have to answer for it.
:#. This unbridled preaching of
indulgences "a3es it di?cult for learned
"en to guard the respect due to the pope
against false accusations, or at least fro"
the 3een criticis"s of the laity.
:(. They as3, e.g.E Why does not the pope
liberate everyone fro" purgatory for the
sa3e of love 0a "ost holy thing1 and
because of the supre"e necessity of their
soulsD This would be "orally the best of all
reasons. Meanwhile he redee"s
innu"erable souls for "oney, a "ost
perishable thing, with which to build St.
Ceter+s church, a very "inor purpose.
:). AgainE Why should funeral and
anniversary "asses for the dead continue
to be saidD And why does not the pope
repay, or per"it to be repaid, the
benefactions instituted for these purposes,
since it is wrong to pray for those souls
who are now redee"edD
:/. AgainE Surely this is a new sort of
co"passion, on the part of 6od and the
pope, when an i"pious "an, an ene"y of
6od, is allowed to pay "oney to redee" a
devout soul, a friend of 6od, while yet that
devout and beloved soul is not allowed to
be redee"ed without pay"ent, for love+s
sa3e, and just because of its need of
rede"ption.
:4. AgainE Why are the penitential canon
laws, which in fact, if not in practice, have
long been obsolete and dead in
the"selves,Jwhy are they, toBday, still
used in i"posing -nes in "oney, through
the granting of indulgences, as if all the
penitential canons were fully operativeD
:5. AgainE since the pope+s inco"e toBday
is larger than that of the wealthiest of
wealthy "en, why does he not build this
one church of St. Ceter with his own
"oney, rather than with the "oney of
indigent believersD
:9. AgainE What does the pope re"it or
dispense to people who, by their perfect
repentance, have a right to plenary
re"ission or dispensationD
::. AgainE Surely a greater good could be
done to the church if the pope were to
bestow these re"issions and
dispensations, not once, as now, but a
hundred ti"es a day, for the bene-t of any
believer whatever.
:;. What the pope see3s by indulgences is
not "oney, but rather the salvation of
souls, why then does he suspend the
letters and indulgences for"erly conceded,
and still as e?cacious as everD
;<. These !uestions are serious "atters of
conscience to the laity. To suppress the"
by force alone, and not to refute the" by
giving reasons, is to e8pose the church and
the pope to the ridicule of their ene"ies,
and to "a3e %hristian people unhappy.
;#. =f therefore, indulgences were
preached in accordance with the spirit and
"ind of the pope, all these di?culties
would be easily overco"e, and indeed,
cease to e8ist.
;(. Away, then, with those prophets who
say to %hrist+s people, &Ceace, peace,&
where in there is no peace.
;). ail, hail to all those prophets who say
to %hrist+s people, &The cross, the cross,&
where there is no cross.
;/. %hristians should be e8horted to be
2ealous to follow %hrist, their ead,
through penalties, deaths, and hells.
;4. And let the" thus be "ore con-dent of
entering heaven through "any tribulations
rather than through a false assurance of
peace.