Project Wittenberg

Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther

on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences
by Dr. Martin Luther, 11!
Martin Luther - Project Wittenberg
Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther
on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences
by Dr. Martin Luther "11!#
Published in$
Works of Martin Luther:
Adolph Spaeth, L.D. Reed, Henry Eyster Jacos, et Al., !rans. " Eds.
#$hiladelphia: A. J. Hol%an &o%pany, '(')*, +ol.', pp. ,(-./
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!ut o" #o$e "or the truth an% the %e&ire to bring it to #ight' the "o##o(ing )ro)o&ition&
(i## be %i&cu&&e% at Wittenberg' un%er the )re&i%enc* o" the +e$eren% ,ather Martin
Luther' Ma&ter o" -rt& an% o" .acre% /heo#og*' an% Lecturer in !r%inar* on the &a0e at
that )#ace1 Where"ore he re2ue&t& that tho&e (ho are unab#e to be )re&ent an% %ebate
ora##* (ith u&' 0a* %o &o b* #etter1
3n the 4a0e our Lor% 5e&u& 6hri&t1 -0en1
11 !ur Lor% an% Ma&ter 5e&u& 6hri&t' (hen 7e &ai% Poenitentia0 agite' (i##e%
that the (ho#e #i"e o" be#ie$er& &hou#% be re)entance1
21 /hi& (or% cannot be un%er&too% to 0ean &acra0enta# )enance' i1e1' con"e&&ion
an% &ati&"action' (hich i& a%0ini&tere% b* the )rie&t&1
31 8et it 0ean& not in(ar% re)entance on#*9 na*' there i& no in(ar% re)entance
(hich %oe& not out(ar%#* (or: %i$er& 0orti"ication& o" the "#e&h1
41 /he )ena#t* [o" &in]' there"ore' continue& &o #ong a& hatre% o" &e#" continue&9
"or thi& i& the true in(ar% re)entance' an% continue& unti# our entrance into the
:ing%o0 o" hea$en1
51 /he )o)e %oe& not inten% to re0it' an% cannot re0it an* )ena#tie& other than
tho&e (hich he ha& i0)o&e% either b* hi& o(n authorit* or b* that o" the 6anon&1
61 /he )o)e cannot re0it an* gui#t' e;ce)t b* %ec#aring that it ha& been re0itte%
b* <o% an% b* a&&enting to <o%=& re0i&&ion9 though' to be &ure' he 0a* grant
re0i&&ion in ca&e& re&er$e% to hi& ju%g0ent1 3" hi& right to grant re0i&&ion in
&uch ca&e& (ere %e&)i&e%' the gui#t (ou#% re0ain entire#* un"orgi$en1
71 <o% re0it& gui#t to no one (ho0 7e %oe& not' at the &a0e ti0e' hu0b#e in a##
thing& an% bring into &ubjection to 7i& $icar' the )rie&t1
81 /he )enitentia# canon& are i0)o&e% on#* on the #i$ing' an%' accor%ing to the0'
nothing &hou#% be i0)o&e% on the %*ing1
1 /here"ore the 7o#* .)irit in the )o)e i& :in% to u&' becau&e in hi& %ecree& he
a#(a*& 0a:e& e;ce)tion o" the artic#e o" %eath an% o" nece&&it*1
101 3gnorant an% (ic:e% are the %oing& o" tho&e )rie&t& (ho' in the ca&e o" the
%*ing' re&er$e canonica# )enance& "or )urgator*1
111 /hi& changing o" the canonica# )ena#t* to the )ena#t* o" )urgator* i& 2uite
e$i%ent#* one o" the tare& that (ere &o(n (hi#e the bi&ho)& &#e)t1
121 3n "or0er ti0e& the canonica# )ena#tie& (ere i0)o&e% not a"ter' but be"ore
ab&o#ution' a& te&t& o" true contrition1
131 /he %*ing are "ree% b* %eath "ro0 a## )ena#tie&9 the* are a#rea%* %ea% to
canonica# ru#e&' an% ha$e a right to be re#ea&e% "ro0 the01
141 /he i0)er"ect hea#th [o" &ou#]' that i& to &a*' the i0)er"ect #o$e' o" the %*ing
bring& (ith it' o" nece&&it*' great "ear9 an% the &0a##er the #o$e' the greater i& the
"ear1
151 /hi& "ear an% horror i& &u""icient o" it&e#" a#one >to &a* nothing o" other
thing&? to con&titute the )ena#t* o" )urgator*' &ince it i& $er* near to the horror o"
%e&)air1
161 7e##' )urgator*' an% hea$en &ee0 to %i""er a& %o %e&)air' a#0o&t-%e&)air' an%
the a&&urance o" &a"et*1
171 With &ou#& in )urgator* it &ee0& nece&&ar* that horror &hou#% gro( #e&& an%
#o$e increa&e1
181 3t &ee0& un)ro$e%' either b* rea&on or .cri)ture' that the* are out&i%e the
&tate o" 0erit' that i& to &a*' o" increa&ing #o$e1
11 -gain' it &ee0& un)ro$e% that the*' or at #ea&t that a## o" the0' are certain or
a&&ure% o" their o(n b#e&&e%ne&&' though (e 0a* be 2uite certain o" it1
201 /here"ore b* @"u## re0i&&ion o" a## )ena#tie&@ the )o)e 0ean& not actua##* @o"
a##'@ but on#* o" tho&e i0)o&e% b* hi0&e#"1
211 /here"ore tho&e )reacher& o" in%u#gence& are in error' (ho &a* that b* the
)o)e=& in%u#gence& a 0an i& "ree% "ro0 e$er* )ena#t*' an% &a$e%9
221 Wherea& he re0it& to &ou#& in )urgator* no )ena#t* (hich' accor%ing to the
canon&' the* (ou#% ha$e ha% to )a* in thi& #i"e1
231 3" it i& at a## )o&&ib#e to grant to an* one the re0i&&ion o" a## )ena#tie&
(hat&oe$er' it i& certain that thi& re0i&&ion can be grante% on#* to the 0o&t
)er"ect' that i&' to the $er* "e(e&t1
241 3t 0u&t nee%& be' there"ore' that the greater )art o" the )eo)#e are %ecei$e% b*
that in%i&cri0inate an% high&oun%ing )ro0i&e o" re#ea&e "ro0 )ena#t*1
251 /he )o(er (hich the )o)e ha&' in a genera# (a*' o$er )urgator*' i& ju&t #i:e
the )o(er (hich an* bi&ho) or curate ha&' in a &)ecia# (a*' (ithin hi& o(n
%ioce&e or )ari&h1
261 /he )o)e %oe& (e## (hen he grant& re0i&&ion to &ou#& [in )urgator*]' not b*
the )o(er o" the :e*& >(hich he %oe& not )o&&e&&?' but b* (a* o" interce&&ion1
271 /he* )reach 0an (ho &a* that &o &oon a& the )enn* jing#e& into the 0one*-
bo;' the &ou# "#ie& out [o" )urgator*]1
281 3t i& certain that (hen the )enn* jing#e& into the 0one*-bo;' gain an% a$arice
can be increa&e%' but the re&u#t o" the interce&&ion o" the 6hurch i& in the )o(er
o" <o% a#one1
21 Who :no(& (hether a## the &ou#& in )urgator* (i&h to be bought out o" it' a&
in the #egen% o" .t&1 .e$erinu& an% Pa&cha#1
301 4o one i& &ure that hi& o(n contrition i& &incere9 0uch #e&& that he ha&
attaine% "u## re0i&&ion1
311 +are a& i& the 0an that i& tru#* )enitent' &o rare i& a#&o the 0an (ho tru#*
bu*& in%u#gence&' i1e1' &uch 0en are 0o&t rare1
321 /he* (i## be con%e0ne% eterna##*' together (ith their teacher&' (ho be#ie$e
the0&e#$e& &ure o" their &a#$ation becau&e the* ha$e #etter& o" )ar%on1
331 Men 0u&t be on their guar% again&t tho&e (ho &a* that the )o)e=& )ar%on& are
that ine&ti0ab#e gi"t o" <o% b* (hich 0an i& reconci#e% to 7i09
341 ,or the&e @grace& o" )ar%on@ concern on#* the )ena#tie& o" &acra0enta#
&ati&"action' an% the&e are a))ointe% b* 0an1
351 /he* )reach no 6hri&tian %octrine (ho teach that contrition i& not nece&&ar*
in tho&e (ho inten% to bu* &ou#& out o" )urgator* or to bu* con"e&&iona#ia1
361 A$er* tru#* re)entant 6hri&tian ha& a right to "u## re0i&&ion o" )ena#t* an%
gui#t' e$en (ithout #etter& o" )ar%on1
371 A$er* true 6hri&tian' (hether #i$ing or %ea%' ha& )art in a## the b#e&&ing& o"
6hri&t an% the 6hurch9 an% thi& i& grante% hi0 b* <o%' e$en (ithout #etter& o"
)ar%on1
381 4e$erthe#e&&' the re0i&&ion an% )artici)ation [in the b#e&&ing& o" the 6hurch]
(hich are grante% b* the )o)e are in no (a* to be %e&)i&e%' "or the* are' a& 3
ha$e &ai%' the %ec#aration o" %i$ine re0i&&ion1
31 3t i& 0o&t %i""icu#t' e$en "or the $er* :eene&t theo#ogian&' at one an% the &a0e
ti0e to co00en% to the )eo)#e the abun%ance o" )ar%on& an% [the nee% o"] true
contrition1
401 /rue contrition &ee:& an% #o$e& )ena#tie&' but #ibera# )ar%on& on#* re#a;
)ena#tie& an% cau&e the0 to be hate%' or at #ea&t' "urni&h an occa&ion ["or hating
the0]1
411 -)o&to#ic )ar%on& are to be )reache% (ith caution' #e&t the )eo)#e 0a*
"a#&e#* thin: the0 )re"erab#e to other goo% (or:& o" #o$e1
421 6hri&tian& are to be taught that the )o)e %oe& not inten% the bu*ing o"
)ar%on& to be co0)are% in an* (a* to (or:& o" 0erc*1
431 6hri&tian& are to be taught that he (ho gi$e& to the )oor or #en%& to the nee%*
%oe& a better (or: than bu*ing )ar%on&9
441 Becau&e #o$e gro(& b* (or:& o" #o$e' an% 0an beco0e& better9 but b*
)ar%on& 0an %oe& not gro( better' on#* 0ore "ree "ro0 )ena#t*1
451 451 6hri&tian& are to be taught that he (ho &ee& a 0an in nee%' an% )a&&e&
hi0 b*' an% gi$e& [hi& 0one*] "or )ar%on&' )urcha&e& not the in%u#gence& o" the
)o)e' but the in%ignation o" <o%1
461 6hri&tian& are to be taught that un#e&& the* ha$e 0ore than the* nee%' the*
are boun% to :ee) bac: (hat i& nece&&ar* "or their o(n "a0i#ie&' an% b* no
0ean& to &2uan%er it on )ar%on&1
471 6hri&tian& are to be taught that the bu*ing o" )ar%on& i& a 0atter o" "ree (i##'
an% not o" co00an%0ent1
481 6hri&tian& are to be taught that the )o)e' in granting )ar%on&' nee%&' an%
there"ore %e&ire&' their %e$out )ra*er "or hi0 0ore than the 0one* the* bring1
41 6hri&tian& are to be taught that the )o)e=& )ar%on& are u&e"u#' i" the* %o not
)ut their tru&t in the09 but a#together har0"u#' i" through the0 the* #o&e their
"ear o" <o%1
501 6hri&tian& are to be taught that i" the )o)e :ne( the e;action& o" the )ar%on-
)reacher&' he (ou#% rather that .t1 Peter=& church &hou#% go to a&he&' than that it
&hou#% be bui#t u) (ith the &:in' "#e&h an% bone& o" hi& &hee)1
511 6hri&tian& are to be taught that it (ou#% be the )o)e=& (i&h' a& it i& hi& %ut*'
to gi$e o" hi& o(n 0one* to $er* 0an* o" tho&e "ro0 (ho0 certain ha(:er& o"
)ar%on& cajo#e 0one*' e$en though the church o" .t1 Peter 0ight ha$e to be &o#%1
521 /he a&&urance o" &a#$ation b* #etter& o" )ar%on i& $ain' e$en though the
co00i&&ar*' na*' e$en though the )o)e hi0&e#"' (ere to &ta:e hi& &ou# u)on it1
531 /he* are ene0ie& o" 6hri&t an% o" the )o)e' (ho bi% the Wor% o" <o% be
a#together &i#ent in &o0e 6hurche&' in or%er that )ar%on& 0a* be )reache% in
other&1
541 3njur* i& %one the Wor% o" <o% (hen' in the &a0e &er0on' an e2ua# or a
#onger ti0e i& &)ent on )ar%on& than on thi& Wor%1
551 3t 0u&t be the intention o" the )o)e that i" )ar%on&' (hich are a $er* &0a##
thing' are ce#ebrate% (ith one be##' (ith &ing#e )roce&&ion& an% cere0onie&' then
the <o&)e#' (hich i& the $er* greate&t thing' &hou#% be )reache% (ith a hun%re%
be##&' a hun%re% )roce&&ion&' a hun%re% cere0onie&1
561 /he @trea&ure& o" the 6hurch'@ out o" (hich the )o)e1 grant& in%u#gence&' are
not &u""icient#* na0e% or :no(n a0ong the )eo)#e o" 6hri&t1
571 /hat the* are not te0)ora# trea&ure& i& certain#* e$i%ent' "or 0an* o" the
$en%or& %o not )our out &uch trea&ure& &o ea&i#*' but on#* gather the01
581 4or are the* the 0erit& o" 6hri&t an% the .aint&' "or e$en (ithout the )o)e'
the&e a#(a*& (or: grace "or the inner 0an' an% the cro&&' %eath' an% he## "or the
out(ar% 0an1
51 .t1 La(rence &ai% that the trea&ure& o" the 6hurch (ere the 6hurch=& )oor'
but he &)o:e accor%ing to the u&age o" the (or% in hi& o(n ti0e1
601 Without ra&hne&& (e &a* that the :e*& o" the 6hurch' gi$en b* 6hri&t=& 0erit'
are that trea&ure9
611 ,or it i& c#ear that "or the re0i&&ion o" )ena#tie& an% o" re&er$e% ca&e&' the
)o(er o" the )o)e i& o" it&e#" &u""icient1
621 /he true trea&ure o" the 6hurch i& the Mo&t 7o#* <o&)e# o" the g#or* an% the
grace o" <o%1
631 But thi& trea&ure i& natura##* 0o&t o%iou&' "or it 0a:e& the "ir&t to be #a&t1
641 !n the other han%' the trea&ure o" in%u#gence& i& natura##* 0o&t acce)tab#e'
"or it 0a:e& the #a&t to be "ir&t1
651 /here"ore the trea&ure& o" the <o&)e# are net& (ith (hich the* "or0er#* (ere
(ont to "i&h "or 0en o" riche&1
661 /he trea&ure& o" the in%u#gence& are net& (ith (hich the* no( "i&h "or the
riche& o" 0en1
671 /he in%u#gence& (hich the )reacher& cr* a& the @greate&t grace&@ are :no(n
to be tru#* &uch' in &o "ar a& the* )ro0ote gain1
681 8et the* are in truth the $er* &0a##e&t grace& co0)are% (ith the grace o" <o%
an% the )iet* o" the 6ro&&1
61 Bi&ho)& an% curate& are boun% to a%0it the co00i&&arie& o" a)o&to#ic
)ar%on&' (ith a## re$erence1
701 But &ti## 0ore are the* boun% to &train a## their e*e& an% atten% (ith a## their
ear&' #e&t the&e 0en )reach their o(n %rea0& in&tea% o" the co00i&&ion o" the
)o)e1
711 7e (ho &)ea:& again&t the truth o" a)o&to#ic )ar%on&' #et hi0 be anathe0a
an% accur&e%C
721 But he (ho guar%& again&t the #u&t an% #icen&e o" the )ar%on-)reacher&' #et
hi0 be b#e&&e%C
731 /he )o)e ju&t#* thun%er& again&t tho&e (ho' b* an* art' contri$e the injur* o"
the tra""ic in )ar%on&1
741 But 0uch 0ore %oe& he inten% to thun%er again&t tho&e (ho u&e the )rete;t
o" )ar%on& to contri$e the injur* o" ho#* #o$e an% truth1
751 /o thin: the )a)a# )ar%on& &o great that the* cou#% ab&o#$e a 0an e$en i" he
ha% co00itte% an i0)o&&ib#e &in an% $io#ate% the Mother o" <o% -- thi& i&
0a%ne&&1
761 We &a*' on the contrar*' that the )a)a# )ar%on& are not ab#e to re0o$e the
$er* #ea&t o" $enia# &in&' &o "ar a& it& gui#t i& concerne%1
771 3t i& &ai% that e$en .t1 Peter' i" he (ere no( Po)e' cou#% not be&to( greater
grace&9 thi& i& b#a&)he0* again&t .t1 Peter an% again&t the )o)e1
781 We &a*' on the contrar*' that e$en the )re&ent )o)e' an% an* )o)e at a##' ha&
greater grace& at hi& %i&)o&a#9 to (it' the <o&)e#' )o(er&' gi"t& o" hea#ing' etc1' a&
it i& (ritten in 31 6orinthian& ;ii1
71 /o &a* that the cro&&' e0b#aDone% (ith the )a)a# ar0&' (hich i& &et u) [b*
the )reacher& o" in%u#gence&]' i& o" e2ua# (orth (ith the 6ro&& o" 6hri&t' i&
b#a&)he0*1
801 /he bi&ho)&' curate& an% theo#ogian& (ho a##o( &uch ta#: to be &)rea%
a0ong the )eo)#e' (i## ha$e an account to ren%er1
811 /hi& unbri%#e% )reaching o" )ar%on& 0a:e& it no ea&* 0atter' e$en "or
#earne% 0en' to re&cue the re$erence %ue to the )o)e "ro0 &#an%er' or e$en "ro0
the &hre(% 2ue&tioning& o" the #ait*1
821 /o (itE -- @Wh* %oe& not the )o)e e0)t* )urgator*' "or the &a:e o" ho#* #o$e
an% o" the %ire nee% o" the &ou#& that are there' i" he re%ee0& an in"inite nu0ber
o" &ou#& "or the &a:e o" 0i&erab#e 0one* (ith (hich to bui#% a 6hurchF /he
"or0er rea&on& (ou#% be 0o&t ju&t9 the #atter i& 0o&t tri$ia#1@
831 -gainE -- @Wh* are 0ortuar* an% anni$er&ar* 0a&&e& "or the %ea% continue%'
an% (h* %oe& he not return or )er0it the (ith%ra(a# o" the en%o(0ent& "oun%e%
on their beha#"' &ince it i& (rong to )ra* "or the re%ee0e%F@
841 -gainE -- @What i& thi& ne( )iet* o" <o% an% the )o)e' that "or 0one* the*
a##o( a 0an (ho i& i0)iou& an% their ene0* to bu* out o" )urgator* the )iou&
&ou# o" a "rien% o" <o%' an% %o not rather' becau&e o" that )iou& an% be#o$e%
&ou#=& o(n nee%' "ree it "or )ure #o$e=& &a:eF@
851 -gainE -- @Wh* are the )enitentia# canon& #ong &ince in actua# "act an%
through %i&u&e abrogate% an% %ea%' no( &ati&"ie% b* the granting o" in%u#gence&'
a& though the* (ere &ti## a#i$e an% in "orceF@
861 -gainE -- @Wh* %oe& not the )o)e' (ho&e (ea#th i& to-%a* greater than the
riche& o" the riche&t' bui#% ju&t thi& one church o" .t1 Peter (ith hi& o(n 0one*'
rather than (ith the 0one* o" )oor be#ie$er&F@
871 -gainE -- @What i& it that the )o)e re0it&' an% (hat )artici)ation %oe& he
grant to tho&e (ho' b* )er"ect contrition' ha$e a right to "u## re0i&&ion an%
)artici)ationF@
881 -gainE -- @What greater b#e&&ing cou#% co0e to the 6hurch than i" the )o)e
(ere to %o a hun%re% ti0e& a %a* (hat he no( %oe& once' an% be&to( on e$er*
be#ie$er the&e re0i&&ion& an% )artici)ation&F@
81 @.ince the )o)e' b* hi& )ar%on&' &ee:& the &a#$ation o" &ou#& rather than
0one*' (h* %oe& he &u&)en% the in%u#gence& an% )ar%on& grante% hereto"ore'
&ince the&e ha$e e2ua# e""icac*F@
01 /o re)re&& the&e argu0ent& an% &cru)#e& o" the #ait* b* "orce a#one' an% not
to re&o#$e the0 b* gi$ing rea&on&' i& to e;)o&e the 6hurch an% the )o)e to the
ri%icu#e o" their ene0ie&' an% to 0a:e 6hri&tian& unha))*1
11 3"' there"ore' )ar%on& (ere )reache% accor%ing to the &)irit an% 0in% o" the
)o)e' a## the&e %oubt& (ou#% be rea%i#* re&o#$e%9 na*' the* (ou#% not e;i&t1
21 -(a*' then' (ith a## tho&e )ro)het& (ho &a* to the )eo)#e o" 6hri&t' @Peace'
)eace'@ an% there i& no )eaceC
31 B#e&&e% be a## tho&e )ro)het& (ho &a* to the )eo)#e o" 6hri&t' @6ro&&' cro&&'@
an% there i& no cro&&C
41 6hri&tian& are to be e;horte% that the* be %i#igent in "o##o(ing 6hri&t' their
7ea%' through )ena#tie&' %eath&' an% he##9
51 -n% thu& be con"i%ent o" entering into hea$en rather through 0an*
tribu#ation&' than through the a&&urance o" )eace1
/hi& te;t (a& con$erte% to -.633 te;t "or Project Wittenberg b* -##en Mu#$e*' an% i& in the )ub#ic %o0ain1 8ou 0a*
"ree#* %i&tribute' co)* or )rint thi& te;t1 P#ea&e %irect an* co00ent& or &ugge&tion& toE
+e$1 +obert A1 .0ith
Wa#ther Librar*
6oncor%ia /heo#ogica# .e0inar*1
A-0ai#E &0ithreG0ai#1ct&"(1e%u
.ur"ace Mai#E 6600 41 6#inton .t1' ,t1 Wa*ne' 34 46825 H.-
PhoneE >260? 452-314 - ,a;E >260? 452-2126