2013 Journal
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CRESCAT SCIENTIA Utah Valley University J o u r n a l o f H i s t o r y V o l u m e X 2 0 1 3 REVIEW OF MARTIN LUTHER’S DEDICATORY LETTER TO POPE LEO X ADRIENNE SHELLEY HOUSANDS OF CHURCHES AROUND THE WORLD CAN THANK MARTIN TLuther. He went against the social and societal norms because of his strong belief in the reformation of the Catholic Church and by doing so allowed the evolution of new churches. Martin Luther had different views than the Catholic Church. He believed that the selling of indulgences was immoral and that the corruption and perversion of the church and its leaders must be modified as well as the doctrines being taught. Martin Luther sent a letter to Pope Leo X explaining his own views on religion, which he believed to be the “truth,” and invited him to join him in the true word. In the beginning of the letter Luther de- fends and creates a sense of loyalty to the pope. He explains how he has never said anything that was not honorable about Leo and goes on to say what a good person he is. He is blunt when he refers to the cardi- nals and describes them as his enemies because of their corruption and their efforts in overthrowing peace. He brings up similarities between the cardinals and anti-christs to show the perversion of Leo’s court and explains that this corruption isn’t really Christian. He goes on to write about the purpose of these positions saying, “Christ was sent for no other office than that of the word, and the order of apostles, that of bishops, and that of the whole body of the clergy, have been called and instituted for no object other but the ministry of God.”1 He implies that if their whole calling is to the ministry of God, then those in these 1 Luther, Martin, Henry Wace, and C. A. Buchheim. First principles of the Reformation, or, The ninety-five theses and the three primary works of Luther translated into English. London: J. Murray, 1883. 4 SHELLEY MARTIN LUTHER’S DEDICATORY LETTER 5 offices need replaced or to have a change in their behavior and actions. and useful servant of all.”5 In this statement he touches on his earlier Luther describes a Christian man as being “the most free lord of declaration of what a Christian man is and relates it to his idea of faith. all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of Luther also suggests that people lay aside works and focus on their all, and subject to everyone.”2 He goes on to explain that the soul and faith instead. For there are many good works in faith, but there is not the body are separate and one is not complete by itself. The soul can’t always faith in good works. Good works according to Luther means do anything without the word of God; therefore, without the word of nothing. If people have faith then they are saved, their works will get God, we are nothing. The word of God is what makes our lives pros- them no justification or salvation -- they can only receive those through perous. Those who don’t believe on the word will be unfruitful. He faith. A person who is faithful will do good works, but good works do states, “To preach Christ is to feed the soul, to justify it, set it free, and not mean they are faithful people. One of his related examples is of a to save it if it believes the preaching.”3 tree. The tree’s fruit cannot come before the tree, but if there is a tree it According to Luther there is no such thing as justification there’s can bring forth fruit. Likewise, a people cannot be called good because only faith. Through faith and through believing the word of God, we of their works, but they are good because of their faith, which then pro- are saved. People cannot be perfect, even if they try, and by trying they duces good works. Good works have no comparison to faith. Obedi- become discouraged and can never attain perfection. Faith creates ways ence to God is shown by faith and not through the good works of man. in which we can conquer both death and sin, because if we have faith, Luther writes about how good works are unnecessary for salva- we are not sinners. For those who do not believe on the word, all things tion, but he goes on to explain why good works are done. Good works for him are evil. He uses good things to gain his advantage rather than are done to please God and for that reason only. He explains that Adam giving the glory to God. For those who do have faith, all things work and Eve were made perfect without needs to be justified or saved. God for their good, and they become lords of all, and are not imprisoned. gave them work to do on the earth, and they did it. “These would have Luther goes on to explain how faith is maintained: “this faith is pro- indeed been works of perfect freedom, being done for not object but duced and is maintained by preaching why Christ came, what he has that of pleasing God, and not in order to obtain justification.”6 This brought us and given to us, and to what profit and advantage he is to example shows that there is no reason to do works for justification, the be received.”4 only need is to have faith, and through faith good works will spring up This idea of faith is the fulfilling law. By believing we are free from in acts of pleasing God. sin, we are justified, and we gain many riches. According to Luther, Faithful people will do good works to please God, but they will when people are truly humbled, they can see that there truly is only also live for the Lord by trying to be Christ-like. A man may do this faith and no justification. All a person needs to do is believe and have by being a “Christ” to his neighbor. Part of Luther’s definition of a faith, and they are saved. It is the one and only thing in this world that Christian man (“a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, can redeem mankind. In referring to the Christian life Luther states, and subject to everyone”) is referred to in this section. He writes about “It can do all things, has all things, and is in the want of nothing; is how faithful people who really believe and do good works to please lord over sin, death, and hell, and at tile same time is the obedient God will be serving their neighbor as they live in a Christ-like manner. “For Man does not live for himself alone in this mortal body, in order 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid. 5 Ibid. 4 Ibid. 6 Ibid. 6 SHELLEY MARTIN LUTHER’S DEDICATORY LETTER 7 to work on it’s account, but also for all men on earth.”7 In other sec- Martin Luther’s big push in this letter is to bring to the attention tions of his writing Luther writes about those that are unfaithful who of the pope the corruption of his Catholic court by informing him of just live for their own gain. These unfaithful people will never attain Luther’s ideology of religion and how men are saved and what truly is salvation because they do not believe on the word of God and are not a “Catholic man.” “For when the soul has been cleansed by faith and Christian. Luther makes a bold statement later on in the letter saying, made to love God, it would have all things to be cleansed in like man- “a Christian man does nothing but live in himself, but in Christ and ner; and especially in its own body, so that all things might unite with in his neighbor, or else is no Christian.”8 Shown here, he obviously it in the love and praise of God.” 11 This belief that there is no justifi- believes strongly in serving neighbors, serving God, and trying to be cation, the soul is cleansed through faith and therefore redeemed and Christ-like. saved by faith alone is the main theme throughout the letter. In this, Being Christ-like requires the knowledge of and faith in Christ. he touches on is the corruption of the clergy, and the goodness of Pope Without that knowledge it would be impossible. Luther writes a bit Leo X. Luther genuinely believed that if Pope Leo X will join Luther’s about his knowledge of Christ and how he was sent to this earth only belief, he may be saved by his faith. to institute the word of God. Through his service and kind actions we can learn to be Christ-like. Christ lived like us for us, “laboring, work- ing, suffering, and dying, as to be like the rest of men, and no otherwise than a man in fashion and in conduct, as if he were in want of al things, and had nothing of the form of God; and yet all this he did for our BIOGRAphICAL NOTES sakes, that he might serve us, and that all the works he should do under J.