Key Players
One of the three major reformers of Luther's time, this French theologian that founded ‘Calvinism’ in Geneva from 1541.
Who is John Calvin?
The doctrine of Predestination is a key difference between ‘Lutheranism’ and ‘Calvinism’
The year recognized as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
What is the year 1517?
The beginning of a nearly 40 year process of reformation for the Christian church.
The most influential figure of the Reformation
Who was Martin Luther?
Also called "Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences," outlined Luther’s dispute against clerical abuses and this is considered the initial catalyst for the Protestant Reformation.
What are the 95 Theses?
Only proposed 95 "talking points" for discussion but became the catalyst for reformation once they were translated and distributed because, to the people, they did challenge the authority of the Church.
Author of the Augsburg Confessions in 1530, which the affirmation of faith of the Lutheran Church.
Who is Philip Melanchthon?
After Luther died in 1546, Melanchthon became the leader of the Reformation in Germany.
Revolutionary technology was central to the spread of new protestant ideas
What is Guttenburg’s printing press?
There were reformers well before Luther and what became known as the Reformation, but Luther and other reformers of his time became the first to skillfully use the power of the printing press to give their ideas a wide audience.
Luther's Wife
Who is Katharina von Bora?
Luther wasn't too happy this term was (and still is) used to describe the followers of his teachings as it was at one time derogatory.
Issued a Papal Bull condemning Luther.
Who is Pope Leo X?
In 1520, Pope Leo X, tired of sending emissaries to reason with Luther, threatened him with excommunication unless he recanted. Luther publicly burned the edict (known as a papal bull) at Wittenberg
The Reformation led to a series of religious wars that culminated this.
What is the Thirty Years’ War?
One of more than 40 hymns Luther composed in his lifetime, in 1529 wrote and composed this tune for what became known as “The Battle Hymn of the Reformation”
What is "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”?
Prior to the beginning of the Reformation, Luther wanted to break free from this role, feeling stagnant and that he was hiding from doing the work the Lord put us here to do.
What is being a (n Augustinian) monk?
Hid Luther in Wartburg Castle where he would write some of his best-known works, including his translation of the Bible into German.
Who is Frederick III?
Who was Henry the VIII of England.
Created at the request of printers to have a personal symbol representing the reformer’s faith that could serve as a mark indicating something was an authorized publication of Luther’s. It became widely recognized as the symbol for Lutheranism, and still is today.
What is the Luther rose (or Luther seal)
The church at the time sold special "tickets" supposed to offer forgiveness from sins or reduced time in purgatory for money. This made it seem like rich people could buy their way into Heaven. This was very different from what the Bible taught, which says that salvation is a gift, not something you buy.
What is selling indulgences?
Said to be the third largest key reformer in Luther's time, but disagreed on Luther's teachings on the Eucharist.
Who is (Huldrych) Zwingli?
Zwingli felt that too much emphasis on the recreation of the Last Supper bordered on idolatry while Luther understood it as essential to the Christian walk.
At this event Luther was declared an obstinate heretic and banned the reading or possession of his writings.
What was the Diet (or Edict) of Worms?
He was excommunicated in 1521 and required to appear at The Diet of Worms (January-May 1521) was the assembly convened by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor to address, among other issues, Luther's works who openly criticized the Church. Luther was told to recant and, when he would not, was charged with heresy, marking his official break with the Church.
Luther once wrote "I am of a different mind ten times in the course of a day. But I resist the devil, and often it is with [one of these] that I chase him away..."
What is a fart.
"...When he tempts me with silly sins I say, “Devil, yesterday I broke wind too. Have you written it down on your list?” …I remind myself of the forgiveness of sin and of Christ and I remind Satan of the abomination of the pope. This abomination is so great that I am of good cheer and rejoice, and I confess that the abomination of the papacy after the time of Christ is a great consolation in me.”
The systematic way the church controlled printing.
Most people did not understand the language most of the Bible is written in: Latin. The main church service, Catholic Mass, was also in Latin. This meant people could not easily check if what the priest said was truly from the Bible.