In this episode the Theology on Tap crew discusses Luther's 95 Thesis and how the posting of these thesis i 1517 sparked the Protestant Reformation and changed the western world, so pour yourself a cold beer, warm cup of milk, hot tea or a bottle of water and enjoy this conversation.

The 95 Theses

Two strains of thought coming together:

1. Luther’s 1510 visit to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome

2. Combined with Luther’s “glowing” discovery: the difference between penance and repentance.

a. Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

b. The difference is profound

penance three steps process to earn God’s forgiveness.

1. contrition, a lamenting all known sins.

2. verbal confession, sorrowfully list all known sins to a confessor,

3. Finally, satisfaction,

a. the priest prescribed actions for the penitent to complete in order to pay for said sins.

b. (Whatever was missed in this process was to be made up for in purgatory.)

In Luther’s day, the prescribed “satisfaction,” often included buying indulgences.

-Pay money to get a piece of paper certifying remission of sins

-Including the sins of loved ones who were in purgatory

-Basically a big fundraising scam to pay for the remodel of St. Peter’s basilica in Rome.

And for Repentance = change of mind - metanoia about the entirety of life.

Luther in Thesis #1: “the entire life of believers to be one of repentance”

With that backdrop, writes and posts 95 thesis on the door of the Wittenberg church

He was built an argument against

- Penance

- Pope’s authority to forgive sins

- Biblical legitimacy of indulgences

- Biblical legitimacy of purgatory

Long story short, the posting of these theses on the door of the Wittenberg church is credited with sparked the Reformation, which reformed

4. The “church”

a. Roles of the priests

5. Social norms

a. Women’s roles

b. Peasant’s rights

6. Political / government