Answering Luther

[LaSalle]

Can anybody direct me to resource that provides answers to Luther’s 95 theses?

 

[CentralFLJames]

Here is a book that uses the Protestant’s very own sola scriptura tradition to present 95 scriptural verses that counter Luther’s heretical thesis. It’s not a formal rebuttal of the 95 thesis but rather a very sobering use of the so called “Catholic Verses” that lets scripture speak to rebuke every modern aspect of Protestant belief. So it’s more like taking 95 clearly Catholic scripture verses as a counter-thesis and nailing them right back on the castle door at the home of the original leader of the Protestant Church (The Church of England’s King). Most Protestant’s somehow never seem to see these verses nor want to address them:

The Catholic Verses: 95 Bible Passages That Confound Protestants

James

 

[LaSalle]

Thanks.

Any more from anyone else?

 

[CentralFLJames]

Thanks.

Any more from anyone else?

I know that a papal bull ( Exsurge Domine ) containing 41 theses was issued against Luther. But Luther burned it before a multitude of doctors, students, and citizens in Wittenberg. He was subsequently excommunicated, and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, convened the first Diet at Worms in 1521, before which Luther was called to retract his teachings.

In the famous Leipzig debate with Johann Eck, Luther was forced to admit that he rejected papal authority and he progressively had to abandon just about all of his original assumptions. Technically defeated in the debate Luther was essentially forced into the corner of “sola scriptura” to use the “rope a dope” defense as his only means to stay on his feet where he could of course reject Church teaching of scripture in favor of his own private interpretation. From there he had to ride his own pride all the way down to the gutter to wholly reject the Catholic Church and eventually his own religious order. Luther originally did not reject the church outright and only wanted to be a force to change it in a way according to his vision. But after the debates with Eck it became clear that Luther had moved beyond mere questions of faith to one of outright heresy and become an enemy of The Church. After 23 days the debate arbitrators declined to give a verdict but Eck was greeted as victor by the theologians of the University of Leipzig (who overwhelmed him with honors and gifts).

Also, the Confutatio pontificia, which was originally had 404 heretical propositions of Eck’s a modified work to include 20 other Catholic Theologian condemnations of the reformers with statements embodying the Catholic reaction to Luther and the other reformers.

As a point of historical interest note that as the conflict escalated Eck offered to meet the reformers half way and sought a compromise for peace. But his overtures failed largely due to the hatred and personal contempt on the part of the Reformers against Eck for being such an effective and untiring opponent.

In all honesty, if Luther was only interested in correcting a few abuses would he have sought to find 95 reasons to attack The Church that he himself was a religious member of? I think not. I think Luther wanted to create a whole new religion after his own image and vision.

James