Three TreatisesMartin Luther posted his Ninety-five Theses on the church door at Wittenberg in 1517. In the three years that followed, Luther clarified and defended his position in numerous writings. Chief among these are the three treatises written in 1520. In these writings Luther tried to frame his ideas in terms that would be comprehensible not only to the clergy but to people from a wide range of backgrounds. To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation is an attack on the corruption of the church and the abuses of its authority, bringing to light many of the underlying reasons for the Reformation. The second treatise, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, contains Luther's sharp criticism of the sacramental system of the Catholic church. The Freedom of a Christian gives a concise presentation of Luther's position on the doctrine of justification by faith. The translations of these treatises are all taken from the American edition of Luther's Works. This new edition of Three Treatises will continue to be a popular resource for individual study, church school classes, and college and seminary courses. |
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Alveld Antichrist Apostle Aristotle authority Babylonian Captivity baptism baptized become believe benefices bishop blood body bread called canon law captivity cardinals ceremonies Christ Christendom Christian Nobility church command confession conscience consecrated Corpus Iuris Canonici council Council of Constance death decree despise devil divine promise emperor evil extreme unction faith Father fulfilled German nation give glory God's godless gospel grace heaven heretic Holy Scripture honor indulgences John John Huss justified kind king laity liberty live Lord Luke Luther marriage marry mass Matt matter means ment monasteries never ordinances papacy papal Paul says penance Peter pontiffs pope pope's pray prayer preach priesthood priests receive righteousness Roman Roman Curia Romanists Rome sacra sacrament salvation saved servant sins soul Spirit teach temporal testament things tion transubstantiation treatise true truth tyranny unction vows Vulgate wicked Wittenberg