Martin Luther On Papal Power Justification By Faith The Interpretation of the Bible and the Nature
Martin Luther was a German Augustine monk and theologian, who in the sixteenth century called for reforms in the Catholic church and ultimately broke away from it and started Protestantism. ... Luther argued that the pope and the clergy were no better then the average peasant Catholics in interpreting the bible and gaining entry into heaven. The clergy argued in turn that only the pope was sufficiently well versed in holy matters to interpret the bible and to create laws for the church. Martin Luther felt that the church had the power to reform itself but was not willing due to the wealth and immunity from the law that they received. ... Luther claimed to have had a “mystical experience” in which he had a vision that salvation came not through good deeds but by ones’ faith in Jesus Christ as their savior. ... Luther explained the “three walls” that these people, called “Romanists”, had built for themselves. First, he said that temporal power had no jurisdiction over them since they obeyed only spiritual power that was greater.