The Holy Roman Empire Narrative Essay Example

pardoned individuals through their belief in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, making the intercession of a priest unnecessary. Consequently, Luther deemed indulgences to be unnecessary since he found no evidence in scripture supporting their sale, and believed them to lack value in providing sinners with salvation. Luther asserted that salvation was a free gift from God and that faith alone (bolstered by good works, etc.) could justify and save mankind. The Churches' sale of indulgences and their subsequent profits contradicted Luther's newfound perception of salvation.

In Luther's speech to the Christian Nobility of the German nation, he advocated for a political reformation utilizing religious analysis. Although initially appearing as a solely religious text, upon closer inspection it becomes evident that it is largely political. Luther denounced the so-called "three walls of Jericho" or the three walls constructed by the Romanists, pinpointing them in his speech.

The text describes the actions of the Romanists in various situations. When facing pressure from temporal power, they have claimed that it has no jurisdiction over them and that spiritual authority is above it. Additionally, when confronted with scriptural arguments, they assert that only the pope can interpret the Scriptures. Finally, they respond to threats of a council by stating that only the pope can call one. The second paragraph of "The three walls of the Romanists" highlights the political nature of these actions.

In the first of the three walls of the Romanists, Luther expresses his desire for change within a political context. Nevertheless, he targets the masses through religious arguments. Luther argues that it is entirely fabricated to name the Pope, bishops, priests, and monks as the 'Spiritual state' while referring

to princes, lords, artisans, and farmers as the 'Temporal state', as this is a clear representation of lying and hypocrisy. According to Luther, all Christians are part of the spiritual state, which grants equal rights to both princes and popes. Therefore, he suggests that the Papal system is not superior to ordinary Christian folks.

The political proposition is supported with religious evidence, which does not require purely religious amendment. For instance, if ten brothers who are all king's sons and equal heirs select one of themselves to govern the inheritance for everyone, they would remain kings and have equal power even though one of them would be responsible for governing.

Luther argues that we are all equal in the eyes of God, however, he questions the hierarchy of the Church by asking who decided on the Pope. This is a political attack on the unjust and unnecessary power of the papacy, appealing to the laity. In his refutation of the second wall, Luther concludes that popes wish to be the sole masters of the Holy Scriptures, despite learning nothing from them throughout their lives. Therefore, they assume for themselves sole authority.

The power that the Pope claims to have was actually taken by them, despite attributing it to the keys given to Peter. It is evident that the keys were meant for the entire community and not just Peter. This statement advocates for a shift away from relying on the Pope for scriptural interpretation. It targets a religious reformation and supports the third wall.

Luther proposes political reform, supported by religious references, in his evaluation of the third wall of the Christian nobility. He suggests that

when the Pope causes offense to Christendom, a faithful member should work towards a democratically-led council, with a non-ecclesiastical and non-noble group replacing the Pope. Luther cites scripture, specifically Mathew 18:15, as evidence for his argument. He uses the word of God to justify his restructuring of the political system, and it is clear that he drew inspiration from political events preceding the 16th century. Additionally, the significance of printing during this period must be considered.

In the past, only influential and affluent individuals could obtain written materials due to their costly nature. However, with Johann Gutenberg's invention of movable type in Mainz, Germany in 1450, mass production of affordable books became a reality. This allowed more people to become literate and have access to literature, enabling greater awareness of political and other matters. Luther benefited from this as it meant he could communicate with the public without seeking the approval of religious or political leaders. Moreover, the Bible was now accessible to everyone, not just the church and its leaders.

Luther's scriptural evidence was made accessible to and supported by many people, thanks to its dissemination among the masses. Initially, his goal was simply to inform ecclesiastical authorities of his views and begin a constructive discussion on the matter. However, Luther's opinions were considered heretical by the church, which incited him to defy them. In response, he distributed pamphlets in which he denounced both the government and the church's theology.

Martin Luther declared that if every man had the ability to seek salvation without the need for intercession, then the priesthood would become obsolete and hinder the truth by masking it behind ritualistic practices that aim to

preserve their privileged status. Moreover, he criticized both church and secular authorities and asserted that worldly affairs should be under the control of secular rulers alone. The German princes were pleased to hear this argument, and it also benefited the laity, who were given responsibility for their wellbeing rather than relying on priests and bishops to achieve salvation.