Category Archives: Martin Luther

Burning the Bull

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Matthew Phillips

“Greetings.  On December 10, 1520, at nine o’clock in the morning, all the following papal books were burned in Wittenberg at the eastern gate near the Church of the Holy Cross: the Decretum, the Decretals, the [Liber] Sextus, the Clementines, … Continue reading →

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The Origin of Indulgences

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Matthew Phillips

A close reading of Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses demonstrates that he was calling into question not only the doctrine of indulgences but also the late medieval sacrament of penance. Luther focused on the interior nature of repentance instead of sacramental penance … Continue reading →

Posted in Crusades, Martin Luther, medieval, Peter Abelard, Reformation | 2 Comments

Defy Everything: Martin Luther in 1520

Posted on October 31, 2020 by Matthew Phillips

“Let us…commit the affairs of men to God in faithful prayer, and be calm.  What can they do? Will they kill [me]?  Will they revive [me] again in order to kill [me] again? Will they brand me [me] a heretic?  … Continue reading →

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Never Trust a Mob

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Matthew Phillips

“We dare not encourage the mob very much.  It goes mad too quickly…And it is better for tyrants to wrong them a hundred times than for the mob to treat the tyrant unjustly but once.  If injustice is to be … Continue reading →

Posted in government, justice, Martin Luther, Politics | Leave a comment

Faith Works: Martin Luther’s Treatise on Good Works

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Matthew Phillips

Lutherans should celebrate the 500th anniversary of 1520 as a much more significant event than publication of the Ninety-Five Theses in 1517.  The Indulgence Controversy and the image of Luther’s hammer has captured everyone’s imagination for a long time.  However, … Continue reading →

Posted in grace, Martin Luther, Reformation | 1 Comment

An Infallible Truth

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“It is an infallible truth that no person is righteous unless he believes in God, as stated in Rom. 1 [:17]: ‘He who through faith is righteous shall live.’  Likewise, ‘He who does not believe is condemned already” [John 3:18] … Continue reading →

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The Suffering of the Blessed Virgin

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“Therefore, this holy Virgin was a true martyr during these three days, and they were much harder for her than the external pain and torture was for any other saint.  She was in anxiety because of her Son that she … Continue reading →

Posted in depression, Martin Luther, martyrdom, Mary, medieval, preaching | Leave a comment

Luther on Becoming a Theologian

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

“If anybody wishes to become a theologian, he has a great advantage, first of all, in having the Bible.  This is now so clear that he can read it without any trouble.  Afterward he should read Philip’s Loci Communes.  This … Continue reading →

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Indulgences and the Gospel

Posted on October 30, 2017 by Matthew Phillips

  “Works of piety and love are infinitely better than indulgences; and yet [the indulgence preachers] do not preach them with an equally big display and effort.  What is even worse, [the preachers] are silent about them because they have … Continue reading →

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The Princess of the Whole Human Race

Posted on August 15, 2016 by Matthew Phillips

“Filius ita factus est homo, ut a spiritu sancto sine virili opera conciperetur et ex Maria pura, sancta, semper virgine nasceretur…” Dass der Sohn sei also Mensch worden, das er vom heiligen Geist ohn männlich Zutun empfangen und von der … Continue reading →

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