Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, formally titled “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences,” were written in Latin and posted on October 31, 1517, on the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany. They were intended to spark academic debate about practices of the Catholic Church, especially the sale of indulgences, which Luther viewed as corrupt and spiritually misleading. Below is a summary of their main points, grouped by theme rather than listing all 95 individually:
1. Nature of Repentance (Theses 1–7)
- True repentance is inner spiritual change, not merely performing outward works or buying indulgences.
- The Pope cannot remit guilt, only declare forgiveness given by God.
2. Authority of the Pope (Theses 5–26)
- The Pope has no power over souls in purgatory; only God decides salvation.
- Papal pardons apply only to penalties the Church itself imposes, not divine judgment.
- People should not believe that buying indulgences guarantees salvation.
3. The Power and Limitations of Indulgences (Theses 27–49)
- Selling indulgences for forgiveness is misleading and dangerous.
- Those who think indulgence letters free them from sin will face eternal damnation.
- Indulgences are not a replacement for acts of charity and mercy.
4. True Treasure of the Church (Theses 50–68)
- The true treasure is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not indulgence money.
- Church leaders should use wealth to aid the poor rather than build lavish churches.
5. Critique of Preachers and Exploitation (Theses 69–80)
- Indulgence sellers deceive believers for profit.
- They create a false sense of security and undermine true repentance.
6. Call for Reform and Debate (Theses 81–95)
- Christians should be taught that salvation is by faith and God’s grace, not purchased.
- The Church should reform its teachings to align with Scripture.
- Luther invites scholars to debate these points openly for truth’s sake.