issued under the name of the Archbishop of Mainz.[1] For this reason there is little logical sequence in the arrangement of the Theses, and none of the attempts to discover a plan or scheme underlying them has been successful.[2] In a general way it may be said that for the positive views of Luther on the subjects discussed, Theses 30–37 and 42–52 are the most vital, while Theses 92–95 are sufficient evidence of the motive which led Luther to make his protest.
5. Conclusion.—The editors of this Translation present herewith a new translation of the Theses, together with three letters, which will help the reader to understand the mind of Luther at the time of their composition and his motive in preparing them. The first of these letters is that which was sent, with a copy of the Theses, to Albrecht of Mainz. The second and third are addressed respectively to Staupitz and Leo X., and were written to accompany the "Resolutions,"[3] an exhaustive explantion and defense of the Theses, published in 15 18, after the controversy had become bitter.
6. Literature.—(a) Sources. The source material for the history of indulgences is naturally widely scattered. The most convenient collection is found in Koehler, Dokumente zum Ablassstreit, Tübingen, 1900. For the indulgences against which Luther protested, see, beside the Editions of Luther's Works, Kapp, Schauplatz des Tetzelischen Ablass-Krams, Leipzig, 1720; Sammlung einiger zum päbstlichen Ablass gehörigen Schriften, Leipzig, 1721; Kleine Nachlese zur Erläuterung der Reforma-
- ↑ See Letter to Archbishop, below. The text of this Instruction in Kapp, Sammlung, etc. (1721), pp. 117-206. Tschackert has surmised that even the number of the Theses was determined by the number of the paragraphs in this Instruction. There were 94 of these paragraphs, and of the Theses 94 + 1. Entstehung d. luth. u. ref. Kirchenlehre (1910), p. 16, note i.
- ↑ The following, based on an unpublished manuscript of Th. Brieger, is an interesting analysis of the contents and subject-matter of the Theses. For the sake of brevity the minor subdivisions are omitted:
Introduction. The ideas fundamentally involved in the conception of poenitentia (Th. 1–7).
I. Indulgences for souls in purgatory (Th. 8–29).
1. Canonical penalties and the pains of purgatory (Th. 8–19).
2. The relation of the Pope to purgatory (Th. 20–29).
II. Indulgences for the living (Th. 30–80).
1. The content and nature of the preaching of indulgences (Th. 30–55).
2. The treasury of the Church (Th. 56–66).
3. The duty of the regular church-authorities in the matter (Th. 67–80).
Conclusion (Th. 81–95).
1. The objections of the laity to the indulgence-traffic (Th. 81–91).
2. The evil motive of the traffic in indulgences, with special reference to the statements of Th. 1–4 (Th. 91–95).H. Hermelink, in Kruger's Handbuch der Kirchengeschichte (1911), III, 66.
- ↑ Weimar Ed., I, pp. 525 ff.
