II
DISPUTATION OF DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER ON THE POWER AND EFFICACY OF INDULGENCES
OCTOBER 31, 1517
Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.
In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam agite,[1] willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.
2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance, i. e., confession and satisfaction, which is administered by the priests.
3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers mortifications of the flesh.
4. The penalty[2] [of sin], therefore, continues so long as hatred of self continues; for this is the true inward repent-
- ↑ Matt. 4:17. Greek, μετανοεῖτε; English, "repent"; German, Bussetun. The Latin and German versions may also be rendered, "Do penance"; the Greek, on the other hand, can only mean "Repent."
- ↑ The Roman theology distinguishes between the "guilt" and the "penalty" of sin. See Introduction, p. 19.
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