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hen Martin Luther (1483-1546) nailed his famous 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Cathedral on Oct. 31, 1517, he
was making a statement about the authority for Christian belief. Though the key topic within the 95 statements was
indulgences — certificates purchased to reduce time in purgatory — Luther was challenging the underlying foundation of this
teaching. In thesis 53, he declared that “they are the enemies of Christ … who forbid altogether the preaching of the Word of
God in some churches in order that indulgences may be preached in others.” For Luther, the sale of indulgences and the doctrine
of purgatory were aberrant teachings because they could not be supported from Scripture. When ordered by the Holy Roman
Emperor to recant of his teachings at the Diet of Worms in 1521, Luther refused on the basis that his “conscience [was] a prisoner of
God’s Word.” Scripture was a higher authority than the teachings of the pope or the Roman Catholic Church.
Luther’s ideas were not really new. In the fifth century, the North African Bishop, Augustine
of Hippo (354-430), made a similar argument for the authority of Scripture. In 14th century
England, John Wycliffe (1330-1384) generally questioned the basis for authority in society, and
as a result, he produced one of the first translations of Scripture in English. Finally, urging the
church to return to the sources of the church fathers and Scripture, Desiderius Erasmus (1466-
1536) produced a critical edition of the Greek New Testament. He drew from a body of ancient
manuscripts, seeking to show the most accurate rendering of the original text. It became a key
starting point for Bible translation.
Building on the work and thoughts of these earlier theologians, Luther advanced the
Reformation idea of
sola Scriptura
— Scripture alone is the final authority for belief and practice
within the church. Luther demonstrated this conviction very practically by spending the autumn
of 1522 (while in hiding) translating the New Testament into colloquial German. Thanks to the
advanced technology of the printing press, he ordered 3,000 copies of the New Testament, which
sold out almost immediately. Luther’s work in Bible translation set the stage for other similar
projects in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. As Protestants began to seriously engage in
global mission in the late 18th and 19th centuries, Bible translation also became a central strategy.
The task of preaching the gospel and making disciples of all peoples could not be sustained
without providing Scripture in the heart languages of the nations.
Luther’s complaint about the sale of indulgences and teachings on purgatory in the 95 theses
raised a deeper issue. What is correct Christian belief ? And what is the basis for Christian
belief and practice? These questions are just as relevant to us in the 21st century as they were to Luther in the 16th. Luther found
his answer in the Old and New Testament Scriptures. Through the Scriptures, the gospel was clarified and Christian doctrine was
faithfully constructed. What can the church today learn from Luther’s journey?
W
Searching for Authority: Martin Luther and
sola Scriptura
By Dr. Edward L. Smither, Dean of the CIU College of Intercultural Studies
On Oct. 31, 1517, a priest named Martin Luther nailed to the Wittenberg, Germany church door, a list of questions and
propositions for theological debate known as the 95 theses. This act, challenging the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church,
led to the greatest transformation of Western society since the apostles. His action provoked a debate that culminated in what
we call the Protestant Reformation.
On this 500th anniversary of the Reformation, two Columbia International University professors bring together the
Reformation principle of “sola Scriptura” — Scripture alone — and CIU’s core value of the Authority of Scripture.
Professor Dr. Ed Smither in the
Luther Room in Wartburg Castle
where Martin Luther translated the
New Testament into German.
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CIU Today
Fall 2017