Johann Tetzel, 1464-1519

The indulgence with which Luther came into direct contact through his parishioners was the jubilee indulgence announced by Pope Julius II for the year 1510, the proceeds of which were to be used in building the new basilica of St. Peter in Rome. After the death of Julius II in 1513, Leo X revived this indulgence. In March, 1515, he commissioned Albrecht of Hohenzollern, archbishop of Mainz and of Magdeburg and bishop of Halberstadt, to sell the indulgence in his sees and in certain Brandenburg lands. Albrecht, who was heavily indebted to the papacy for the dispensation to hold the three sees and for the pallium, the symbol of his episcopal authority in Mainz, borrowed the money from the banking house of the Fuggers. In return for selling the indulgence the Fuggers and he were to get half of the proceeds while the other half was to go to the papal treasury. Albrecht appointed as subcommissary Johann Tetzel, a Dominican monk who had sold indulgences for the papacy and the Fuggers since 1504.


Luther, M. (1999, c1957). Vol. 31: Luther's works, vol. 31 : Career of the Reformer I (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther's Works (Vol. 31, Page 21-22). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.

Archbishop Albrecht of Mainz, 1490-1545

The indulgence with which Luther came into direct contact through his parishioners was the jubilee indulgence announced by Pope Julius II for the year 1510, the proceeds of which were to be used in building the new basilica of St. Peter in Rome.

After the death of Julius II in 1513, Leo X revived this indulgence. In March, 1515, he commissioned Albrecht of Hohenzollern, archbishop of Mainz and of Magdeburg and bishop of Halberstadt, to sell the indulgence in his sees and in certain Brandenburg lands. Albrecht, who was heavily indebted to the papacy for the dispensation to hold the three sees and for the pallium, the symbol of his episcopal authority in Mainz, borrowed the money from the banking house of the Fuggers.

 In return for selling the indulgence the Fuggers and he were to get half of the proceeds while the other half was to go to the papal treasury. Albrecht appointed as subcommissary Johann Tetzel, a Dominican monk who had sold indulgences for the papacy and the Fuggers since 1504.

The indulgence with which Luther came into direct contact through his parishioners was the jubilee indulgence announced by Pope Julius II for the year 1510, the proceeds of which were to be used in building the new basilica of St. Peter in Rome.

The indulgence with which Luther came into direct contact through his parishioners was the jubilee indulgence announced by Pope Julius II for the year 1510, the proceeds of which were to be used in building the new basilica of St. Peter in Rome.

After the death of Julius II in 1513, Leo X revived this indulgence. In March, 1515, he commissioned Albrecht of Hohenzollern, archbishop of Mainz and of Magdeburg and bishop of Halberstadt, to sell the indulgence in his sees and in certain Brandenburg lands. Albrecht, who was heavily indebted to the papacy for the dispensation to hold the three sees and for the pallium, the symbol of his episcopal authority in Mainz, borrowed the money from the banking house of the Fuggers.

 In return for selling the indulgence the Fuggers and he were to get half of the proceeds while the other half was to go to the papal treasury. Albrecht appointed as subcommissary Johann Tetzel, a Dominican monk who had sold indulgences for the papacy and the Fuggers since 1504.

The indulgence with which Luther came into direct contact through his parishioners was the jubilee indulgence announced by Pope Julius II for the year 1510, the proceeds of which were to be used in building the new basilica of St. Peter in Rome.

After the death of Julius II in 1513, Leo X revived this indulgence. In March, 1515, he commissioned Albrecht of Hohenzollern, archbishop of Mainz and of Magdeburg and bishop of Halberstadt, to sell the indulgence in his sees and in certain Brandenburg lands. Albrecht, who was heavily indebted to the papacy for the dispensation to hold the three sees and for the pallium, the symbol of his episcopal authority in Mainz, borrowed the money from the banking house of the Fuggers. In return for selling the indulgence the Fuggers and he were to get half of the proceeds while the other half was to go to the papal treasury. Albrecht appointed as subcommissary Johann Tetzel, a Dominican monk who had sold indulgences for the papacy and the Fuggers since 1504.

Luther, M. (1999, c1957). Vol. 31: Luther's works, vol. 31 : Career of the Reformer I (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther's Works (Vol. 31, Page 21-22). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.

Leo X, 1513-1521

Luther dedicated his treatise "Christian Liberty" to Leo X. He excommunicatd Luther on January 3, 1521. The future Pope, Clement VII, is on his right.

Adrian VI, 1522-1523

Pope for less than two years. He was tutor to Emperor Charles V.

Clement VII, 1523-1534

A cousin of Leo X, he was Pope during the Augsburg Confession.

Paul III, 1534-1549

Convened the Council of Trent  in 1545

Augsburg Confession, Conscience

15 Although this teaching is despised by inexperienced men, God-fearing and anxious consciences find by experience that it offers the greatest consolation because the consciences of men cannot be pacified by any work but only by faith when they are sure that for Christ’s sake they have a gracious God. 16 It is as Paul teaches in Rom. 5:1, “Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God.” 17 This whole teaching is to be referred to that conflict of the terrified conscience, nor can it be understood apart from that conflict. 18 Accordingly inexperienced and profane men, who dream that Christian righteousness is nothing else than civil or philosophical righteousness, have bad judgment concerning this teaching.

19 Consciences used to be plagued by the doctrine of works when consolation from the Gospel was not heard. 20 Some persons were by their consciences driven into the desert, into monasteries, in the hope that there they might merit grace by monastic life. 21 Others invented works of another kind to merit grace and make satisfaction for sins. 22 Hence there was very great need to treat of and to restore this teaching concerning faith in Christ in order that anxious consciences should not be deprived of consolation but know that grace and forgiveness of sins are apprehended by faith in Christ.

Tappert, T. G. (2000, c1959). The Augsburg confession : Translated from the Latin (The Confession of Faith: 2, XX, 15-22). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.