A German that argued against the sale of indulgences and later translated the Bible into German?

Answer 1

Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a German monk of the Augustinian order who was exposed to the teachings of one Johannes Tetzel on indulgences. One such teaching (which loses a little in translation from German) was 'as soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs.' These moneys so raised were used both for construction projects in Rome and for war efforts, both of which (particularly the latter), caused a degree of consternation in Germany, including from Luther himself.

Luther struggled with his own personal conscience and over a period of time, including a visit to Rome on Augustinian business saw the corruption and light-hearted nature of the priesthood there, including gross immorality. He was thus beginning to be disillusioned with the system to which he had dedicated his life and sought refuge both in further personal deprivations, personal counsel of a superior, and in the word of God itself.

This latter study, led him to the conclusion that indulgences, in both the way they were being taught and promoted, as well as in principle were wrong. This was based on a new understanding of what The Bible taught about salvation and grace.

Luther's 95 Theses Against Indulgences, posted on the door of the Castle Church at Wittenburg on October 31, 1517. This was followed by a much larger treatise on the same subject which made him a marked man as far as the Roman Catholic church was concerned. Although he had intended to remain a Catholic and reform the church, not willing to believe the pope could be corrupt, he later came to a different conclusion.