Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
The influences on Luther’s views; his views on corruption within the…
Full specification wording
Luther’s early challenge to the Catholic Church, 1517–20: The influences on Luther’s views; his views on corruption within the Catholic Church.
Luther’s views were shaped by his personal religious crisis and by intellectual influences.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Luther’s views were shaped by his personal religious crisis and by intellectual influences. His reading of Paul’s letters, especially Romans, led him to justification by faith alone, while Augustine reinforced human sinfulness and divine grace. Nominalist theology and humanist scholarship, including Erasmus’s Greek New Testament, gave him tools to question Church authority. He also drew on German anti-clerical sentiment. Luther attacked corruption within the Catholic Church: simony, nepotism, pluralism, absenteeism, clerical ignorance and immorality, and above all the sale of indulgences, which he saw as exploiting fear for profit. He rejected the idea that salvation could be bought and challenged papal authority over forgiveness. These influences and criticisms combined to produce his early challenge.
What earns the marks
- Explains how Luther’s reading of Paul, especially Romans 1:17, led to his doctrine of justification by faith alone.
- Shows how Augustine’s theology of sin and grace shaped Luther’s view of human inability to earn salvation.
- Explains the influence of humanist scholarship, including Erasmus’s Greek New Testament and the call to return to original sources.
- Identifies specific corrupt practices: simony, nepotism, pluralism, absenteeism, clerical ignorance and immorality.
- Explains why Luther opposed indulgences, including the link to purgatory, papal authority and financial exploitation.
- Uses evidence from the 1517–20 period, such as the Ninety-Five Theses and Luther’s letters, to support the analysis.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating Luther’s views as sudden and entirely original.
Put it right: Show how they developed from existing ideas and personal struggle.
Listing corrupt practices without explaining how they shaped Luther’s criticism.
Put it right: Link each practice to his theological objections.
Confusing justification by faith with justification by works.
Put it right: State clearly that Luther believed faith, not human effort, brought salvation.
Exam tips
- Plan your answer around influences and criticisms, ensuring both parts of the statement are covered.
- Use precise terms such as justification by faith, indulgences, simony and pluralism, and explain them briefly.
- Integrate short quotations or specific examples from the period to support your argument.
Try the lesson
The start of the Luther’s early challenge to the Catholic Church, 1517–20: The influences on Luther’s views; his views on corruption within the Catholic Church. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which influence on Luther's early views is best described as his study of the original Greek text of the New Testament?
Listen
Luther’s views were shaped by his personal religious crisis and by intellectual influences. His reading of Paul’s letters, especially Romans, led him to justification by faith alone, while Augustine reinforced human sinfulness and divine grace. Nominalist theology and humanist scholarship, including Erasmus’s Greek New Testament, gave him tools to question Church authority. He also drew on German anti-clerical sentiment. Luther attacked corruption within the Catholic Church: simony, nepotism, pluralism, absenteeism, clerical ignorance and immorality, and above all the sale of indulgences, which he saw as exploiting fear for profit. He rejected the idea that salvation could be bought and challenged papal authority over forgiveness. These influences and criticisms combined to produce his early challenge. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains how Luther’s reading of Paul, especially Romans 1:17, led to his doctrine of justification by faith alone. Shows how Augustine’s theology of sin and grace shaped Luther’s view of human inability to earn salvation. Explains the influence of humanist scholarship, including Erasmus’s Greek New Testament and the call to return to original sources. Identifies specific corrupt practices: simony, nepotism, pluralism, absenteeism, clerical ignorance and immorality. A common slip: Treating Luther’s views as sudden and entirely original. Instead, show how they developed from existing ideas and personal struggle. Exam tip: Plan your answer around influences and criticisms, ensuring both parts of the statement are covered.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Theology and salvation
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Corruption and reform
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Humanism and textual scholarship
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Authority and dissent
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See every definition
- Theology and salvation
- Luther's reading of Paul's letters, especially Romans, led him to justification by faith alone, while Augustine reinforced human sinfulness and divine grace.
- Corruption and reform
- Luther attacked simony, nepotism, pluralism, absenteeism, clerical ignorance and immorality, and above all the sale of indulgences, which he saw as exploiting fear for profit.
- Humanism and textual scholarship
- Humanist scholarship, including Erasmus's Greek New Testament, gave Luther tools to question Church authority and called for a return to original sources.
- Authority and dissent
- Luther rejected the idea that salvation could be bought and challenged papal authority over forgiveness, drawing also on German anti-clerical sentiment.
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