PROTESTANT REFORMATION

 

PROTESTANT REFORMATION

 

Protestant Reformation Bang Ahia?

Roman Catholic (RC) saptuam in Lai Siangthou sinsak hilou thugin abikin sacrament i.e. Penance leh Indulgences a sinsak uhi. Martin Luther in hiai RC sinsakna dikloute kalh (protest) in Lai Siangthou a kikthak a, kibulphuhthak a, kibawlhoih ding tupna ziakin a “Ninety-Five Theses” (95 Theses) Germany a Wittenberg Biakin bang ah October 31, 1517 in takkhia hi. Hiai banga RC sinsakna dikloute Lai Siangthou pansan a nialkalhna tuh Protestant[1] Reformation a kichi hi.

 

Luther in Protestant Reformation apatma in RC saptuam sinsakna diklou; nekgukna (Simony- saptuam office te zuakna, nepotism- tanau leh sanggamte deihsakna), kha mangthangte leh ginna ngaihsak a omlou in, khovel thilte a kibualnate apan kibawlhoih tup ziakin John Wycliff,[2] English theologian leh Oxford professor tuh 1415 in sinsakna diklou (heretic) sinsak chi a mohpaih in om hi. Jan Hus, Bohemia a siampu tuh 1415 mah in hallup in om a, Girolamo Savonarola, Italian friar tuh khai leh hallup in 1498 in om nawn hi. Hiai in Luther ma pek apat kibawlhoihna (reformation) patsawmna a na omta chih hon chiansak hi. Protestant Reformation hong kipatdan saulou i kikum ding hi.

 

Martin Luther Kua Ahia?

Martin Luther tuh German gammi Pathian’ thu thei leh sinsaktu theologian, professor, pastor leh church reformer ahi. Luther ahihleh Eisleben (present eastern Germany) a November 10, 1483 in piang hi. Hans Luther leh Magarete Luther (parents) te tapa masapen ahi a, University of Erfurt ah BA leh MA (1505) zou in, Doctor of Theology Degree 1511/12 kum in zou nawn hi. Luther pa in lawyer dingin deih a, Erfurt khua ah Dan zil dingin sawl hi. Dan a zil lai in khatvei a innkuante Mansfield a veh akiklam University of Erfurt zuan a pailai kolphia- vanpi ging mulkim huaitak tuak in July 1505 in a piangthak hi. Si ding kisa a, lauhna in pumdim in “St. Anne,” sam in “hon panpih in ka hinna na hon hawisak leh monk in ka kipia ding” chi in kichiam hi. Luther tuh hiai bang incident a maituah zoh in the monastery of the Augustinian Hermits a zom hi.

 

Luther tuh Catholic monk hong hipah a, a lohching mahmah ziakin siampu dingin 1507 in ordination piak in om hi. A nung sawtlou 1508 in New University of Wittenberg a sinsaktu dingin appointment piak in om nawn hi. Doctor of Theology zousa ahihman in theological faculty a zomthei pah hi. Luther in Catholic nun lui Katherine von Bora 1525 in kitenpih a, ta 6 nei uhi. Luther tuh 18^th February 1546 in Eisleben, Mansfield a si hi.

 

Roman Catholic Saptuam Sungthu Theihna

Monk hipah mahleh Luther in RC saptuam thugin sinsakna nih pom theihlouh anei hi. Khatna, sacrament[3] (Mass) pomdan “Transubstantiation” Toupa’ Nitak annkuang a sang leh uai-in (bread and wine) tuh Jesu’ sisan leh taksa mahmah hong suak chih ahi (Luther pomdan “consubstantiation”–tanghou leh grep tui tuh a ngeingei ahi. Tanghou leh grep tui tuh Jesu Khrist taksa leh sisan in a kikheng kei a himahleh, Jesu taksa leh sisan tuh a taktak in tanghou leh grep tui a tel hi).[4] Nihna, kum 1510 in Rome khua ah zin a, Italy a RC saptuam makaite (clergy) kineksiatna leh sahkhua miitlouhna, phetlou in, aguk a sexual thil a kihel tampi amu hi (abikin Renaissance Popes leh Pope Julius te a nasa petmah uhi).

 

Huan, Luther buaina pipen ahihleh a hotdamna ahi gige hi. A siangthou Pathian in bang chidan a mikhial pomthei ding? RC’ sacrament-te abikin Siampu kianga “khelh kipuanna” leh Siampu in “khelh ngaihdam theihna thuneihna” (Penance: confession & absolution) a neih toh kisai in Luther in sunggiltaka kisikna diktak nei a, itna leh Pathian miitna toh hiai Pathian hehpihna sacrament tungtawn a nei/tang mah a kihi diam achi hi.

 

Catholic saptuam hotdamna thugin, “nasep hoih a hotdam” (salvation by good works) toh kisai leng Lai Siangthou sinsakna “Ginna tungtawn a hotdam” (salvation by faith) toh kituak a sakei a, dik a sakei hi. Luther in Romte 1:17 a Pathian’ diktatna tuh a hehpihna ziaka Khrist’ diktatna mikhialte a got/piak ziaka hotdam ahi chiin theisiam a, “mi diktat tuh ginna in ahing ding” (the just shall live by faith) Romte 1:17; 3:28, chih ahon tangkoupih hi. Hotdamna tuh ginna tungtawn ahi, nasep hoih ahikei achi hi. Huchiin, Romte 3:28 a “midiktat tuh ginna kia (ALONE) in ahing ding” chih German translation ah behlap hi. Gendan dangin, hehpihna ziak kia, ginna tungtawn kia leh Khrist kia a hotdam chih Lai Siangthou thugin sinsak hon mu/pholhkhia thak hi.

 

Indulgences

Indulgences tuh laidal (pieces of paper) pope thuneihna sangtak (papal insignia), niteng khelhna, gawtna kiamsakna leh ngaihdamna (remission of temporal punishment for sin) piak/phalsakna lai ahi. Phetlou in, Johan Tetzel[5] in indulgence tuh leitung a khelhna ngaihdamna leh purgatory[6] a gotna maisakna kia hilou in “khelhnate tengteng ngaihdamna” ahi chiin a sinsak hi. Kum 1460 in, Pope Sixtus IV in indulgence[7]s tuh leitung a mikhialte a dia hoih kia hilou in innkuanpih sisate nangawn a dia purgatory a zatheih ahi chi in lei ding aphalsak hi. Hiai om dan tuh i innkuanpih sikhinsate khelhnate indulgence lei a, a haksatnate uhleh a gawtna thuak dite uh hihkiam ding chihna ahi.

 

Bang ziaka indulgences zuak uh hiam i chihleh kum 1507 a Pope Julius II in Rome khopi a om St. Peter’s Basilica building bawlna ding paulam a fundraise bawlna ziaka zuak ahi. Pope Leo X in 1513 in, lemsakna laisuah in approval bawl nawn hi. Ban ah, Pope Leo in Albert of Brandenburg, archbishop of Mainz (Germany) kiangah kilemna (deal) ana bawlpih hi. Khatna, Archbishop Albert in indulgence zuak di Leo in apompih leh a met (profits) kihawmpih ding chih ahi. Nihna, Albert tuh the third archbishopric a dinmun dopsang ding. Hiaite ziakin Johan Tetzel tuh Germany ah indulgences zuak dingin a hire uhi.

 

Kumpi tapa Frederick the Wise, electorate of Saxony tuh Wittenberg biakin kulhpi (castle) a khanglui van (relics) khonkhawmtu makai (major collector) ahi. Aman a vaihawmna sung ah Tetzel alutsak kei hi. Indulgences leina a sum tampi petmah mangthang ding alauh ziak ahipen hi. Himahleh, Tetzel in Saxony border ah zuaktheihna ding mun or dawr abawl teitei hi. Huchi in indulgences lei dingin mi tampi thuzoh in om veve uhi.

 

95 Theses

Luther in pilvangtakin RC sinsaknate a ngaihtuah a, dotna khenkhat lamdang sakna toh a kidong hi. Bang ziaka Pope in mihing khate purgatory apan a migitna leh hehpihna nou ngingei toh khahkhia (release) mailou ahi dia aw? Bang ziaka lei ngai masa sese ahia? achi hi. Huchiin, Luther in RC’ sacrament- “Penance” sinsakna sutthak in, 95 Theses tuh Germany a Wittenberg Biakin baang ah October 31, 1517 (“All Saint’s Day” Nov. 1)[8] ma in a takkhia hi. 95 Theses tuh Latin a kigelhna, academic debate University of Wittenberg a lecturer nna seppihte toh indulgences toh kisai a RC thugin tuamtuamte thu a ki debate ding tupna ziaka kitakkhia ahi.

 

Luther in 95 Theses copy Archbishop Albert, ecclesiastical protocol zui in a khakpah hi. 95 Theses in saptuam heutute leh mipite lakah dotna tampi a piangsak pah hi. Latin leh German a 95 Thesis copies ki print khiate abei zui ngal a zankhat sungin kilchih teng ah 95 Theses tuh thehzak in om hi. Scholar debate ding chih himahleh German mipite’n dotna tampi nei ahihman un a huamtel kha hi.

 

Roman Catholic Saptuam leh Gam Vaihawmte Dawnna

Luther’s 95 Theses tuh Catholic saptuam khenzak tupna ahikei, himahleh Lai Siangthou toh kituak a thugin sinsakna bawl lemthak (reform) tupna ziaka Wittenberg a lecturer nna a sepkhawmpihte toh theological discussion nei ding chih ziaka takkhiak ahi. Bang ziaka biakinn baang a takkhia sese a chih dotna omthei a, a ziak ahihleh Wittenberg biakin baang tuh Wittenberg university omna ahihban a academic bulletin board dia zat ahi. Huaiziakin, Luther theses takna tuh a sepkhawmpihte muh baihna dinga takna mun dik mah ahi.

 

Luther tup-le-ngim loulam daih a thil hongpai a, papacy (pope office) in Rome or Roman Catholic saptuam thuneihna chouna leh kalhna ahi achi hi. Pope Leo X in Luther tuh “drunken monk” a lungsim in khua hon phok chiangin hon kikhekna ve a chihsan hi.

 

95 Theses takkhiak nung kha thum zoh in Pope Leo in Augustinian Order te kianga Luther daisak dingin a sawl hi. April 1518 in Luther tuh Augustinians te kimukhawmna ah a thubuai gum (defend) dingin hunlem piakin om hi. Hiai hun in monk Martin Bucer, a thugen ziakin Reformer thupitak khonung suah hi.

 

August 7, 1518 in Luther tuh ni 60 (days) sung Rome a, a gindan diklou (heresy) sinsak topsan/lakik (recant) dingin thupiak in om hi. Pope Leo in Elector Frederic kianga “Gilou tapa” (child of the devil) Martin Luther man a Rome thuneite (papal legate) kianga pekhia dingin thu apia hi. Himahleh, Frederick in Luther aman kei a, papal legate Dominican Cardinal Cajetan (Thomas de Vio) toh Diet of Augsburg ah October 1518 a Luther toh kimu dingin arrangement a bawlsak daih hi. Cajetan makaihna in Augsburg ah Oct 12-14 sungin thumvei a kimu uhi. Hiai RC heutulian Cajetan in kamsiam leh piltak in Luther tuh a sinsakna topsan a pope thuneihna nuai a kitahlut dingin a chial hi. Himahleh, Luther tuh genhaktak ahi dinga a chialna nial in ka topsan (recant) kei ding achi hi. Huai naksangin, Luther in “Lai Siangthou tuh thuneihna sangpen nei ahi” (ultimate authority) a chihleh Cajetan in, “Pope tuh RC a vaihawmte leh Lai Siangthou tunga thunei omsun ahi, lakik in!” (Recant!) chiin a dawngkik hi. Pope Leo in January 6, 1519 in Karl von Miltitz tuh Luther zol (persuade) dingin meeting arrangement a bawlsak hi. Hiai meeting in bangmah phattuamna neikei mahleh Luther in vantang theih a helna (public hostilities) topsan ding chih a pompih hi. Huan, Dr. Johann Eck, University of Ingolstadt a theologian (Luther debate neihpih dia a chou) suanhuan toh debate a neih un nasa zawsem in akikou tuah nawn uhi. Luther in Church council diklou thei (err) ahi a chihleh Eck in Church council diklou thei na chihleh gen di ka thei nawn kei, nang [Luther] nialvual louh sinsakna diklou (undeniable heresy) toh kisai in chih san hi.

 

Roman Catholic Saptuam Apan Nohkhiakna

Kum 1520 in Luther in a laibu gelhte On the Papacy of Rome (May), The Address to the German Nobility (August), On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church (September) leh The Freedom of the Christian Man (November) suahkhia (published) hi. Hiai laibute tuh German pau a kigelh leh kiletkhia ahi. Hiai laibu kisuahkhiate tuh RC saptuam sinsakna dikloute taklatna leh kalhna ahihman in, RC saptuam apan kikhenkhiakna ding chiamtehna a suak hi.

 

June 15, 1520 in “papal bull” title Exsurge Domine, Sam 74:22 pansan a kilakhia, “Pathian aw, thou inla, nangmah thu tuh kigen tawm inla, mi hai in nitum in a hon gensiat dan thei gige in” tuh bull thumal vual masapen a nei in suahkhiak ahi. “Mihai” tuh Luther genna ahi. Huan, December 10, 1520 in Wittenberg a mipi muh dingin Luther in “Pope’s Bull” a haltum hi. Hiai Luther bull haltum thukkikna in Pope in bull of excommunication (Decet Romanum Pontificem) January 3, 1521 in a suahkhia a, Luther tuh RC saptuam apan nohkhiak ahita hi.

 

The Diet of Worms (1521)

Luther tuh Pope in RC saptuam apan anohkhiak zoh nung Dan bang a vaihawm sak tuh Roman Emperor mohpuak ahi. Huchiin, Frederick the Wise in Luther khatvei Roman Empire kumpi tapa-tanu te mai a kilang dingin Roman Emperor Charles V kiangah a ngetsak lai hi. Abul tungin Charles V utkei mahleh, Frederick in a khunzou khong hi. Charles V in gamsung mite support a deihna toh saptuam a buainate damna ding leh political unity omna dingin a phalsak hi. Huchiin Luther tuh kumpite mai a Diet of Worms a kilang dingin April 1521 in sap in om hi. Huan, Luther tuh Jan Huss bang in Pathian muang kawm in Emperor vengbitna hoihtak toh Diet ah akilang hi.

 

Diet of Worms ah Emperor leh Germany a kumpi tapa-tanu-te mai a Luther in a thugin sinsak defend dinga hun lemtang piak a om ding akisak lai in, a thugin sinsakte topsan/lakik (recant) dingin khatvei nget in om nawn hi. Luther in ni khat kingaihtuahna ding hun a ngen a, a ni nawn in a kilang a, empire elna (defy) in hi chiin a dawng hi:

 

Lai Siangthou testimony tungtawn a thuzoh ka hihkei ngalleh or ngaihtuahna siangtak (Pope or vaihawmte kia ka muang kei, amaute leng diklou thei leh a thugen ua kikalh thei ahihman un) toh Lai Siangthou a kinga ka hi, Lai Siangthou mahmah apan lakhia in ka sia-le-pha theihna (conscience) tuh Pathian’ thu nuai a koltang (captive) ahi. Bangmah ka topsan/lakik theikei a, ka lakik kei ding, sia-le-pha theihna kalh zawng a gamtat bit/muanhuai leh pilhuai ahi ngal kei a achi hi.

 

A thugen hichiin a zou hi, “Hiai ah ka ding, thil dang bangmah ka hih theikei. Toupa hon panpih in. Amen.”

 

Luther thugen zoh in kindeuh in Dr. Von de Erck in Luther kiangah, “Na sia-le-pha theihna tawpsan in Martin, a diklouh ziakin” chi in a kikou khum hi. Luther in dawn kiksawm mahleh, Emperor in kindeuh in Spanish sepaih heh a kikou zakte khou dai in meeting akhak hi. Charles V tuh hiai hun in kum 21 a upa lel ahi. Hamphat huaitak in Bishop’s palace apan damtak a Luther potkhiak ding a phalsak hi.

 

Ani nawn in Charles V in Luther dawnkik sawm in meeting a sam nawn hi. Frederick the Wise in Luther panpih a, phetlou in, German mipi, 400 nobles, 8000 solders te’n Emperor kalh zawnga Luther support dingin a kisa uhi. April 26, 1521 in Luther tuh Worms potsan thei ding Emperor venbitna toh ni 25 a piak leh chih ahi. Luther thu Diet ah kha khat vel agenkhawm uhi. Mary 25 vel in Emperor in Luther, Emperor Dan kalh a gamtang (outlaw) chi thu a suahkhia hi.

 

Frederick in Luther bitna ding ngaihtuah in, Emperor in Worms potkhiak a phalsak lai ban ah, Dan kalh a puan ahihman in, denchianga Emperor in a lungsim a khekma in chi in aguk in Luther pomang/gumang “kidnapped” in Wartburg castle a paipih suk hi. Hiai mun ah Luther kum khat vel ding om a, hiai hun sungin New Testament tuh Greek apan German pau in a letkhia hi. Greek apan tualsung pau (vernacular) a modern translation kiletkhia masapen ahi. Elector Frederick hangsanna ziakin Luther suakta kia hilou in, Reformation movement a humbit hi.

 

Worms apan thupiak khauh mahmah―Luther tuh migilou mohpaih (criminal) kia hilou in, kua hiam akithuahpihte leng thah ding chih ahi zomah hi. A laibute khaam ahih banah amah ngeileng damsung tenga sinsakna diklou (heretic) sinsaktu chi a chiamteh leh Dan kalh a gamtang chi a puankhiak in om hi. Luther in hangsantak a Pathian thudik agup ziakin hiai bang haksatna leh minsiatnate atuak hi.

 

Protestant Reformation Gah

Martin Luther in Germany ah Reformation apat zoh in amau hun chiat ah Ulrich Zwingli in Switzerland leh John Calvin in France ah hon pan chiat uhi. Huan, Reformation zohin Protestant saptuam pawl tuamtuam; Luther in Lutheran Saptuam, Calvin in Reformed Saptuam, John Knox in Calvinistic thugin zangin Presbyterian Saptuam (Scotland) pan in, a kho nungin England a Reformers te’n the Anglican Saptuam a phutkhia uhi.

 

Protestant Reformation zoh a dotna tuh bang chidan a mihingte hotdam a om ahia? Saptuam thuneihna koi a kinga ahia? Saptuam bang ahia? Gingtute hihna taktak bang ahia? chihte genkhawmna om in the “Five Solas” (Latin; sola- alone) hon gelhkhia uhi. Hiai the Five Solas tuh Protestant Reformation thugin sinsakna poimoh pen abulpi (heart) ahi:

(i)           Sola Scriptura          Lai Siangthou Kia

(ii)        Solus Christus          Khrist Kia

(iii)      Sola Gratia               Hehpihna Kia

(iv)       Sola Fide                  Ginna Kia

(v)         Soli Deo Gloria        Thupina tengteng Pathian a Kia

“Mikhial Pathian mai a hotdamna leh siamtansakna tuh Pathian’ hehpihna kia, ginna tungtawn kia, Jesu Khrist kia, Pathian thupina ding leh Lai Siangthou’ thuneihna, bukim leh Pathian’ hatkhumna kia ahi.”

 

The Legacy of Martin Luther

Luther in Reformation a na panlou bang hileh tunitan in Lai Siangthou mimal a simtheihna, ei-le-ei kisiamput theihna leh hehpihna ziaka ginna tungtawn a hotdam i hihlam uh kithei nailou maithei ahi. Luther pan lakna ziakin tutan in hiai bang hamphatnate i neithei uhi. Huan, kua ahia nasep hoih a hotdamna tangzou ding? Kua ahia indulgences lei zou a hotdamna ngah ding? Hotdamna tuh ei a dinga van a gah toh kibang hiding hi.

 

Martin Luther hangsanna ziakin Lai Siangthou kisinsakna dik a kiknawn a kibulphuhthak i hi uhi. Huan, Luther in Reformation apan a, himahleh abei ngeikei hi. Tuni in leng Reformation mimal, society leh saptuam sunga apoimoh petmah hi. Kua ahia 21^st century Martin Luther ding? Kua ahia hangsantak a kei mimal mahmah ka ki-enkik dia ka mimal leh innsung a dia Lai Siangthou deihna banga kibulphuhthak a, kibawl hoihthak ding achi ngam? Kua ahia lubuk phal a society kinetsiatna, ki-itlouhna, kihuatnate apan Lai Siangthou deihdan a ka bawl hoihthak ding chi a panla ngam ding? Kua ahia saptuam sunga kineksiatna, diktatlouhna, lal-utna, thuneih utna, sum-le-pai deihtakna, dikloutaka kideihsak tuamna, saptuam a heutu hih utna ziaka Lai Siangthou compromise ahihkeileh Lai Siangthou sinsakna kitheih mohbawl a, thudik kimkhat zatnate apan Lai Siangthou a kibulphuh kipthak a kibawl hoihna Luther banga panla a, apoimoh leh hihna apan kitop/ki-awngsut a loh(salary) taan (lost) a, mualphou a ngaihleh mualphou ngam ding kua i om a? Lai Siangthou toh kituak a Reformation i mimal, i Khristian society leh i Saptuam chiat ah poimoh petmahta hi. Lai Siangthou deihna banga kibawl hoihthakna i poimoh gige a, kibawl hoihthakna abei ngeikei ding hi.

 

 

Further Reading:

Cairns, Earle E. Christianity Through the Centuries. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan            Publishing House, 1996.
Jayakumar, A. History of Reformation Period. Bose road Kolkata: Espace, 2014.

Gonzalez, Justo L. A History of Christian Thought: From the Protestant Reformation to the         Twentieth Century, vol.3. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1975.

Shelley, Bruce L. Church History: In plain Language. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2013.

Sproul, R.C. and Stephen J. Nichols. The Legacy of Luther. Sanford, FL: Reformation Trust         Pub. 2016.

 

Articles:

Mark S. Ritchie, “The Protestant Reformation” http://www.ritchies.net/p4wk2.htm

Frank James, “How the Protestant Reformation Started”      https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/how-the-protestant-reformation-started

“What was the Protestant Reformation?” https://www.gotquestions.org/protestant-         reformation.html

“The 95 Theses” https://www.luther.de/en/95thesen.html

David M. Whiteford, “Martin Luther (1483-1546),” in https://iep.utm.edu/luther/ accessed on

 

 

Gelhtu,

Kapsuanmung

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[1] Germany a Roman Catholic emperor Charles V in Diet of Speyer 1529 a, a langlamte (opponent) Martin Luther makaih a reformation pantute genna in “Protestant Reformation” chih thumal hon zat apat zat in a omtou den hi.

[2] John Wychiffe, Hus leh Savonarola te’n Pope sanga Bible thunei zaw supreme authority, RC doctrine of transubstantiation leh indulgences te ana kalh uhi.

                [3] Roman Catholic te’n sacrament chi 7 anei uhi: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, Holy Orders,

[4] John Calvin pomdan tuh sang leh uai-in Jesu’ sisan leh taksa mahmah a suak kei, sang leh uai-in mah ahi. Himahleh, sang leh uai-in tuh Jesu’ sisan leh taksa etsakna khalam thil ahi a, Toupa’ Nitak ann ah Jesu a Kha in hong tel hi chih apom hi. Martin Luther, Zwingli leh John Calvin te ngeileng Toupa’ Nitak Annkuang thugin sinsakna ah a muhdan uh akibang kei uhi. A detail hiai ah simtheih ding: Keith Mathison, “Calvin’s Doctrine of the Lord’s Supper,” https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articels/calvins-doctrine-lords-supper. John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, vol. 1, ed., John T. McNeill (Louisville, Kentucky: The Westminster Press, 1960), III. XVII & XVIII.

[5] Kum 1517 a Germany gam a indulgence zuaktupa.

[6] Roman Catholic sahkhua dan a mikhialte khelhna siansakna mun. Himahleh, Pope Francis in October 2017 in hiai bang ginna abeisak (abolished) hi.

[7] Council of Trent 1545-63 a indulgences zuak kholsak (halted) ahi.

[8] Catholic saptuam ni poimoh; misiangthou or sahkhomi (saints) vangam kaite tengteng kipahpihna a kizang ahi.