Sarah Mitchell
Upon splitting from the Catholic Church, Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, rejected five of the seven Catholic sacraments, reducing the number to two: Eucharist and baptism. However, there is evidence that he believed in three sacraments, including penance, which he later denied. Luther's reasoning for reducing the number of sacraments was that they must have been directly instituted by Christ and be distinctively Christian. He also objected to the sacerdotal nature of the priesthood in exclusively administering all Catholic sacraments as a means of grace.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic sacraments denied by Luther | 5 out of 7 |
| Sacraments denied by Luther | Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders |
| Sacraments accepted by Luther | Baptism and Communion |
| Reason for denial | A sacrament must be directly instituted by Christ and be distinctively Christian |
| Other possible sacrament | Penance |
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What You'll Learn
- Luther reduced the number of sacraments from seven to two or three
- Luther believed sacraments must be instituted by Christ
- Luther objected to the power of the Catholic priesthood
- Luther rejected Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders
- Luther retained Baptism and Communion
Luther reduced the number of sacraments from seven to two or three
Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, rejected five of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. These included confirmation, reconciliation, anointing of the sick, matrimony, and holy orders. Luther reduced the number of sacraments to two or three, including baptism, confession, and the Eucharist.
Luther's decision to reduce the number of sacraments was based on two key principles. Firstly, he believed that a sacrament must have been directly instituted by Christ and be distinctively Christian. This meant that only those practices established by Christ himself during his earthly ministry could be considered sacraments. Secondly, Luther objected to the exclusive administration of all Catholic sacraments by the priesthood as a means of holding power and fear over the people, which contradicted the very nature of "grace".
Baptism, for example, is supported by Mathew 28:19, where Christ says, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Similarly, Christ's words and actions during the Last Supper instituted the Eucharist as a sacrament.
Luther's writings often refer to two or three sacraments. While he primarily recognised baptism and the Eucharist, there is some evidence that he also considered penance or confession as a sacrament. In his earlier writings, such as "The Babylonian Captivity of the Church" (1520), Luther seems to allow for penance as a sacrament, but he later changed his mind, stating that it lacked a visible sign appointed by God.
The Lutheran Confessions mention three churchly activities as sacraments: absolution/mutual consolation, baptism, and the Lord's Supper. However, they do not deny that other practices, such as Holy Orders, can be considered sacramental if they are understood as applying to the ministry of the Word rather than sacerdotalism.
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Luther believed sacraments must be instituted by Christ
Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, rejected five out of seven Catholic sacraments, including confirmation, reconciliation, anointing on the sick, matrimony, and holy orders. He believed that a sacrament must be instituted by Christ and be distinctively Christian.
Luther's beliefs on the sacraments were based on his interpretation of Jesus' language in the gospels ("This is my body", "This is my blood") and his view that in the sacraments, Christ is offered to the recipient. He rejected the Roman Catholic teaching of transubstantiation, which states that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, but he maintained the real physical presence of Christ with these elements. Luther also objected to the sacerdotal nature of the priesthood in the Catholic Church, which had exclusive power over the administration of the sacraments, using them to hold power and fear over the people.
Luther taught that there were three sacraments: baptism, confession, and the Eucharist. However, he was flexible regarding the number, and his writings often reference two or three sacraments. He considered baptism to be necessary for salvation, but not absolutely necessary, as contempt for the sacraments condemns, not the lack of them. Luther also believed that God is the agent in the sacrament of baptism, engrafting the Christian into Christ.
Luther's disciple, Philip Melanchthon, named four sacraments: baptism, confession, Eucharist, and ordination. In the Lutheran Confessions, only three church activities are mentioned as sacraments: absolution/mutual consolation, baptism, and the Lord's Supper. These are all connected with the promise of forgiveness and are considered necessary modalities for the full Gospel means of grace.
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Luther objected to the power of the Catholic priesthood
Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, rejected five of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, reducing the number to two or three. The sacraments he rejected included confirmation, reconciliation, anointing on the sick, matrimony, and holy orders. Luther objected to the power of the Catholic priesthood, which held exclusive control over the administration of the sacraments as a means of grace and fear over the populace. He believed that all baptised Christians were part of a "general priesthood", sharing in Christ's royal priesthood, and that there was no spiritual divide or hierarchy between priests and laity.
Luther's views on the priesthood were influenced by his interpretation of the Bible, specifically the doctrine of justification by faith alone. This doctrine, which he rediscovered in the Bible, had immense implications for a range of doctrinal beliefs and church practices. It created equality among those who trusted Christ alone for their salvation, as all who had faith in Christ and were baptised were considered priests. Luther maintained that there was only "one estate" to which all baptised believers belonged, and that there were no tiers of spirituality or hierarchy in accessing God.
Luther's rejection of the Catholic priesthood's power was also tied to his definition of a sacrament, which needed to have been instituted by Christ and be distinctively Christian. He strove to return to the biblical basis of Christianity, which he believed had been enlarged upon and distorted by the Catholic Church over the centuries. Luther's views on the priesthood and sacraments were detailed in his writings, such as "The Babylonian Captivity" and his "Ninety-Five Theses", which sparked the Reformation and led to his excommunication from the Catholic Church.
Luther's teachings on the priesthood and sacraments had a significant impact on both the church and culture. His translation of the Bible into German made it more accessible to the laity and influenced the development of a standard German language. His ideas also contributed to the emergence of Protestantism and the Lutheran denomination, which continues to celebrate the sacraments he recognised while rejecting the others as non-essential.
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Luther rejected Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders
Upon splitting from the Catholic Church, Martin Luther rejected five of the seven Catholic sacraments, including Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders. Luther redefined what constituted a sacrament, and his new definition excluded these five.
Luther's definition of a sacrament required it to have been instituted by Christ and to be distinctively Christian. This was in line with his desire to return to what Christ instituted, rather than the enlarged and developed basis that Catholicism had evolved over the centuries. Luther objected to the exclusive administration of Catholic sacraments by the priesthood, which held power and fear over the populace, and contradicted the term 'grace'.
Lutherans consider only two or three activities to be sacraments: Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and sometimes Confession and Absolution. These are considered to be the only sacraments that meet the definition of having a direct institution by Christ and a physical component linked with the Word of God.
Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders are considered prayer rites in the Lutheran tradition, which are beneficial but not necessary. For example, marriage is considered a prayer rite, and Lutherans believe that one can be married without a church rite, by simply coming together as husband and wife.
Luther did not reject the practice of Anointing of the Sick, and it is included in the LCMS's Pastoral Care Companion. However, Lutherans do not consider it a sacrament because it lacks an institution by Christ and the promise of grace.
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Luther retained Baptism and Communion
Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, rejected five of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, retaining only two: Baptism and Communion (or the Eucharist).
Luther's decision to retain these two sacraments was based on his interpretation of the Bible and his desire to return to the original teachings of Christ. He believed that a sacrament must be directly instituted by Christ and be distinctively Christian. In the Bible, Christ instructs his followers to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). This passage provided a clear biblical mandate for Luther to retain Baptism as a sacrament.
Communion, or the Eucharist, is also rooted in biblical teachings. During the Last Supper, as described in the Gospels, Jesus took bread and wine, stating that they were his body and blood, and instructed his disciples to "do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19). This establishment of the ritual by Christ himself aligned with Luther's criteria for a sacrament.
Luther's rejection of the other five sacraments (Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders) was due to his belief that they were not instituted by Christ and had been added to the Catholic faith over time. He objected to the sacerdotal nature of the priesthood, where priests held exclusive power over the administration of sacraments, which he saw as a means of controlling the populace.
Luther's reduction of the number of sacraments had significant implications for the Catholic Church, as it undercut the foundation of sacramentalism upon which the Church's power rested. By challenging the exclusivity of the priesthood and emphasising the direct relationship between the individual and Christ, Luther's reforms paved the way for the Protestant movement and a new understanding of Christian practice.
Today, Lutheran churches may teach two or three sacraments, with Holy Absolution (Confession) sometimes being included as an extension of the sacrament of Holy Baptism.
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Frequently asked questions
Luther denied 5 out of 7 Catholic sacraments, including confirmation, reconciliation, anointing on the sick, matrimony, and holy orders.
Luther denied these sacraments because he believed that a sacrament must have been directly instituted by Christ and be distinctively Christian.
The two sacraments that Luther accepted were Eucharist and baptism.
Yes, Luther's views on the sacraments evolved. For example, he initially allowed for penance to be a sacrament but later changed his mind.
Luther's rejection of the sacraments led to a split from the Catholic Church and the foundation of Lutheranism and Protestantism.
