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Abstract

This article begins by noting that historians are still unclear as to whether Luther pinned 95 Theses on indulgences to the door of the church of Wittenberg Castle. Many believe that what actually happened is that on October 31, 1517 Luther sent his reflections to Archbishop Albrecht of Brandenburg and then to his colleague theologians for an academic discussion. There was no intention to provoke a division within the church as it later came about in the context of complex historical and ecclesial circumstances and other factors. In the central part of the article the author investigates the basic principles of the theology of the Reformer, intimately related to spiritual and pastoral concerns: from the merciful image of God as revealed in Christ crucified to its anthropological consequences. The “wonderful exchange” is central: between Christ taking upon himself our sins and sharing with us his love for exchange between us and our neighbors. With this historical and theological background, the author turns to the document From Conflict to Communion and addresses the importance of Luther’s theology for both Lutherans and Catholics today as an opportunity for joint discoveries which may help to promote a constant reform of the church.

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