The Reformation: To what extent was Luther pushed by his Catholic opponents into the extreme position he adopted in 1521?

Between 1517 and 1521, Martin Luther was driven further and further away from reconciliation with the Roman Catholic Church. In 1521, the climactic Diet of Worms revealed Luther’s now extreme views with which he totally rejected the Catholic Church and its doctrine and refused to recant his teachings. But how and why did Luther adopt these views?

It can be said with some certainty that Luther’s Catholic opponents contributed to his adoption of these extreme views. Luther’s first opponent, John Tetzel – who had first provoked Luther with his preaching on indulgence- was demanded to give a counter attack to Luther’s ‘The sermon on Indulgences and Grace’. In 1518, Tetzel wrote ‘158 Propositions in Defence’. This was burnt by students of Luther.

Luther began to question papal authority, believing it to be the basis of indulgences. He began to look for alternative sources of authority and was to ultimately put his trust in scripture. At this time, Luther was...