What does this paragraph mean---what did Martin Luther abominate? "For when we have laid bare our conscience to our brother and privately made known to him the evil that lurked within, we receive from our brother's lips the word of comfort spoken by God Himself; and, if we accept it in faith, we find peace in the mercy of God speaking to us through our brother. This alone do I abominate – that this confession has been subjected to the despotism and extortion of the pontiffs. They reserve to themselves, even hidden sins, and command that they be made known to confessors named by them, only to trouble the consciences of men."

Question

What does this paragraph mean---what did Martin Luther abominate? "For when we have laid bare our conscience to our brother and privately made known to him the evil that lurked within, we receive from our brother's lips the word of comfort spoken by God Himself; and, if we accept it in faith, we find peace in the mercy of God speaking to us through our brother. This alone do I abominate – that this confession has been subjected to the despotism and extortion of the pontiffs. They reserve to themselves, even hidden sins, and command that they be made known to confessors named by them, only to trouble the consciences of men."

Answer 1

This alone do I abominate – that this confession has been subjected to the despotism and extortion of the pontiffs.

To clarify:

"This alone do I abominate: that this confession has been subjected to the despotism and extortion of the pontiffs."

It seems to be that Luther is condemning the tendency of clergy and the like to be hypocritical in damning others' sins while committing their own.

Answer 2

This alone do I abominate – that this confession has been subjected to the despotism and extortion of the pontiffs

Answer 3

I agree with Jack.

You better be careful reading this, Charles V issued an idict forbidding you to read it, and discuss it.

http://www.leedstrinity.ac.uk/histcourse/reformat/theologo/hill6210.htm

Times change.

Answer 4

Jack and Anonymous are right. He was objecting to what he saw as hypocritical in the Catholic Church at the time. You can read more about Luther's protests here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/95_Theses

=)

Answer 5

In this paragraph, Martin Luther is expressing his views on confession and how it should be performed. He begins by saying that when we confess our sins to someone we trust, such as a brother or a close friend, we receive comfort and solace in knowing that God Himself is speaking to us through that person. He believes that through this act of confession, we can find peace and mercy from God.

However, what Martin Luther abominates or strongly disapproves of is how the practice of confession has been controlled and abused by the pontiffs, which refers to the bishops or high-ranking officials in the Roman Catholic Church. He asserts that the pontiffs have acted as despotic rulers and have extorted power over confession.

Martin Luther criticizes the pontiffs for reserving the authority to receive confessions, even for hidden or secret sins, and commanding that these sins be confessed to clergy members designated by them. He believes that this method only serves to trouble the consciences of individuals because it empowers the pontiffs to manipulate and exploit their spiritual authority.

In essence, Martin Luther abominates the way the institution of confession has been controlled and exploited by the pontiffs, which goes against his beliefs in the personal and direct relationship between an individual and God.