Everything about Johann Tetzel totally explained
John or
Johann Tetzel (
1465 –
11 August 1519) was a
German Dominican Preacher remembered for selling
indulgences and for speaking the couplet "As soon as a coin in the coffer rings/ the soul from purgatory springs." Tetzel even went as far as creating a chart that listed a price for each type of sin and claiming that the indulgences he sold could save a soul who violated the
Virgin Mary. In 1517, Tetzel was trying to raise money for the ongoing construction of
St. Peter's Basilica and it's believed that
Martin Luther was inspired to write his
Ninety-Five Theses, in part, due to Tetzel's actions during this period of time.
Tetzel was born in
Pirna,
Saxony, and studied
theology and
philosophy at the university of his native city. He entered the Dominican order in 1489, achieved some success as a preacher, and was in 1502 commissioned by the pope to preach the
jubilee indulgence, which he did throughout his life. In 1509 he was made an
inquisitor, and in 1517
Pope Leo X made him commissioner of indulgences for all Germany.
He acquired the degree of
Licentiate of Sacred Theology in the
University of Frankfurt an der Oder, 1517, and that of
Doctor of Sacred Theology, 1518, by defending, in two disputations, the doctrine of indulgences against Luther. The accusation that he sold full forgiveness for sins not yet committed, caused great scandal;
Martin Luther considered his actions evil, and began to preach openly against him.
At first, like most high clergymen, he thought Luther would soon regret his words. He is believed to have said once he read the Luther's Theses, "Within three weeks I'll have thrown that heretic into the fire." He was soon proved wrong.
He was also condemned (though later pardoned) for immorality. It became necessary to disavow Tetzel and, when he discovered that
Karl von Miltitz had accused him of perpetrating numerous frauds and embezzlements, he withdrew, frightened, into the Dominican monastery in
Leipzig. He died in Leipzig in 1519. At the time of his death, Tetzel had fallen into disrepute and was shunned by the public. Yet, on his deathbed, Tetzel received a kind correspondence from Martin Luther, stating that he wasn't to blame for the whole ordeal, and offering his consolations.
Ironically considering Luther's kindness toward him, earlier he remarked upon reading the
95 Theses, "Within three weeks I'll have that heretic thrown into the fire."
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