Saints Gone Before

With a curious enthusiasm, we present to you Martin Luther’s “The Babylonian Captivity of the Church,” part 2. In this translation, it is rendered “The Babylonish Captivity of the Church.” The text comes from Henry Wace and C. A. Buchheim, First Principles of the Reformation, London: John Murray, 1883. Previously, we read Luther’s “Letter to Pope Leo X,” from a time when Luther was more…amicable with the Catholic church. “Babylonian Captivity” is a text in which Luther re-examines the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church in light of his readings of Scripture. Our episodes featuring “Babylonian Captivity” coincide with the newest volume (season) of our other podcast An Oral History of the Church. On “An Oral History of the Church,” we’re discussing the Lutheran wing of the Reformation in honor of the 500th anniversary of Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the Wittenburg church door. Episodes 1 and 2 are available now, and episode 3 will become available on Friday, August 4th. Next week, we continue Luther's an