Prelude to the Diet of Worms: Rome’s response to Luther

This article by Douglas Kuiper examines the historical events leading to the Diet of Worms, focusing on Martin Luther's challenge to Rome's doctrine of penance and indulgences through his Ninety-five Theses. The resource traces how Luther's theological objections—particularly his emphasis on the sufficiency of Christ's blood and his deeper understanding of sin, grace, and free will—provoked Rome's response and ultimately necessitated Emperor Charles V's intervention. This historical account illuminates the doctrinal foundations of the Protestant Reformation and Luther's early defense of justification by faith alone.