Many agree that Martin Luther’s protests against indulgences were the catalysts of the German Reformation in 1525. However, why was Luther so adamantly opposed to Indulgences? And even so, how did his grievances against the pope spark the German Reformation? Luther’s belief in “justification by faith alone” and his production the ninety-five theses sparked the German Reformation. Luther opposed Indulgences because of his belief of “justification by faith alone”. After a few years of insight into this topic, Luther concluded that “the righteousness that God demands did not result from charitable acts and religious ceremonies but was given full measure to any and all who believe in and trust Jesus Christ as their perfect righteousness satisfying to God.” (KOT 320) He argued that it was unbiblical to think of work as contributions to salvation, something only a deity such as God himself could bestow upon a person. Luther taught good works were expected, even if they did not contribute to eternal salvation. Those who believed in Christ possessed God’s perfect righteousness and would therefore perform good deeds throughout their lives. Luther’s teachings showed that one needed only to believe in Christ instead of paying Indulgences in order to reach eternal salvation. (KOT 330-322) Luther’s belief against Indulgences sparked the Reformation through the writing of the ninety-five theses. The ninety-five theses were an attack on the practice of Indulgences. Theses twenty-one states, “Hence those who preach indulgences are in error when they say that a man is absolved and saved from every penalty by the pope’s indulgences.” (Document D). This meant that souls did not reach salvation through the payment of Indulgences. After Luther posted his ninety-five theses on the door of Castle Church on Wittenberg, translations were widely circulated by Nuremberg humanists. As a