Unknown The ninety-five theses The ninety-five theses Because of Tetzel’s sale of indulgences, Luther wrote ninety-five theses, or statements, that explained that salvation was only in Christ. They also explained what was wrong in the church. He took this paper and nailed it to the church door in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517.9 The Lord used the ninety-five theses to begin the Reformation. The theses were written in Latin, but within weeks people translated them into German and nearly every European language so people all over Europe could understand them. People had become more and more dissatisfied with the doctrines and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. Eagerly they read Luther’s theses. Many people agreed with Luther. The corruption must be stopped; the truth must be proclaimed. The Reformation had truly begun! At first, Tetzel, the bishops, and the pope ignored Luther’s protest, thinking it would pass. But when they realized that more and more people agreed with Luther, they began to worry. Soon they became angry, because people were not buying as many indulgences as before, and that meant less money for them.