Which reformer is best known for criticizing indulgences and proposing early reforms in the 16th century?

• A. Martin Luther
• B. John Calvin
• C. Henry VIII
• D. Thomas More

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is recognizing who sparked early reform by challenging church practices, especially indulgences. Martin Luther is the reformer most closely tied to criticizing indulgences—he argued that forgiveness cannot be bought and that true repentance comes from faith. His 95 Theses, posted in 1517, nailed the critique to the public debate and called for reforms based on Scripture rather than papal authority or church tradition. Luther emphasized translating the Bible into vernacular languages so people could read and interpret it for themselves, and he pushed for changes in how the church taught and preached. These moves helped ignite the Protestant Reformation and set in motion broader reforms across Europe.

John Calvin later built on reform ideas with his own doctrines and the development of Calvinism, but the hallmark critique of indulgences and the initial push for reform in the 16th century is most directly associated with Luther. Henry VIII’s reforms were rooted in political breaks with Rome over authority and marriage, and Thomas More remained a Catholic intellectual who opposed Henry’s changes rather than leading a reform movement centered on indulgences.