The Babylonian Captivity of the Church: The Second of Three Treatises of 1520

In this, one of Martin Luther’s most impactful works, he brings together the similarities between the exile and captivity of the Israelites and the state of the Catholic church, in their destructive servitude to the papacy. He goes through each of the seven sacraments - questioning, analyzing, and applying the Biblical understandings he had reached. He rejects many of the practices, calling out the issues of control and misrepresentation of true Christian faith and repentance. Changing hearts and minds since its publication, this insightful discourse remains a significant document on theology, faith, and institutional church practices.