[3] Decrees of the Church, having the force of law. The canons referred to here and below (Cf. Theses 8, 85) are the so-called penitential Canons. See Introduction, p.17.
[4] Commenting on this Thesis in the Resolutions, Luther distinguishes between "temporal" and "eternal" necessity. "Necessity knows no law." "Death is the necessity of necessities" (Weimar Ed., I, 549; Erl. Ed. op. var. arg., II, 166).
[5] This is not a denial of the power of the keys, i. e., the power to forgive and retain sin, but merely that the power of the keys extends to purgatory.
[6] i. e., Merely human doctrine.
[7] An alleged statement of indulgence-vendors. See Letter to Mainz and Introduction.
[8] Luther refers again to this story in the Resolutions (Weimar Ed., I, p.586). The story is that these saints preferred to remain longer in purgatory that they might have greater glory in heaven. Luther adds, "Whoever will, may believe in these stories; it is no concern of mine."
[9] Luther uses the terms "pardon" and "indulgence" interchangeably.
[10] For meaning of the term "satisfaction," see Introduction, p. 19f.
[11] Privileges entitling their holder to choose his own confessor and relieving him of certain satisfactions. See Introduction, p. 22.
[12] See above, Thesis 6.