What did Johann Tetzel promise purchasers of indulgences in Germany?

What did Johann Tetzel promise purchasers of indulgences in Germany?

• A. Insure a trip to heaven
• B. Remission of all sins
• C. Freedom from purgatory for life
• D. Immediate salvation for a fee

Answer: (A)

Indulgences were marketed as a way to relieve the penalties attached to sins and speed a soul toward heaven. Tetzel advertised that buying an indulgence would secure the purchaser’s own salvation, essentially guaranteeing entry to heaven for the buyer. That promise is what the option about insuring a trip to heaven captures—the idea that payment could secure heavenly reward. The other descriptions go beyond what indulgences claimed: they did not wipe out all sins, they did not guarantee lifelong freedom from purgatory, and they did not promise immediate salvation simply for payment.

Indulgences were marketed as a way to relieve the penalties attached to sins and speed a soul toward heaven. Tetzel advertised that buying an indulgence would secure the purchaser’s own salvation, essentially guaranteeing entry to heaven for the buyer. That promise is what the option about insuring a trip to heaven captures—the idea that payment could secure heavenly reward. The other descriptions go beyond what indulgences claimed: they did not wipe out all sins, they did not guarantee lifelong freedom from purgatory, and they did not promise immediate salvation simply for payment.