Martin Luther

Martin Luther was born as the son of Hans and Margarethe Luther in Eisleben, Germany, on November 10th, 1483. He studied philosophy and law before entering an Augustinian monastery in 1505. Two years later he was ordained as a priest and continued his theological studies at the University of Wittenberg, where he then became a professor of biblical studies. During a trip to Rome in 1510 Luther was shocked by the corruption of some parts of the clergy, which later led to doubts regarding the teachings of the Catholic Church.

On October 31st, 1517, Luther is said to have published his Ninety-Five Theses concerning the indulgence sale, sparking the Reformation. He disagreed of the practice that freedom of God’s punishment could be purchased with money. This and further writings led to a break with Pope Leo X and Rome and finally resulted in Luther’s excommunication in 1521.

Being persecuted as an outlaw Luther fled and hid at the Wartburg. There he further developed this theology and translated the New Testament from Latin into German.

Luther’s ideas and ideals were accepted and supported by many people. Although Luther did not intend a separation from the Catholic Church at the beginnings of his criticisms he triggered off the Reformation process, which led to the Peasant’s War (1534-1525) and later the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648).

In 1525 Martin Luther married Katharina von Bora, a former nun. They had several children. From 1531 on Luther’s health deteriorated. He suffered from several diseases and eventually died in Eisleben, the city of his birth, on Febuary 18th, 1546.

Sources:

Beutel, Albrecht: Martin Luther. Eine Einführung in Leben, Werk und Wirkung. 2. verbesserte Auflage. Leipzig: publishing house??? 2006.

Eder, Manfred: Kirchengeschichte - 200 Jahre im Überblick. Düsseldorf: publishing house??? 2008.

Leppin,Volker: Martin Luther (Gestalten des Mittelalters und der Renaissance, herausgegeben von Peter Herde). Darmstadt: publishing house??? 2006.