An Analysis of the Life and

Work of Martin Luther:

The Reformer of an entire Country
by
Shawn R. Perry
Elementary German I - Professor Panaccione
 Heiliges Römisches Reich
deutscher Nation
Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation

The lands of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nations emerged
from the Eastern borders of France to the Western borders of Poland and
the Ottoman Empire, a Muslim region consisting of south-eastern
Europe, Turkey, part of the Middle East, and North Africa.
 Table of Events

• Luther was caught

in a severe
thunderstorm and
• Martin Luther in hopes of not being
was born at struck by lightning,
Eiseleben in he threw himself to • Luther was sent
• Johann Guteberg Saxony on the ground and to the University
perfects upon the November 10, 1483 vowed to St. Anne to of Wittenberg in
printing press in on St. Martin’s become a monk if he 1508 to study and
Mainz. Eve. survived. lecture in arts.

1440 1483 1505 1508

 Martin Luther was born at
Eiseleben in Saxony on
November 10, 1483 on St.
Martin’s Eve. Martin
Luther was born into an
age of Christian fear was
considered “complicated,
lively and compassionate,
however, stubborn, fearful
of the wrath of God, given
to the tormenting
introspection and self-
inflicted punishment, all in
the pursuit of spiritual
salvation”.
 Martin Luther attended
the University of Erfurt
in 1501 where he
received a Bachelor of
Arts degree in 1502 and
a Master of Arts degree
in 1505. After receiving
his Master of Arts,
under the influence of
his father, he enrolled in
the study of law.
 Luther was said to question his own mortality after the
death of a close friend and after a trip from his parent’s
home back to the University of Erfurt, where he was
caught in a terrible thunderstorm. After a close
encounter with a bolt of lightning, Luther flung himself
to the ground in terror, and prayed to St. Anne that if he
was sparred and allowed to live, he would dedicate his
life to God. Luther left the University of Erfurt to enter
as a monk under the St. Augustinian order at the Black
Monestary in Erfurt to find inner peace with his instilled
fear of an angry God.
 As a young monk Luther
was obsessed with atoning
for his sins and went
through vast lengths to
punish himself. This
ranged from extreme self
denial and physical and
mental tests to self
flagellation. One such
punishment consisted of
lying in the snow, through
the night at the height of
winter until he would
have to be carried back
inside.
 Brother Martin Luther was
ordained a priest and
celebrated his first mass in
1507, made his vows in 1508,
and selected for further
theological studies at the
University of Erfurt. His
diligence and passion for his
works, earned him the
opportunity to be sent to the
University of Wittenberg in
1508 to join the Theology
Department to study and
lecture in arts.
 Table of Events

• Luther begins
his first lectures
• Luther journeys to on Psalms at
Rome in the Wittenberg.
company of a fellow • Luther takes the • Death of Pope
Augustinian on degree of Doctor Julius II.
business for the of Theology Accession of Pope • Lectures on
order. October 19, 1512. Leo X. Romans

1510 1512 1513 1515

 Table of Events
• Luther
presents his • Luther debates
appeal before with Johann Eck, a
Cardinal Roman theologian,
• Luther Cajetan at the in Leipzig
challenging the sale
challenged the Imperial Diet in
subject of Augsburg. of indulgences and
indulgences in Cardinal questions papacy
infallibility.
the form of the Cajetan
95 Theses for requests that • Death of Emperor
debate, on Luther Maximillian.
• Lectures on the October 31, renounce his • Election of Charles
Galatians 1517 theses. V. to the Empire.

1516 1517 1518 1519

 In 1510 Luther was
sent to Rome by his
vicar general, John
von Staupiz, on
business for the
Augustinian order
with a senior friar.
After a difficult 800
mile journey, the two
monks reached the
Roman home of Pope
Julius II and early
Christianity.
 During his pilgrimage, Luther became offended by the
manipulations of the papacy under Julius II and the Roman
Popes before him. Luther later said that he would not have missed
the trip, “for then I might have been afraid of being unjust to the
Pope.”
 After his pilgrimage in Rome, Luther returned to the monastery
in Erfurt and resumed his lectures at the University of
Wittenberg in 1511. Upon Luther’s return, John von Staupiz
approached Brother Martin and requested that he consider
becoming a doctor and a preacher in theological studies. Although
Luther provided many reasons why he should not, he later
returned to the University of Wittenberg, this time to prepare for
the doctorate and to lecture the Bible. It was at Wittenberg that
Luther read the inspiring works of St. Augustine, the Scripture,
the early church and humanism in preparation for his degree. In
October of 1512, Luther received the degree of Doctor of
Theology. Slowly, terms like penance and righteousness took on
new meaning. Luther believed and taught that salvation is a gift
of God's grace, received by faith and trust in God's promise to
forgive sins for the sake of Christ's death on the cross. This, he
believed was God's work from beginning to end.
 It was while lecturing at the Elector Frederick’s Castle
Church in Wittenberg he began to take issue with the
secular pursuits of the papacy. The sale of St. Peter’s
indulgences, the payment of money replacing the deed of
penance, or the forgiveness of God contingent upon
confession, as issued originally by Pope Julius II and later
reissued Pope Leo X for the construction of a new basilica
over the tomb of St. Peter in the Vatican, became a subject
of concern for Luther when Johann Tetzel, a Dominican
friar, established his showman performance on the
outskirts of the Wittenberg border. Tetzel promised the
purchase of this indulgence would assure a direct passage
to heaven not only for the purchaser, but for the
purchasers departed relatives who were suffering in
purgatory. Luther believed that salvation of man was not
found in the Church or in the sale of indulgences. He felt
that if man were to repent his sin through faith, he could be
forgiven.
 “Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring
it to light, the following propositions will be
discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of
the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of
Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in
Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he
requests thathose who are unable to be present
and debate orally with us, may do so by letter
In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen”
 Luther challenged the
subject of indulgences
in proposal for
discussion in his
Disputation of Doctor
Martin Luther on the
Power and Efficacy of
Indulgences, known as
the 95 Theses, which
he posted to the door
of Frederick the Wise
of Saxony’s Castle
Church on October
31, 1517.
 Luther presented copies of the 95 theses’ to his
students and colleagues, who passed the
proposition on to printers. In just a few months’
copies of Luther’s, 95 theses were available
throughout Europe. Approached by fellow
Augustinians who took alarm, Luther, decided to
make further certainty that everyone knew
exactly what he meant. He submitted a written
tract to his bishop, and simplified versions of his
views in German among the people. The
controversy that broke loose with the publication
of the 95 Theses placed even more pressure on
the reformer to study the Bible. This study
convinced him that the Church had lost sight of
several central truths. To Luther, the most
important of these was the doctrine that brought
 It wasn’t until 1518, that Pope Leo X took an interest in
much of what he regarded a “monkish squabble” and
summoned Luther to Rome. The Elector Frederick of
Saxony, loathing the idea of a Saxon being tried and
judged by the Italians, asserted his view to Charles V in
conference with Archbishop Albert. The Pope, in
concessions to Frederick agreed to have Luther meet
with Cardinal Cajetan in Augsburg, General of the
Dominican Order. Luther, willing to accept that the
abuses in the Church existed without the Popes
knowledge, was “asked by the Cardinal, to recant his
writings or face excommunication, trial by Inquisition
and likely death; Luther quoted Scripture supporting
that men were redeemed by faith and not by the
purchase of indulgences. Cardinal Cajetan asserted that
the theory of indulgences was doctrine, Luther denied
it” and the discussion was ended.
 Table of Events
• Pope Leo X issues the bull Decet
• Luther publishes Romanum announcing Luther's
three of his most excommunication.
famous tracts about • In April, Luther makes his stand
religious reform. before the Diet of Worms and is
• The papal bull asked to recant his writings.
Exsurge Domine • Charles V. condemns Luther and
threaten Luther with declares him an outlaw.
excommunication. • In May, Luther is taken covertly to • At Wartburg, the
• Luther burns the fortress Wartburg. New Testament is
Canon Law publicly, • Luther makes a covert trip to translated into
along with a copy of Wittenberg to moderate reforms, German, published
the bull. returns to Wartberg. in Wittenberg.

1520 1521 1522

 In 1520 Luther published
three pamphlets: The Address
to the Christian Nobility of the
German Nation, declaring that
the Church should be
reformed with assistance of the
State. The Babylonian Captivity
of the Church, asserting that
Rome had corrupted the real
meaning of the Gospel had
been held from the people of
the Christian Roman Empire
and calling for reform, and On
the Freedom of a Christian Man,
a short pamphlet on personal
salvation.
 Luther received the papal
bull Exsurge Domine, which
threatened Luther with
excommunication, for his
publishing’s that summed
the corruption of papal
power. In response, Luther
wrote Against the Execrable
Bull of the Antichrist. On
December 10, 1520, Luther
an his students at
Wittenberg burned the
Canon Law, the document
that recorded the laws of
the church and the papal
bull Exsurge Domine before
the city gate.
 In 1521 Martin Luther
was excommunication
by Pope Leo X. The
only steps left, was to
call for a secular ban
making Luther an
outlaw of the land.
Charles V called a
diet, the assembly of
the princes, prelates
and representatives of
the free cities to
assemble in Worms.
 Luther was summoned
before the Imperial Diet
of Worms, to appear
before Charles V and the
princes to explain his
conduct. Archbishop
Albert gives Luther the
opportunity to recant the
heresies contained in 20
of his publishing’s.
Because of his strong
faith Luther refused to
change his beliefs and
stated:
 “Da dann Ihre Majestät und Ihr lordships eine
einfache Erwiderung wünscht, ich ohne Hörner
werde und ohne Zähne beantworten. Wenn ich nicht
durch Zeugnisse der Schrift und klare
Vernunftgründe überzeugt werde; denn weder dem
Papst noch den Konzilien allein glaube ich, da es
feststeht, daß sie öfter geirrt und sich selbst
widersprochen haben, so bin ich durch die Stellen
der heiligen Schrift, die ich angeführt habe,
überwunden in meinem Gewissen und gefangen in
dem Worte Gottes. Daher kann und will ich nichts
widerrufen, weil wider das Gewissen etwas zu tun
weder sicher noch heilsam ist. Gott helfe mir, Amen!
„

Dr. Rev. Martin Luther

 “Since then Your Majesty and your lordships
desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns
and without teeth. Unless I am convinced by
Scripture and plain reason – I do not accept the
authority of the popes and councils, for they have
contradicted each other – my conscience is captive
to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant
anything, for to go against conscience is neither
right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise.
God help me. Amen.”

Dr. Rev. Martin Luther

 Charles V, bound by
faith and politics to
Roman interests, issued
the Edict of Worms,
declaring Luther an
outlaw, after the
imperial diet. The
elector Frederick
covertly arranged to
have Luther taken to a
mountain fortress, the
Wartburg, on his return
to Wittenberg
 In 1522, while in hiding
Luther translated the New
Testament from Erasmus’
Greek into the form of
vernacular German used
today. Although Luther had
been writing similar
material in Latin from 1513,
this first decade of his works
in German was produced
during the period of
transition from spat
Mittelhochdeutsch into fruh
Neuhochdeutsch as well as
from Catholicism to
Protestantism.
 Table of Events
• Diet of
Augsburg,
Charles V
attempts to unite
• Luther continued Catholics and
to write tracts Lutherans against
against religious
Ottomans by
enthusiasts and promoting The • South German
against the Compromise Protestants visit
Peasant’s Luther, established
written by Phillip
Rebellion. Melanchton at the the Wittenberg
• Entered a Marburg • The complete Concord.
discussion with Colloquy. Instead German Bible, • Luther draws up
Reformist Erasmus. the Protestants New Testament the testament later
• Married produce the and Old to be known as the
Catherine von Augsburg Testament, is Articles of
Bora. Confession. published Schmalkalden.
 Table of Events
• Luther’s last version of
his Bible. His most
• Luther writes three malicious tract against the
terrible anti-Semitic papacy: Depictions of the
tracts. Pope.
1543 1545
• Called to settle the
disputes of two German
noblemen. On the return
trip he fell ill and died at
Eisleben, the town he was
born, on February 18,
1546
1546
 Luther continued to write
tracts against religious
enthusiasts and the Peasant
Rebellion of 1524 - 1525, a
peasant revolution stemming
from his misinterpreted attacks
against the Church, until he fell
ill and died at Eisleben, the
town he was born, on February
18, 1546. Though Luther’s
works were influenced by his
faith and trust in God’s
forgiveness, they began the
Reformation of Germany and
it’s sever from the Holy Roman
Empire, the creation of the
Lutheran and Protestant
religions, and advocated
political influence.