Martin Luther
- Born:
- November 10, 1483, Eisleben, Holy Roman Empire (present-day Germany)
- Died:
- February 18, 1546, Eisleben, County of Mansfeld, Holy Roman Empire (present-day Germany)
- Nationality:
- German
- Profession(s):
- Theologian, Professor, Priest, Reformer
Early Life and Education
- Born to Hans and Margarethe Luther in Eisleben.
- Received early education in Mansfeld, Magdeburg, and Eisenach.
- Enrolled at the University of Erfurt in 1501, earning a Bachelor's degree in 1502 and a Master's degree in 1505.
- Began studying law but abandoned it after a near-death experience.
- Entered the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt in 1505.
- Ordained as a priest in 1507.
- Earned a doctorate in theology from the University of Wittenberg in 1512.
Career and Major Achievements
- Appointed professor of biblical studies at the University of Wittenberg in 1512.
- Publicly posted his Ninety-Five Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church on October 31, 1517, challenging the sale of indulgences.
- Debated Johann Eck at the Leipzig Debate in 1519, further solidifying his theological positions.
- Excommunicated by Pope Leo X in 1521.
- Summoned to the Diet of Worms in 1521, where he refused to recant his writings.
- Declared an outlaw by the Edict of Worms.
- Protected by Frederick the Wise at Wartburg Castle, where he translated the New Testament into German.
- Returned to Wittenberg in 1522 and resumed his preaching and writing.
- Married Katharina von Bora in 1525.
Notable Works
- Ninety-Five Theses (1517)
- An Open Letter to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation Concerning the Reform of the Christian Estate (1520)
- Babylonian Captivity of the Church (1520)
- On the Freedom of a Christian (1520)
- German translation of the New Testament (1522)
- German translation of the Old Testament (completed in 1534)
- Small Catechism (1529)
- Large Catechism (1529)
- Numerous hymns and sermons.
Legacy and Impact
Martin Luther's challenge to the authority of the Catholic Church sparked the Protestant Reformation, fundamentally altering the course of Western Christianity and European history. His theological writings, particularly his emphasis on salvation through faith alone, shaped the doctrines of numerous Protestant denominations. His translation of the Bible into German made scripture accessible to a wider audience and contributed to the development of the German language. The lasting impact of peter van daan biography of martin luther, and other biographical analyses, remains significant for understanding the historical context of the reformation.