The German Reformer Martin Luther - 930 Words

The German reformer Martin Luther was the first and greatest figure in the sixteenth-century Reformation. An author of commentaries on Scripture , theology, and priestly abuses, a hymnologist (writer of hymns [sacred songs]), and a preacher, from his own time to the present he has been a symbol of Protestantism (group of Christian faiths that do not believe in the supremacy of the pope, but in the absolute authority of the Bible). Luther had an intriguing childhood with his father, a major contribution to the historical side of the Catholic Church, and without him who knows where our religious beliefs would be today. Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 - February 18, 1546) was a Christian, theologian, and Augustinian monk. His†¦show more content†¦A lightening bolt struck near to him as he was returning to school. Terrified, he cried out, Help, St. Anne! I ll become a monk!. Spared of his life, but regretting his words, Luther kept his bargain, dropped out of law school and en tered the monastery there. Committed to the idea that salvation could be reached through faith and by divine grace only, Luther vigorously objected to the corrupt practice of selling indulgences. Acting on this belief, he wrote the â€Å"Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences,† also known as â€Å"The 95 Theses,† a list of questions and propositions for debate. Popular legend has it that on October 31, 1517 Luther defiantly nailed a copy of his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church. The reality was probably not so dramatic; Luther more likely hung the document on the door of the church matter-of-factly to announce the ensuing academic discussion around it that he was organizing. The 95 Theses, which would later become the foundation of the Protestant Reformation, were written in a remarkably humble and academic tone, questioning rather than accusing. The overall thrust of the document was nonetheless quite provocative. The first two of th e theses contained Luther’s central idea, that God intended believers to seek repentance and that faith alone, and not deeds, would lead to salvation. The other 93 theses, a number of them directly criticizing the practice of indulgences, supportedShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Life of Martin Luther, the German Reformer1040 Words   |  5 Pages Martin Luther was born in Saxony, Germany in 1483 A.D. He attended the University of Erfurt where he had received his B.A and M.A degrees by 1505 A.D. He intended to pursue a professional career in law. He was nearly struck by a lighting bolt in 1501 A.D and declared â€Å"St Anne, save me! And I will become a monk†. He made good on that vow and entered onRead MoreMartin Luther And The Roman Catholic Church837 Words   |  4 Pageseducation and dealing with behavior. Hearing what people were saying about the Roman Catholic Church reformers such as Martin Luther, Henry VII, decided to take matters in their own hands and find a way to reform. Martin Luther was a German professor who then decided to become a priest in 1507. He was against indulgences in which people believed forgave all sins that were committed. As a result, Luther wrote â€Å"Ninety-five Theses on the Power of Indulgences† to argue against indulgences, it was arguedRead MoreThe Protestant Reformation And The Reformation871 Words   |  4 Pagesof people called â€Å"reformers† that challenged papal authority and questioned the Catholic Church’s ability to define Christian practice (â€Å"The Reformation†). The Protestant Reformation was revolutionary due to the fact that the reformers preached against everything the Catholic Church had been teaching. Some famous reformers are John Calvin and Martin Luther. However, Martin Luther-- to some--- is named the most successful and influential reformer of the 16th century. Martin Luther was tremendouslyRead MoreMartin Luther the Evangelical Educator Essay examples1443 Words   |   6 Pagesproper following of the sacraments . The seven sacraments were the backbone of the medieval Church and were one of the many beliefs that cause the split among the reformers and the clergy. Many of the reformers came from the clergy. One such reformer, would later form the Lutheran church, his name was Martin Luther (1483-1546 C.E.). Luther became a reluctant radical during the Reformation, when he issued his 95 Theses (one of Luther’s disputations in 1517) as a reaction to the practices of indulgencesRead MoreMartin Luthers Life and Teachings Essay1610 Words   |  7 Pages Martin Luther was a Christian theologian and an Augustinian monk. He was born on November 10, 1483 to Hans and Margaretha Luder in Eisleben, Germany. The day after his birth he was baptised on the day of the St. Martin of Tours. Martin’s father wanted more for his youngest son so he did everything he could to get his son involved in the civil service and bring honor to their family. His father sent him to various schools in Mansfeld, M agdeburg, and Eisenach. In 1501, at the age of seventeen, MartinRead MoreMartin Luther: a Brief History/Impact on Western Civiliation791 Words   |  4 PagesMartin Luther: A Brief History/Impact on Western Civiliation Martin Luther was a man with a purpose. Born in 1483 in Eisleben, Martin Luther was a German Monk who started one of the greatest religious revolutions in the history of the Western world. Before discussing the impact of his revolution on the modern world, we must first establish some background information about the man and the Roman Catholic Church. Martin Luther lived a tough childhood where he did not enjoy the customary joys thatRead MoreImpact Of Martin Luther And The Reformation Of The Church784 Words   |  4 PagesMartin Luther and the Reformation of the Church Martin Luther did many things. He was one of the first people to defy the Catholic Church and its pope annd his writings pursaded other people to do the same. He translated the New Testament from Latin to German so common people could read it, not just clegery. Without him, the church would have been very different, as would daily life in the Renaissance and possibly today. Martin Luther was one of the most important people in the Renaissance and theRead MoreMartin Luther And The Protestant Reformation1029 Words   |  5 Pages16th century that was against the Roman Catholic and its way of controlling things. Martin Luther, a reformer along with John Calvin and Henchurches VII. Luther may have had full faith in God, but he also had fear in him and his powers. They questioned the authority of the church and argued over political and religious powers in the hands of the bible. Martin Luther was the starter of it all. Martin Luther was a German monk who decided to start the Reformation. In 1517 he sent out a paper with the â€Å"95Read More Martin Luther Essay1217 Words   |  5 Pages Martin Luther Martin Luther was a German theologian and religious reformer, who started the Protestant Reformation, and whose vast influence during his time period made him one of the crucial figures in modern European history. Luther was born in Eisleben on November 10, 1483 and was descended from the peasantry, a fact that he often stressed. Hans Luther, his father, was a copper miner. Luther received a sound primary and secondary education at Mansfeld, Magdeburg, and Eisenach. In 1501, at theRead MoreMartin Luther, An Augustinian Monk761 Words   |  4 PagesMartin Luther, an Augustinian monk, was the monumental figure in the Reformation movement that brought the religious Holy Roman Catholic Empire down and changed the course of the western world history and culture. Unable to keep his silence on the unscriptural and corrupt practices of the Catholic Church any longer, especially on the issue of the sale of indulgences, he defiantly nailed his hand written Ninety-five Theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany. In retaliation, the Catholic