Martin Luther
- Born:
- November 10, 1483, Eisleben, Holy Roman Empire
- Died:
- February 18, 1546, Eisleben, County of Mansfeld, Holy Roman Empire
- Nationality:
- German
- Profession(s):
- Theologian, Professor, Priest, Reformer
Early Life and Education
- Born to Hans and Margarethe Luder.
- Educated in Mansfeld, Magdeburg, and Eisenach.
- Entered the University of Erfurt in 1501, earning a Bachelor's degree in 1502 and a Master's degree in 1505.
- Experienced a transformative event during a thunderstorm in 1505, prompting him to become an Augustinian friar.
- Ordained to the priesthood in 1507.
- Earned a Doctorate in Theology from the University of Wittenberg in 1512.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began teaching theology at the University of Wittenberg in 1512.
- Posted his Ninety-Five Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church on October 31, 1517, challenging the sale of indulgences.
- Refused to recant his writings at the Diet of Worms in 1521.
- Excommunicated by Pope Leo X in 1521.
- Translated the New Testament into German (published in 1522), making the Bible accessible to a wider audience.
- Married Katharina von Bora in 1525.
- Played a key role in the development and spread of Protestantism.
Notable Works
- Ninety-Five Theses (1517)
- On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church (1520)
- To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation (1520)
- On the Freedom of a Christian (1520)
- German Translation of the Bible (New Testament: 1522, Complete Bible: 1534)
- Small Catechism (1529)
- Large Catechism (1529)
Legacy and Impact
Martin Luther's actions sparked the Protestant Reformation, fundamentally altering the religious and political landscape of Europe. His translation of the Bible into German had a profound impact on the development of the German language and culture. When someone researches, for instance, 'susette kelo biography of martin luther' they will find material discussing the enormous scope of his impact.