Martin Luther: Father of the Reformation
Fall 2021
Each October 31, we celebrate the Protestant Reformation. A Protestant rejects Roman Catholicism, protesting against its false teaching. Protestantism began with a protest against Charles V, Emperor of Germany in 1529, who had banned writings by a former priest named Martin Luther, the father of the Reformation.
Martin Luther was born on November 10, 1483 in Eisleben, Germany to a copper mining family. He was baptized into the Roman Catholic church and was named after Saint Martin whose day it was. Luther received a Latin-based education and later studied law, achieving bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Erfurt University. Martin read Scripture for the first time at age twenty after finding a copy in the University library. Can you imagine not reading the Bible until age twenty? How privileged we are!
Martin worried about his soul after a friend’s sudden death. He began reading about the righteousness of Christ in the New Testament. One day, a terrible storm came as he was traveling, and he feared for his life. He vowed to become an Augustinian monk instead of a lawyer so he would be closer to God and gain peace. He later became a priest and taught at Wittenberg University. As he wrote lectures on theology, he came to understand salvation through faith alone in Christ alone.
In early 1500s Germany, a man named John Tetzel sold “indulgences” to poor people, which promised pardon from sin and relatives released from purgatory (an imaginary place where people were supposed to go to be made clean for Heaven). Luther became angry at this superstitious custom. So, he decided to write 95 questions about Roman Catholic Church teaching, including the practice of selling indulgences. On October 31, 1517, he posted them on the Wittenberg church door for everyone to see, hoping to spark discussion among fellow scholars. Instead, copies were spread all over Europe. These questions became known as Luther’s 95 Theses.
Martin Luther began teaching salvation by grace alone in Christ alone. His teaching made people question Roman Catholic doctrine, which taught salvation through good works. The Protestant Reformation had begun and spread quickly through Europe.
In 1520, the pope excommunicated (banned) Luther from the Roman Catholic Church. Shortly after, Luther appeared at the Diet of Worms: a group (Diet) of church leaders in the city of Worms (pronounced Vorms). He was asked to retract his writings and teachings, but he refused. Luther’s exact words are unknown, but he said something like: “Here I stand, I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”
The council made Luther an outlaw, meaning anyone could kill him, he could be arrested for being a heretic (one who rejected Roman Catholic teaching), and Germans were forbidden to give him food or shelter. Friends hid him in a castle where he spent over a year translating the New Testament into German. His translation paved the way for Tyndale’s English translation just a few years later.
Luther played a lute, similar to a guitar, and he sang tenor! He wrote many hymns, including his most famous Reformation hymn, “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott”: A Mighty Fortress is Our God. He also organized a new church, now known as the Lutheran church, and wrote two catechisms to help people understand the Bible’s teaching on salvation.
In 1525, Luther married an escaped nun, Katharina von Bora, and they had six children. She was a wonderful support to Luther in his ministry. Likely due to the heavy load of ministry, Luther suffered very ill health, often experiencing fainting fits. He willingly sacrificed his body to see souls come to Christ. In God’s providence, the law against Luther was never carried out, and he lived until age 62.
Christ alone. Faith alone. Grace alone. These truths transformed Luther’s life. Have you come to Christ by grace through faith alone?
Over 500 years later, Martin Luther’s legacy still impacts our spiritual heritage. As Protestants, we owe a great debt to this famous Reformer.
Gratefully, I acknowledge the late Dr. Edward Panosian, seasoned historian and Church History professor, whose first-person account of Martin Luther contributed significantly to my research. As I wrote this article, I did not know Dr. Panosian would enter the presence of His Saviour three weeks later. His legacy and service to the Lord will not soon be forgotten. I encourage you to watch his presentation: https://today.bju.edu/perspective/ed-panosian-as-martin-luther-chapel/
Mrs. Rachel Huffman