Wittenberg Born in Eisleben on Nov. 10, PDF Free Download

Martin Luther (1483 1546) 1546)

Luther s Parents

Wittenberg Born in Eisleben on Nov. 10, 1483

Eisleben Today

The supposed room where Luther was born.

Early Life Moved dto Mansfeld ldin 1484, where his fth father found economic success Received early education in Mansfeld, Magdeburg (1497), and Eisenach (1498) R i dt i i i ht i d Received training in grammar, rhetoric, and logic

Training in Eisenach

Tourism Plaque: Luther always liked to remember his time as a schoolboy in Eisenach. At the parish school of St. George in Eisenach he was a successful student at the top [of his] class. Like other pupils he wandered through the town as a choir boy in order to ask for alms to support him. During his time in Eisenach, Luther is introduced to the educated classes: He spends a lot of time with the patrician families Cotta and Schalbe. In Councillor Konrad Cotta s house he is said to have stayed in the so called Lutheran rooms. The piousness that he experienced there left its mark on Luther s life; he kept in touch with the family for years. Training in Eisenach

Early Life Continued his education by enrolling in the University of Erfurt from 1501 1505 After receiving his Master s degree, he enrolled in law school also at Erfurt It was while coming home from Erfurt on July 2, 1505, that he was nearly struck by lightning; fifteen days later he joined a monastery

Monastery at Erfurt

Monastery at Ef Erfurt

Monastery at Erfurt

Johann von Staupitz

Monastic Life Highly introspective; concerned with personal guilt and need for salvation Ordained to the priesthood in 1507 Begins teaching at Wittenberg (in theology) in 1508 (at 25 years old) Earns his doctorate from Wittenberg in 1512

Monastic Life Travelled to Rome in 1510; left greatly disillusioned by all of the corruption While in Erfurt, began to understand justification after studying Romans 1 This understanding of the Gospel would continue to become more clear as he studied in Wittenberg

Monastic Life Though he followed monastic life to the letter, Luther could not abate the guilt he felt. He wrote: If ever a monk got to heaven by monkery, I would have gotten there. As he studied the righteousness of God in Romans 1:17, he came to understand that justification is a single act of God (declaring the sinner righteous) rather than a gradual process of faith mixed with good works.

In His Own Words: At last, by the mercy of God, meditating day and night, I gave heed to the context of the words, namely, "In it the righteousness of God is revealed, as it is written, 'He who through faith is righteous shall live.'" There I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous lives by a gift of God, namely by faith. And this is the meaning: the righteousness of God is revealed by the gospel, namely, the passive righteousness with which merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written, "He who through faith is righteous shall live." Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates. There a totally other face of the entire Scripture showed itself to me.

Castle Church in Wittenberg

Wittenberg

The 95 Theses In 1517, Albert of Hohenzollern commissioned Johann Tetzel to sell indulgences in Germany When Tetzel came to Wittenberg, it greatly angered Luther Luther responded with a Latin document intended for inter church debate; but it was translated into German and therest is history

Albert of Hohenzollern Johann Tetzel

Tetzel sells indulgences

German: Wenn die Münze im Kästlein klingt, die Seele in den Himmel springt. English: As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, the soul from Purgatory springs. Tetzel s Slogan

Luther nails his 95 Theses

Wittenberg Door

From Christian History Magazine Martin Luther s 95 Theses areoftenconsidered a charter, a bold declaration of independence for the Protestant church. But when he wrote nearly 100 points of debate in Lti Latin, Luther was simply inviting iti fll fellow academics to a Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences, the theses official title. (The debate never was held, because the theses were translated into German and distributed widely, creating an uproar.) SOURCE: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/1992/issue34/3421.html

From Christian History Magazine What were indulgences? In the sacrament of penance, Christians confessed sins and found absolution for them. The process of penance involved satisfaction paying the temporal penalty for those sins. Under certain circumstances, someone who was truly contrite tit and hd had confessed dhis sins could receive partial (or, rarely, complete) remission of temporal punishment by purchasing a letter of indulgence. In the 95 Theses, Luther did not attack the idea of indulgences, for in Thesis 73 he wrote,

From Christian History Magazine... the pope justly thunders against those who by any means whatsoever contrive harm to the sale of indulgences. But Luther strongly objected to the abuse of indulgences most recently under the salesmanship of Johann Tetzel. And in the process, Luther, though probably not fully aware of it, knocked down the pillars supporting many practices in medieval Christianity.

Key Statements from 95 Theses 1. When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, says Repent ye, etc., he means that the entire life of the faithful should be a repentance. 2. This statement cannot be understood of the sacrament of penance, i.e., of confession and satisfaction, which is administered by the priesthood.

Key Statements from 95 Theses 27. They preach human folly who pretend that as soon as money in the coffer rings a soul from purgatory springs. 32. Those who suppose that on account of their letters of indulgence they aresure of salvation will be eternally damned along with their teachers. 36. Every Christian who truly repents has plenary [full] forgiveness both of punishment and guilt bestowed on him, even without letters of indulgence.

Key Statements from 95 Theses 37. Every true Christian, whether hth living i or dead, d has a share in all the benefits of Christ and the Church, for God has granted him these, even without letters of indulgence. 45. Christians should be taught that whoever sees a person in need and, instead of helping him, uses his money for an indulgence, obtains not an indulgence of the pope but the displeasure of God.

Key Statements from 95 Theses 51. Christians should ldbe taught htthat t the pope ought and would give his own substance to the poor, from whom certain preachers of indulgences extract money, even if he had to sell St. Peter s Cathedral to do it. 81. This shameless preaching of pardons makes it hard even for learned men to defend the pope s honor against calumny or to answer the indubitably bl shrewd questions of the laity.

Key Statements from 95 Theses 82. For example: Why does not the pope empty purgatory for the sake of holy love... for after all, he does releasecountless souls for the sakeof sordid money contributed for the building of a cathedral?... 90. To suppress these very telling arguments of the laity by force instead of answering them with adequate reasons would be to expose the church hand the pope to the ridicule of their enemies and to render Christians unhappy.

Key Statements from 95 Theses 94. We should admonish Christians to follow Christ, their hihead, through hpunishment, ih death, and hell. hll 95. And so let them set their trust on entering heaven through many tribulations rather than some false security and peace. Within two months, Johann Tetzel fired back with his own theses, including: Christians should be taught that the Pope, by authority of his jurisdiction, is superior to the entire Catholic Church and its councils, and that they should humbly obey his statutes.

The 95 Theses As Luther lectured through Scripture, his understanding of justification continued to develop his writings circulated The RCC church s response was slow; finally demanded a response in 1519; Luther went to Augsburg to meet with a papal representative (Cardinal Thomas de Vio Cajetan)

The 95 Theses In July 1519 Luther debated Johann Eck on the topic of papal authority; he appealed to the Scriptures and the church fathers June 15, 1520 papal bull ordering Luther to recant within 60 days or face excommunication Luther called the pope p the antichrist who oversaw a church that was the most lawless den of robbers, the most shameless of all brothels, the very kingdom of sin, death, and hell.

Papal bull ordering Luther to recant

The Theology of the Cross During this time, Luther began to understand what he would come to call the Theology of the Cross, which he contrasted with the Theology of Glory The Theology of the Cross taught that human beings can do nothing to earn their own righteousness before God; nor can they add anything to the righteousness iht provided d for them through the Cross; any righteousness given to them comes from outsideof of them (it is an alien righteousness )

The Theology of the Cross On the other hand, the theology of glory (as Luther called it), taught that, even after the fall, there remained some ability in man to achieve his own righteousness (through his own free will); and that sinners are saved by materially cooperating with the righteousness iht they receive from God. Thus, it is God s righteousness plus their own righteousness that saves them. (This is the Roman Catholic view.) Luther understood that his view of salvationwas Luther understood that his view of salvation was diametrically opposed to the standard RCC position.

Diet of Worms Luther was excommunicated by Pope Leo X on January 3, 1521 Luther was summoned to Worms to make a defense of his teachings, promised safe passage May 1521 Luther declared an outlaw by the May, 1521, Luther declared an outlaw by the emperor for refusing to recant

Diet of Worms On the morning before the trial began, Luther prayed: My God, stand by me against all the world s wisdom and reason. Not mine but Yours is the cause. I would prefer to have peaceful days and to be out of this turmoil. But Yours, O Lord, is this cause. It is righteous and eternal. Stand by me, You true eternal God. In no man do I trust. t Stand by me, O God. In the name of your dear Son, Jesus Christ, who shall be my defense and shelter, yes, my mighty fortress, through the might and strength of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Diet of Worms

Diet of Worms When asked whether or not he would recant, Luther replied: Since your Majesty Mj and your Worships desire a simple reply, I will answer. Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason, I do not accept the authority of popes and councils for they have contradicted each other. My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen. [Here I stand.] d]

Diet of Worms

Emperor Charles V presented the Edict of Worms (May 25, 1521), declaring Luther to be a notorious heretic It made it a crime for anyone in Germany to assist Luther or even to provide him with ihfood or shelter It banned his writings Itallowed people to killluther without consequence Diet of Worms

Hiding in Wartburg Luther was kidnapped by Prince Frederick III of Saxony, who took him to Wartburg Castle Luther took the name Junker Jorge He translated the NT from Greek to German; reportedly threw an ink well at the devil While gone, a radical named Andreas Karlstadt began causing trouble in Wittenberg

Wartburg Castle

Return to Wittenberg Radical Anabaptists (thezwickau Prophets) were causing trouble in Wittenberg acting in violence Luther returned to the city and preached against those who were inciting unrest The city quickly returned to order, and Luther remained in Wittenberg

Return to Wittenberg In his Invocavit Sermons Luther preached: Do you know what the Devil thinks when he sees men use violence to propagate the gospel? He sits with folded arms behind the fire of hell, and says with malignant looks and frightful grin: Ah, how wise these madmen are to play my game! Let them go on; I shall reap the benefit. I delight in it. But when he sees the Word running and contending alone on the battlefield, then he shudders and shakes for fear.

Wittenberg Town Church

Marriage and Family OnJune 13, 1525 Luther married Katherina von Bora (one of a group of nuns whom he had helped escape from a convent) This after he had written: I shall never take a wife, as I feel at present. Not tthat t I am insensible to my flesh or sex (for I am neither wood nor stone); but my mind dis averse to wedlock because I daily expect the death of a heretic (in November of 1524).

Marriage and Family He learned much from his wife and his children; saw marriage as a great key to sanctification Greatly loved his wife Katie, whom he often called his rib ; referred to his favorite book of the Bible (Galatians) as his Katie First picture of a Protestant pastor s family.

Katherina von Bora

Luther s House

Luther s Front Door

Martin and Katherina

Peasant s s War In 1525, radical Anabaptist preachers stirred up the people throughout Germany to rebel Luther sympathized with the common people, but urged the people to obey civil government Luther supported the rights of the nobility to Luther supported the rights of the nobility to crush the rebellion with force

In Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants (1525): Therefore let everyone who can, smite, slay, and stab, secretly or openly, remembering that nothing can be more poisonous, hurtful, or devilish than a rebel... For baptism does not make men free in body and property, but in soul; and the gospel does not make goods common, except in the case of those who, of their own free will, do what the apostles and disciples did in Acts 4 [:32 37]. They did not demand, as do our insane peasants in their raging, that the goods of others of Pilate and Herod should be common, but only their own goods. Our peasants, however, want to make the goods of other men common, and keep their own for themselves. Fine Christians they are! I think there is not a devil left in hell; they have all gone into the peasants. Their raving has gone beyond all measure.

A Mighty Fortress In 1527, Luther experienced some significant physical ailments (to the point that he thought he might die); also during this year, the black plague hit Wittenberg In a letter to Melanchthon, Luther expressed his physical trials and spiritual despair It was out of this dark time that Luther wrote his most famous hymn, A Mighty Fortress

Catechisms In 1528, Luther visited schools and churches throughout Saxony to assess the education of the common people; he was distressed at their lack of understanding of Christian doctrine As a result, he wrote both a small and large catechism which could be used to learn the basics of the Christian faith

Luther s table

Luther Bible By 1534, Luther had completed a German translation of the entire Bible The OT was completed in collaboration with some of Luther s colleagues, including Melanchthon Luther s Bible is a significant piece of German literature; it greatly influenced Tyndale

Luther Bible

Later Life Disagreed with otherprotestants on how to observe Communion (the Eucharist); Luther insisted on Real Presence of Christ, while other Reformers taught it is symbolic Diet of Augsburg brought peace to Protestants in Germany (1530); emperor needed Protestant princes to side with him against the Turks

Later Life Known for his brash denunciations of the Pope and all of his opponents; also lashed out against thejews (hehadhad initially espoused kindness toward them, for the purpose of converting them; but later grewmoreand morehostile toward them) Luther s ill health contributed to his short temper and angry tone

Later Life In 1542, his 13 year old daughter, Magdalena died. It was the greatest trial of Luther s life, and it sent him into a time of deep depression. Three years later, he wrote a friend: It may appear strange, but ti am still mourning the death of my dear Magdalene, and I am not able to forget her. Yet I know surely that she is in heaven, that she has eternal life there, and that God has thereby given me a true token of his love in having, even while I live, taken my flesh and blood to his Fatherly heart.

Death of Magdalena

Later Life Last sermon was delivered in February, 1546 in Eisleben (the town where he was born) He had been traveling in that area to assist his siblings in legal matters concerning their father s mining business Died on February 18 at the age of 62

Luther s last sermon

Luther s Death

Martin Luther

Luther Tombstone

Luther Rose

The Luther Rose In a July 8, 1530 letter Luther explained his seal: Grace and peace from the Lord. As you desire to know whether my painted seal, which you sent to me, has hit the mark, I shall hllanswer most amiably and tell you my original thoughts and reason about why my seal is a symbol of my theology. The first should be a black cross in a heart, which retains its natural color, so that I myself would be reminded that faith in the Crucified saves us. "For one who believes from the heart will be justified" (Rom. 10:10). Although it is indeed a black cross, which mortifies and which should also cause pain, it leaves the heart in its natural color. It does not corrupt nature, that is, it does not kill but keeps alive....

The Luther Rose "The just shall live by faith" (Rom. 1:17) but by faith in the crucified. Such a heart should stand in the middle of a white rose, to show that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace. In other words, it places the believer into a white, joyous rose, for this faith hdoes not give peace and joy lk like the world gives (John 14:27). That is why the rose should be white and not red, for whiteis is thecolor of thespirits andtheangels angels (cf. Matt. 28:3; John 20:12). Such a rose should stand in a sky blue field, symbolizing that such joy in spirit and faith is a beginning of the heavenly future joy, which begins already, but is grasped in hope, not yet revealed. And around this field is a golden ring, symbolizing that such blessedness in Heaven lasts forever and has no end....

The Luther Rose Such blessedness is exquisite, beyond all joy and goods, just as gold is the most valuable, most precious and best metal. This is my compendium theologiae [summary of theology]. I have wanted to show it to you in good friendship, hoping for your appreciation. May Christ, our bl beloved Lord, be with your spirit until the life hereafter. Amen.

Luther on His Own Impact From a sermon given toward the end of his life: All I have done is to put forth, preach, and write the Word of God. And apart from that, I ve Ive done nothing. While Ive I ve been sleeping or drinking Wittenberg beer, it is the Word that has done great things. I have done nothing. The Word has done and achieved everything.