Martin Luther Research Paper

Background

• Born November 10, 1483 to Hans and Margarethe Luther in Eisleben (modern Germany)

• Completed Bachelor’s degree at the University of Erfurt at 17 in 1501 from which he progressed to law school

• Momentously caught in a thunderstorm upon return to school in 1505; fearing death he promised to become a monk if he survived the incident, calling out ‘Help! Saint Anna, I will become a monk’

• Entered an Augustinian monastery July 17, 1505 o The Augustinian monastic order forms one of both men, women under the rule of Saint Augustine of Hippo and thereby in pursuit of truth through learning and in thought that love is the free gift of God’s grace

Religious Life

• Luther endured the difficulty of his own conscience; consumed by his own

o He came to perceive God as a harsh judge of his spirituality

• Ordained as a priest in 1507; began teaching theology at the University of Wittenberg in 1508; achieved two Bachelor’s degrees in Biblical Studies in 1508, 1509; awarded a Doctor of Theology October 19, 1512; became a member of the senate of the theological faculty of the University of Wittenberg, of the position of Doctor of the Bible October 21, 1512

Theories

• Luther redefined terms such as penance and righteousness through his study of the Bible bw 1510 and 1520

• Began to teach that salvation forms the gift of God’s grace received through faith alone

Luther and the Church

• Luther infamously nailed a copy of the 95 Theses or points of protest on the door the Wittenberg Castle Church October 31, 1517; forwarded a copy to Albert, Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg o The protest centred on the sale of the indulgences w particular objection to a saying by Johann Tetzel, a seller: ‘As soon as the coin in the coffer ring, the soul from purgatory springs’

 An indulgence is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment due to sins which have already been forgiven; can be given after the sinner has paid money, said prayers or made other signs of retribution such as

In the Middle Ages, the image of God was that of a stern judge who was to be feared... God was seen as prescribing requirements that were impossible for humans to achieve and them condemning them for failure... Thus, God is... [made to be] the merciful God who accepts the sinner through the saving death of Jesus on the cross’ Francesco C. Cesareo, director of the Institute of Catholic Studies at John Carroll University o Challenged traditional church teachings such as indulgences, pilgrimages, sacraments, the role and authority of clergy as mediators between God and the individual

• Establishment of the principle of the Priesthood of all Believers o Denotes the precedent of the ordinary Christian as a priest on behalf of others o Emphasises the absolute authority of the individual conscience; ‘Here I stand, I can do no other’ Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms o Suggested that all Christians have the capacity to maintain their own relationship w God and thus their own