Martin Luther was the leader of the Protestant Reformation, a religious movement.

BACKGROUND

Luther was born in 1483 and died in 1546. He was born in Eisleben, Saxony. In 1501 he enrolled in the University of Enfurt. His family wanted him to become a lawyer. Yet Luther vowed to become a monk. Martin Luther studied the New and the Old Testaments and started to ask questions about faith. In 1523 Luther published an important work on temporal authority. In 1508 he was sent to Wittenburg and studied and lectured in moral philosophy. Martin Luther was the son of a Saxon miner.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Martin Luther published the 95 theses which criticized the Catholic Church. He taught that the Bible should be the sole authority in the Church. He also taught to trust in Jesus, do good works and trust in the Bible. Later he criticized the Pope for selling indulgences. Then he was later tried by the Diet in Worms. After that he was excommunicated. In 1520 he published three works spelling out his understanding of Christianity. Then he translated the New and Old Testaments into German.

IMPACT

Martin Luther made the Bible available to the people. He influenced religious thought throughout Europe. Luther also weakened the power of the Church.

Luther's translation of the New Testament

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Bainton, Toland H. "Men and Cities of the Reformation." The Renaissance: Maker of a Modern Man. Washington, National Geographic Society, 1970, p. 287.

2. Cole, Alison. The Renaissance. Toronto, Stoddart Publishing Co., 1994, p. 43.

3. Cox, F. Kenneth. Human Heritage: A World History. Colombus, Charles E. Merrill Publishing Co., 1983, pp. 550-553.

4. Edwards, M. U. "Martin Luther." World Book Encyclopedia, 1994, vol. 12, pp. 531-533.

5. Spitz, Lewis W. "Luther, Martin." Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc., 1995.

This page was prepared by Corbin and Jeremy, Grade 8, Riverdale Junior Secondary School.

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