Martin Luther

Martin Luther (1483–1546) was a German theologian and religious reformer whose criticism of indulgences and other Catholic teachings helped launch the Protestant Reformation.

University of Erfurt: A German university where Martin Luther studied liberal arts and law before entering an Augustinian monastery. Luther’s education and decision to become a monk began in Erfurt.
Justification by faith: The Christian doctrine that sinners are made right with God through faith rather than by earning salvation through works. Luther made justification by faith alone central to his account of salvation.
Frederick the Wise: The elector of Saxony who protected Martin Luther after his condemnation by the Holy Roman Empire. Frederick’s protection helped Luther survive the political crisis after the Diet of Worms.
Diet of Worms: The 1521 imperial assembly where Martin Luther was ordered to recant his writings and then declared an outlaw. Luther’s refusal to recant at Worms turned his theological dispute into an imperial confrontation.
Augustinian Order: A Catholic religious order whose members follow a rule attributed to Augustine of Hippo. Luther joined its observant branch and became a friar in 1505.
Sola scriptura: The Protestant principle that Scripture is the sole infallible authority for Christian doctrine. Luther appealed to Scripture as the standard by which church teachings should be judged.
Philip Melanchthon: A German scholar and theologian who became a leading collaborator in the Lutheran Reformation. Melanchthon systematized Lutheran theology and represented reformers in negotiations.
German Peasants’ War: A major uprising in the German lands from 1524 to 1525, driven by social, economic, and religious grievances. Luther condemned the revolt, revealing the limits he placed on reform’s political consequences.
Johann von Staupitz: A German Augustinian theologian who mentored Martin Luther and guided him through periods of spiritual distress. Staupitz encouraged Luther’s theological study and helped shape his early religious life.
Priesthood of all believers: The Protestant teaching that all Christians have direct spiritual standing before God, without dependence on a priestly caste. Luther’s theology challenged the idea that clergy alone mediated access to God.

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