Luther, Martin and the

Protestant Reformation

Born in November 10, 1483 in Eisleben, Germany. Martin Luther was just another peasant. However he turned out to be a crucial figure in Europe’s history.

His father was a copper miner and his mother didn’t work. However, Martin received a good education and at the age of 17, enrolled at the University of Enfurt. There he received a bachelor’s degree in 1502 and a master’s degree in 1505. He then began to study law under his father’s orders. With a quick decision, Martin left the University, sold his books and joined an Augustan Monastery in Enfurt.

His father was angry at the action, but could do nothing to stop it happening. Martin Luther became a monk in 1506 and was selected and trained in priesthood. He was ordained in 1507. Luther took over the chair of biblical theology in 1512 and also began his first lecturing. While studying the New Testament for his lectures, Martin Luther was changed, changed against the Roman Catholic Church.

Martin Luther nailed up a sheet on the local Church door, of 95 complaints against the Catholic Church. The townsfolk agreed and copies were sent, firstly over Germany and then as far as Scotland. Soon Martin had thousands of supporters. A new religion was formed: ‘The Protestants’. They were named so because they protested against the injustices of the Catholic Church.

The new religion had many changes, the largest being that the service was in the native language – not Latin as it was in the Catholic Church at the time. The religion caused many wars, but finally the Protestants could preach as they wanted.

Luther’s health began to decline from 1537 until February 18^th 1546 when he died.

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