Martin Luther

Martin Luther Is Born

Nov 10, 1483

Martin Luther, who was a Christian theologian and Augustinian monk, was born to Hans and Margaretha Luder in Eisleben, Germany. His father was Hans, and his mother was Margaretha. Hans owned a copper mine in Mansfield.

Martin Luther Enters School

Jan 1, 1497

At the age of fourteen, Luther attended school at Magdeburg where he sang and begged for bread for his supposedly honorable and well-to-do parents. However, when he turned fifteen, Luther went to school at Eisenach.

Martin Luther Goes to the University of Erfurt

Jan 1, 1501

When he was seventeen, Luther attended the University of Erfurt. Because his father wanted his son to rise out of peasantry, he sent Luther to all sorts of schools including schools in Mansfeld, Magdeburg, and Eisenach.

Martin Luther Receives His Bachelor's Degree

Jan 1, 1502

Exactly one year after first entering the University of Erfurt, Luther received his Bachelor's degree. He proved that his father's determination to give him an education really helped.

Luther Receives His Master's Degree

Jan 1, 1505

Three years following the time when Luther earned his Bachelor's degree, he received his Master's degree. Afterwards, based on his father's wishes, Luther went to the law school of the Erfurt University.

Luther Almost Gets Struck by Lightning

Jun 1, 1505

In the summer of 1505, Luther stopped his education at law school because of a lightning bolt that nearly struck him as he was returning to school. Scared to death, Luther gave a desperate cry of: Help, St. Anne! I'll become a monk! Fortunately, his life was saved, but he deeply regretted his words because he had to drop out of law school and join a monastery.

Luther Gets Ordained to Priesthood

Jan 1, 1507

Because Luther continued to search for his sins as a monk, his superior, Johann von Staupitz, said that the Young Brother must be given more work to do instead of wondering about himself and his sins. His order to Luther was to pursue an academic career. Thus, he was ordained to priesthood.

Martin Luther Teaches Theology

Jan 1, 1508

Luther began teaching theology at the University of Wittenberg. He did this in his pursuit for an academic career.

Martin Luther Earns His Master's in Biblical Studies

Mar 9, 1508

Resuming his religious education, Luther received a Master's degree in Biblical Studies on March 9, 1508. His dedication to religion was immense.

Nailing His 95 Theses on the Wittenberg Church Door

Oct 31, 1517

Martin Luther, who was a Christian theologian and Augustinian monk, nailed his 95 Theses to the Wittenberg church door. In these 95 Theses, he questioned whether the church's motives were pure and why the popes forgave sinners when only God could forgive them.

Pope Leo X Calls Luther's Protestant Perspectives Heretical

Jan 1, 1520

Pope Leo X did not like Luther because he was ruining his career. Thus, when Luther plastered his 95 Theses on the church door, the pope was radically angered and condemned Luther's Protestant views as heretical in the bull Exsurge Domine.

Translation of the New Testament

Jan 1, 1521

Luther first begins translating the New Testament from Greek-Latin to German, so more people could read the New Testament and understand they should follow the instructions of this book and not the manipulative church.

Martin Luther Declared an Outlaw

May 25, 1521

On May 25, a little over than a month had passed since Luther was summoned to either renounce or reaffirm them at the Diet of Worms. Now, the Emperor issued his Edict of Worms and called Luther an outlaw.

Martin Receives a Letter From a Close Friend

Aug 1, 1521

After being excommunicated by Pope Leo X, one of Martin Luther's powerful friends, Frederick the Wise, helped to arrange a secure place for Martin to work. During his stay, one of his closest friends, Philipp Melanchthon, asked him for advice about how to respond to the charge of the reformers who ignore traditional methods of piety.

The New Testament Translation Is Published

Sep 1, 1522

After spending nearly a year translating the New Testament from Greek-Latin to German, Luther publicated it. He was the first to translate and publish the Bible in the German vernacular.

German Pentateuch Is Published

Jan 1, 1523

The Martin Luther Pentateuch was the oldest printed German scripture and was the first of the five books from the Old Testament. The leaves were 483 years old and were printed on 100% rag cotton linen sheet.

Martin Luther's Marriage

Jun 13, 1525

Martin Luther wed Katharina von Bora, who used to be a nun. Together, they started the tradition of clerical marriages within an abundance of Christian traditions.

Luther's German New Testament Is Published

Jan 1, 1529

Luther's publication of this book was the oldest printed German New Testament scripture. The leaves of the authentic book are approximately 477 years old and can be bought with a Certificate of Authenticity. While using the 1516 Erasmus Greek as his source text, Luther created this German version of the New Testament.

Luther Serves At Wittenberg

Jan 1, 1533

From 1533 to 1546, Martin Luther worked as the Dean of theology faculty at Wittenberg. Unfortunately, he died in early 1546 and could no longer proudly serve at Wittenberg.

The Old Testament Translation Published

Jan 1, 1534

After translating the New Testament, Martin began working on translating the Old Testament. Then, in 1534, Luther's translation was officially published, which completed the whole German version of the Bible.

Martin Luther Dies

Feb 18, 1546

Martin Luther died due to natural causes and fled from martyrdom. Before he died, Luther declared, "Know that no one can have indulged in the Holy Writers sufficiently, unless he has governed churches for a hundred years with the prophets, such as Elijah and Elisha, John the Baptist, Christ and the apostles... We are beggars: this is true."

Martin Luther's Burial

Feb 22, 1546

Four days after Martin Luther died of natural causes, his body was taken to Wittenberg for interment and was buried in the castle church that currently lies in Melancthon.