martin luther, the freedom of a christian (1520)

who wrote it? when? what type of document is it?

martin luther, a german monk and reformer, wrote it in 1520. it's a theological essay. main point: germans are free through faith (not works or rituals), yet true faith leads them to serve others in love.

who was the audience? why was it written?

written for pope leo x and other educated christians. luther wanted to defend his views, promote reform, and show his ideas came from the bible. he assumed readers were concerned about salvation and knew catholic teachings.

can i believe it? what can i learn? how does it fit in context?

it reflects luther's sincere views but is not neutral--it's written to persuade. it shows 16th century europe's deep concern with faith, authority, and church corruption. context: the early reformation, when luther was openly challenging the catholic church.

why did luther write this way?

he wanted to make his theology clear and memorable ("lord of all, servant of all") and to win people over by grounding his ideas in scripture.

why is it important?

it became a key protestant text, shaping the idea of "faith alone." it helped spark the reformation, weakening papal authority and reshaping religion and politics in europe.