Life of Martin Luther Notes

Early Life of Martin Luther

  • Born on November 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany.

  • Attended law school with the intention of becoming a lawyer.

  • Experienced a transformative event while in law school.

  • Entered the strict Augustinian Monastery two weeks later.

  • Ordained to the priesthood in 1507.

  • Became a doctor of theology in 1512.

Luther's Scrupulous Nature

  • Luther was a highly meticulous and anxious individual.

  • He was consumed with the concept of salvation.

  • Desperately tried to fulfill all requirements for obtaining salvation.

  • Obsessively avoided anything that might jeopardize his salvation.

  • Luther expressed feeling "sickened" by the justice of God.

  • He stated, "If ever a monk was saved by monkishness, I was that monk."

Luther's Experience in Rome

  • Luther visited Rome and was shocked by its filth, both physical and spiritual/moral.

  • He was particularly disturbed by the spiritual laxity of the priests and religious figures.

  • His visit revealed a corrupt church in need of reform.

Turmerlebnis: The Tower Experience

  • Tur = Tower; Erlebnis = Experience

  • Luther had a transformative experience in the tower of his monastery.

  • Owen Chadwick: "The promise [he found] seemed to him to meet the deepest experience of his moral being."

  • Romans 1:17: "The just shall live by faith" - this verse deeply impacted him.

  • He considered this verse the 'canon within the canon.'

  • Realized that a monk should not rely on his own works, practices, penances, excellence, or perseverance, but only on God.

  • Believed that trusting in God and having a faithful attitude justifies individuals through God's grace.

  • Turmerlebnis: refers to Luther's tower experience

The Tetzel Affair

  • Johann Tetzel was collecting money for the new St. Peter’s Basilica through the sale of indulgences.

  • This sparked outrage in Martin Luther.

  • Luther questioned the validity of indulgences: "How could this possibly be true?"

  • Luther wrote a letter of protest to the Archbishop about Tetzel.

  • The letter contained 95 points of disputation, known as the 95 Theses.

  • One of Luther’s disciples later claimed that he nailed the 95 Theses to the church door, which was a common practice at the time.

  • October 31 is recognized as Reformation Day.

  • The printing press played a significant role in disseminating the 95 Theses.

Debates and Condemnation

  • Luther engaged in high-level dialogues.

  • Cardinal Cajetan: The debate with Cajetan centered on papal authority.

  • Johannes Eck: The debate with Eck was called the Leipzig Disputation.

  • During the Leipzig Disputation, Luther expressed agreement with someone who had been burned at the stake.

  • 1520 Reformation treatises: Luther produced significant writings.

  • Luther was officially condemned by the Church and ordered to retract his writings.

  • Luther publicly burned the bull of his condemnation.

  • Subsequently, Luther was excommunicated.

Diet of Worms

  • Emperor Charles V intervened due to the dispute within the kingdom.

  • He convened the Diet of Worms in the city of Worms, aiming for dialogue.

  • Luther was kidnapped, during which time he translated the Bible into German.

  • Luther's statement at the Diet of Worms:

    • "Unless I’m proved wrong by the Scriptures or by evident reason, then I’m a prisoner in conscience to the Word of God. I cannot retract. I will not retract. God help me. Amen."

End of Life

  • Luther married Katharina Von Bora.

  • He died in 1546, coinciding with the beginning of the Council of Trent.

  • There was consideration of Martin Luther attending the Council of Trent, as desired by the council fathers.