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The protestant reformation stands as a defining period for developing, understanding, and
defending the theology and practices of Christianity which we would be familiar with in the
church as we know it today. This goes without saying that the contributions of many individuals
served to achieve the progress during this period. The theologian Martin Luther and the Lutheran
reformations played a significant part and focused on challenging the structure, practices, and
theology of the Roman Catholic Church. Some significant areas of reformation included view of
justification, the authority of scripture, and the accessibility of faith without intermediaries
(Clergy). All of these however serve Luther’s overall intention “to give me the right
understanding of His Word, the Holy Scriptures; for as long as I have God's Word, I know that I
am walking in His way and that I shall not fall into any error or delusion.”1 The life of Martin
Luther and the theological ideas which he challenged within his writing and discourse give us a
foundation for the faith and church of the present.
With Martin Luther as the figurehead of the “Lutheran” reformation it is valuable to
understand the life and experience which shaped him and motivated his intentions. Evaluating
his life there seems to be three distinct periods which each served purpose in defining and
direction his life, these include his early life and education, priesthood and reformation, and
excommunication. Martin Luther was born November 10th, 1483, in Saxony which “is now East
Germany—southwest of Berlin, north and westerly along the Czech border.”2 His family’s
success and his father “Hans Luther, an independent miner who was ambitious to move up in the
1 Martin Luther , “Top 25 Quotes by Martin Luther (of 951): A-Z Quotes,” AZQUOTES , accessed April 8,
2024, https://www.azquotes.com/author/9142-Martin_Luther.
2 James Arne Nestingen, Martin Luther: His Life and Teachings (Eugene, Or.: Wipf & Stock, 2004), 11.
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world.”3 experienced “relatively prosperity”4 which would provide the opportunity for Luther’s
education. Do to both the contribution and expectations placed upon him, Martin Luther would
end up. “Following in his father’s plans, moving along toward studies in law.”5 Even despite the
lack of interest he was a successful student and during his studies would spark an interest into the
deeper questions of life and faith. All of this came to its paramount when circumstance of being
caught in a thunderstorm Luther scared for his life stated, "Help me, St. Anne, and I will become
a monk."6 This would mark the start of his journey into spirituality and eventual faith.
Luther’s change in direction to pursue life as a monk came as a shock to those around
him. He “chose instead to enter the Augustinian monastery at Erfurt”7 and sought to answer
“the ultimate questions of his life and future”8 Despite becoming a rather successful monk,
Luther faced great struggles while he tried to live without reproach and made full use of
confession, he still felt that he “was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed
3 Nestingen, Martin Luther: His Life and Teachings (Eugene, Or.: Wipf & Stock, 2004), 13.
4 Robert Stern, “Martin Luther,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, July 22, 2022, accessed April
2024, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2023/.
5 Nestingen, Martin Luther: His Life and Teachings (Eugene, Or.: Wipf & Stock, 2004), 14.
6 ———. “Study the Church.” Study The Church. Last modified January 1, 1376. Accessed April
8, 2024. https://studythechurch.com/protestantref.
7 Stern, “Martin Luther,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, July 22, 2022, accessed April
2024, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2023/.
8 Nestingen, Martin Luther: His Life and Teachings (Eugene, Or.: Wipf & Stock, 2004), 14.
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conscience”9 It is due to his early life and education that Matin Luther would gain more
direction and begin molding into the great reformer which we know him as today.
The inadequacy that he felt even despite his efforts towards self-denial would drive him
towards priesthood. Luther education would continue as “he followed a theology curriculum”10
His studies would result in him becoming a “priest and professor of theology at Wittenberg
University”11. It is during this time that he would begin critiquing the practices of the Church and
reformation tensions followed.
With such a strong love of Christ and a fervor for defending truth and sound biblical
theology Luther would preserve through the tensions and publish a vast number of works
combatting false theology and practices of the Catholic church. Resulting from the notoriety of
his Ninety-Five thesis would be summoned and eventually “threatened with excommunication”12
This contention of the Edict of Worms would “declare him a heretic and an outlaw” and cause
him to hide in the protection of saxony. This contention would continue until hhis death “on 18
February 1546, in the town of Eisleben where he had been born.”13
9 Stern, “Martin Luther,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, July 22, 2022, accessed April
2024, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2023/.
10 Stern, “Martin Luther,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, July 22, 2022, accessed April
2024, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2023/.
11 “Research Guides: Martin Luther as Priest, Heretic and Outlaw: Luther the Priest.” Luther the
Priest - Martin Luther as Priest, Heretic and Outlaw - Research Guides at Library of Congress. Accessed
April 8, 2024. https://guides.loc.gov/martin-luther-priest-heretic-outlaw/luther-the-priest.
12 Stern, “Martin Luther,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, July 22, 2022, accessed April
2024, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2023/.
13 Stern, “Martin Luther,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, July 22, 2022, accessed April
2024, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2023/.
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The Protestant Reformation sook to evaluate the practices and beliefs of the Roman
Catholic Church and much of this hinged a handful of key theological points. Starting with the
concept of biblical repentance, the Catholic Church rather than teaching repentance as a heart
posture of “sincere regret or remorse”14 which causes a turn back to Christ. They pushed the
unbiblical narrative that sin could be paid off through the purchase of “indulgences”. Luther felt
that this was “cheap grace—absolution sold at the going rate—rather than the free grace of
Christ which brings repentance.”15 In response to this Luther would publish his Publish his
Ninety-Five Theses with the intent to open up a dialogue on repentance. However, it led more
easily to the discussion of power and authority as Luther “a mere bible professor” challenged the
ruling of higher clergy such as the pope.
In keeping with the theme of the sufficiency of Christ, another theological point of the
Lutheran movement is the concept of “Sola Fide” or Justification by faith alone. This concept
would be somewhat foreign to the Roman Catholics and rather than receive grace through a
genuine faith and trust in God they leaned heavily on the sacraments as “avenues of receiving
grace”16 Their understanding of grace rightfully stood as ““receiving a blessing or gift that you do
not deserve”17 However, they leaned priests and Popes for the forgiveness of their sins and the
reception of blessings rather than going direct to the source. Overall, it shows a lack of
14 Simpson, John Andrew, and Weiner E S C. The Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon
Press, 2001.
15 Nestingen, Martin Luther: His Life and Teachings (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2004), 17.
16 Nickens, A Survey of the History of Global Christianity, Second Edition. (Nashville, TN: B&H
Academic, 2020), 76.
17 Nickens, A Survey of the History of Global Christianity, Second Edition. (Nashville, TN: B&H
Academic, 2020), 76.
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understanding in the sufficiency of Christ and the relationality he offers in a restored relationship
with him.
When evaluation the dynamic of the clergy and their relationship and responsibility to the
general public this is another point of theological contention which Luther addresses. It is
commonly accepted that there is a need for intercessors between man and God mainly that
priests and “saints heard the prayers of people on the Earth and make requests to God on their
behalf.”18 However, in response to this Luther stood in support of a common priesthood. This
meant that each member has access to unity and communion with God personally. When
referring to this Luther states that “he makes us to sit with him in heavenly places, as
companions and co-heirs with him”19 This combatted the “reject the exclusive claims of the
ordained, hierarchical priesthood” in support of Christ acting as the high priest with priest who is
gained access through the Holy Spirit.
Martin Luther’s body of writing is vast and details a significant number of theological
points. Some such works which significantly aided the reformation movement were the Ninety -
Five Thesis (1517) which combatted a false view of grace and repentance by the Roman Catholic
Church in its use of Indulgences. The Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation
(August 1520) which spoke further on the abuse of power within the church and advocated for a
priesthood of all believers. The second of the three reformation treatises On the Babylonian
Captivity of the Church (October 1520) spoke to the access nature of the seven Catholic
sacraments and their purposes. He then went on in saying that baptism and the Lord’s supper are
18 Nickens, A Survey of the History of Global Christianity, Second Edition. (Nashville, TN: B&H
Academic, 2020), 76.
19 “Research Guides: Martin Luther as Priest, Heretic and Outlaw: Luther the Priest.” Luther the
Priest - Martin Luther as Priest, Heretic and Outlaw - Research Guides at Library of Congress. Accessed
April 8, 2024. https://guides.loc.gov/martin-luther-priest-heretic-outlaw/luther-the-priest.
6
the only biblically mandated ordinances that hold value and are required of believers. The final
of the reformation treatises is The Freedom of a Christian (November 1520) which supports the
concept of Justification by faith alone and that only through a genuine faith will the outpouring
of good works follow. Although Martin Luther’s vast array of writings continue beyond this. The
protestant reformation was fueled in part by these specific works and all others following stood
on these foundational works.
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Bibliography
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Accessed April 8, 2024. https://www.azquotes.com/author/9142-Martin_Luther.
Nestingen, James Arne. Martin Luther: His Life and Teachings. Eugene, Or.: Wipf & Stock,
2004.
Nickens, Mark. A Survey of the History of Global Christianity. Nashville, TN: B & H Academic,
2020.
“Research Guides: Martin Luther as Priest, Heretic and Outlaw: Luther the Priest.” Luther the
Priest - Martin Luther as Priest, Heretic and Outlaw - Research Guides at Library of
Congress. Accessed April 8, 2024. https://guides.loc.gov/martin-luther-priest-heretic-
outlaw/luther-the-priest.
Simpson, John Andrew, and Weiner E S C. The Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon
Press, 2001.
Stern , Robert. “Martin Luther .” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford University, July
22, 2022. Last modified July 22, 2022. Accessed April 8, 2024.
https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2023/.
Whittall, Roger. “Boundaries and Horizons: Luther on the Church and Its Priesthood.” Lutheran
Theological Journals 55, no. 3 (December 2021): 127–138.
———. “Study the Church.” Study The Church. Last modified January 1, 1376. Accessed April
8, 2024. https://studythechurch.com/protestantref.
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