Life of Luther (1483-1546)
• Born in Saxony (north central Germany)• 1501: University of Erfurt. Intended to study law• 1505: Entered Augustinian monastery• 1507: Ordained a priest• 1510: Pilgrimage to Rome• 1512: Doctor of Theology, teaches Bible at new
University of Wittenberg– Lectures on Psalms, Galatians, Romans– Conversion breakthrough (sometime during 1513-19):
“He who through faith is righteous shall live” (see Reader, p. 82)
Late medieval piety
• Fear of death (cf. Dietrich Kolde)
• Penance– Confession– Absolution– Satisfaction
• Indulgences– Remit temporal punishment
Beginning of Luther’s Reformation
• Oct 31, 1517: 95 Theses• 1518-19: Public debates• 1520: Crisis
– June 15: Papal bull Exsurge Domini issued (received Oct 10)– Luther’s response
• August, Letter to German Nobility• October, Babylonian Captivity of the Church• November, Freedom of a Christian
– Dec 10: Luther burns the papal bull
• 1521: Confrontation– Jan 3, 1521: Luther excommunicated– April 1521: Diet of Worms
Passion of the Christ and Antichrist: Moneychangers in the Temple (1521)by Lucas Cranach the Elder and Philip Melanchthon (see also King, p. 268)