Martin Luther (1483–1546) was the German monk who initiated the Protestant Reformation that challenged the teachings and the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. Luther preached that salvation came by grace through faith alone rather than by deeds.
Born in Eisleben, Saxony, Luther studied at the University of Erfurt, became an Augustinian friar, and later a Doctor of Theology. In 1510, he visited Rome as a representative of many Augustinian monasteries and was horrified by the corruption he found there. Outraged, he published his “95 Theses” and condemned papal abuses and the sale of indulgences. Between 1519 and 1520, Luther wrote a series of pamphlets developing his ideas, which spread quickly throughout Europe.
Within a year, Pope Leo X dismissed Luther as an outspoken “son of iniquity.” Excommunicated in 1521, Luther refused to recant his assertions at an assembly of the Holy Roman Empire. It was at this gathering that he pronounced his famous words, “Here I stand, I can do no other, God help me.”
Emperor Charles V declared Luther an outlaw and a heretic. In 1534, Luther published a complete translation of the Bible into German, underlining his belief that people should be able to read it in their language. The translation contributed significantly to the spread and development of the German language.
The foremost ideas of Luther’s reform movement were treasured by the Lutheran Churches who summarized Luther’s essential message in their Book of Concord (1580.)
In his final years, Luther wrote diatribes against the Jews, the papacy, and the Anabaptists, a radical wing of the Reformation movement. He wrote Against the Jews and Their Lies (1542) calling upon authorities to burn Jewish synagogues and to expel Jews if they did not convert to Christianity. Some scholars believe that these points of view sowed the seeds of anti-Semitism in Germany.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Martin Luther
In his life, Christ is an example, showing us how to live; in his death, he is a sacrifice, satisfying for our sins; in his resurrection, a conqueror; in his ascension, a king; in his intercession, a high priest.
—Martin Luther
There is no wisdom save in truth. Truth is everlasting, but our ideas about truth are changeable. Only a little of the first fruits of wisdom, only a few fragments of the boundless heights, breadths and depths of truth, have I been able to gather.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Wisdom, Virtues, Truth
Christians are to be taught that the pope would and should wish to give of his own money, even though he had to sell the basilica of St. Peter, to many of those from whom certain hawkers of indulgences cajole money.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Religion
I have no pleasure in any man who despises music. It is no invention of ours: it is a gift of God. I place it next to theology. Satan hates music: he knows how it drives the evil spirit out of us.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Art, Music
Faith, like light, should always be simple and unbending; while love, like warmth, should beam forth on every side, and bend to every necessity of our brethren.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Faith, Love
When Eve was brought unto Adam, he became filled with the Holy Spirit, and gave her the most sanctified, the most glorious of appellations. He called her Eva, that is to say, the Mother of All. He did not style her wife, but simply mother,—mother of all living creatures. In this consists the glory and the most precious ornament of woman.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Mother
Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Society, Marriage
To do so no more is the truest repentance.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Repentance
Human reason is like a drunken man on horseback; set it up on one side, and it tumbles over on the other.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Reason
Original sin is in us, like the beard.—We are shaved today and look clean, and have a smooth chin; tomorrow our beard has grown again, nor does it cease growing while we remain on earth.—In like manner original sin cannot be extirpated from us; it springs up in us as long as we live.—Nevertheless we are bound to resist it to our utmost strength, and to cut it down unceasingly.
—Martin Luther
The heart of the giver makes the gift dear and precious.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Gifts
Our Lord God doeth work like a printer, who setteth the letters backward; we see and feel well His setting, but we shall see the print yonder—in the life to come.
—Martin Luther
The defects of a preacher are soon spied. Let him be endued with ten virtues, and have but one fault, and that one fault will eclipse and darken all his virtues and gifts, so evil is the world in these times.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Preaching
The fewer the words, the better the prayer.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Brevity, Prayer
The will is a beast of burden. If God mounts it, it wishes and goes as God wills; if Satan mounts it, it wishes and goes as Satan wills; Nor can it choose its rider… the riders contend for its possession.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Wishes
The multitude of books is a great evil. There is no limit to this fever for writing.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Writing, Literature, Reading, Books, Evil
The allegory of a sophist is always screwed; it crouches and bows like a snake, which is never straight, whether she go, creep, or lie still; only when she is dead, she is straight enough.
—Martin Luther
Where God builds a church the devil builds a chapel.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Religion, Churches
Christians are rare people on earth.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Christianity, Christians
Pray, and let God worry
—Martin Luther
Topics: Worry
We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.
—Martin Luther
God save me from my friends. I can protect myself from my enemies.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Enemy
Faith must trample under foot all reason, sense, and understanding.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Faith
To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Prayer, Miscellaneous
Music is the art of the prophets, the only art that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Music
Justice is a temporary thing that must at last come to an end; but the conscience is eternal and will never die.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Conscience, Justice
The law of God is what we must do; the gospel is what God will give.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Law
Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but – more frequently than not – struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Reason, Faith
Wealth is the smallest thing on earth, the least gift that God has bestowed on mankind.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Wealth
To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.
—Martin Luther
Topics: Prayer, Miscellaneous
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