Martin Luther biography. Martin Luther - short biography. Marriage and last years of life

Martin Luther's report will briefly tell you a lot useful information about this outstanding personality, founder of Protestantism, theologian and reformer.

Message about Martin Luther

The future activist and reformer was born into the family of a Saxon miner on November 10, 1483. The father of the family was a very hardworking man and tried to provide his family with everything. When the baby was six months old, they moved to Mansfeld, where his father received the status of a wealthy burgher.

At the age of 7, Martin's parents sent him to a city school, where he was constantly humiliated and punished. During seven years of study here, the young man only learned to write, read, and learned the 10 commandments and several prayers. In 1497, Luther entered the Magdeburg Franciscan school, but a year later he was transferred to Eisenach due to lack of finances. One day, young Martin met Eisenach's rich wife, Ursula. She showed favor towards him and decided to help by inviting him to live temporarily in her home.

In 1501 he entered the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Erfurt. The young man stood out noticeably among his peers by his ability to easily assimilate even complex materials and his excellent memory. In 1503, young Luther received a bachelor's degree and an invitation to lecture on philosophy. In parallel with work, at the insistence of his father, he studied the basics of law. One day, after visiting the university library, a Bible fell into his hands. After reading it, inner peace young man overturned. However, like the life of Martin Luther: after graduating from university, the philosopher decided to devote himself to serving God, refusing worldly life. No one could have foreseen such an act and no one expected it. In the temple, the theologian performed the work of a gatekeeper, served the elders, swept the church yard, wound the tower clock, and collected alms in the city.

In 1506, Luther became a monk, after a year of priesthood, taking a new name - Augustine. In 1508 he was recommended by the vicar general for the position of teacher at the University of Wittenberg. Augustine himself did not stop developing, studying foreign languages and earning a B.A.

In 1511 he visited Rome, where he first encountered the contradictory facts of Catholicism. A year later, Martin Luther took the position of professor of theology, performed the duties of a caretaker in 11 monasteries and read sermons.

In 1518, a papal bull was issued, which caused conflicting thoughts among the theologian and disappointment in Catholic teachings. The philosopher wrote his 95 theses refuting the postulates of the Roman Church. Martin Luther's speech with 95 theses brought him popularity in society. They said that the state does not depend on the clergy, and the clergy should not act as an intermediary between the Lord and the person. The activist categorically did not accept demands and sayings regarding the celibacy of spiritual representatives. Thus, he destroyed the authority of the decrees issued by the Pope. His position was bold and shocking.

In 1519, the Pope invited Martin Luther to his trial, but he did not appear. Then the pontiff anathematized the Protestant, that is, excommunicated him from the holy sacraments.

In 1520, the philosopher publicly burned the bull of the Pope and called on the people to fight against papal dominance. For this he is deprived of his Catholic rank. According to the Edict of Worms of May 26, 1521, Martin was accused of heresy. The reformer's supporters save him by staging a kidnapping. Luther moved to Wartburg Castle and began translating German Holy Scripture.

Martin Luther's public activities led to the fact that in 1529 his Protestantism was officially accepted by society and began to be considered a movement of Catholicism.

Until the end of his days, he worked hard: he preached, lectured, and wrote books. Martin Luther died suddenly in February 1546.

The real name of the philosopher and theologian is Luder. Having become a monk, he took on a more sonorous surname.
Luther's future wife was a nun who had previously given a celibacy dinner. Her name was Katerina. In 1523, he helped her and 12 other girls escape from the convent. When they got married, she was 26 years old and he was 41. The marriage produced 6 children.
Over the years, Martin Luther began to suffer from dizziness and sudden fainting. The philosopher became the owner of stone disease.
It is believed that the figure was the first person to put up a Christmas tree in his home for Christmas, decorating it with small candles and fruits.
According to Historychannel, in 2004 archaeological excavations were carried out at the house of Martin Luther. A sensational discovery was made: his house had a sewer system and even primitive floor heating.

We hope that the “Martin Luther” report helped to learn a lot of useful information about the life of this outstanding figure in Germany. A short message You can add information about Martin Luther using the comment form below.

Martin Luther (German: Martin Luther). Born November 10, 1483 in Eisleben, Saxony - died February 18, 1546. Christian theologian, initiator of the Reformation, leading translator of the Bible into German. One of the directions of Protestantism is named after him.

Martin Luther was born into the family of Hans Luther (1459-1530) - former peasant, who moved to Eisleben (Saxony) in the hope of better life. There he took up mining in the copper mines. After Martin's birth, the family moved to the mountain town of Mansfeld, where his father became a wealthy burgher.

In 1497, his parents sent 14-year-old Martin to the Franciscan school in Marburg. At that time, Luther and his friends earned their living by singing under the windows of devout inhabitants.

In 1501, by decision of his parents, Luther entered the university in Erfurt. The fact is that in those days the burghers sought to give their sons a higher legal education. But he was preceded by taking a course in the “seven liberal arts.”

In 1505, Luther received a Master of Arts degree and began studying law. During the same period, against the will of his father, he entered the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt.

There are several explanations for this unexpected decision. One refers to Luther's depressed state due to "consciousness of his sinfulness." According to another, Luther was once caught in a severe thunderstorm and was so frightened that he took a vow of monasticism. The third talks about the excessive severity of parental education, which Luther could not bear. The reason must be sought, apparently, in Luther’s circle and in the ferment of minds that existed then among the burghers. Luther's decision was apparently influenced by his acquaintance with the members of the humanist circle.

Luther later wrote that his monastic life was very difficult. Nevertheless, he was an exemplary monk and carefully followed all the instructions. Luther joined the Augustinian Order in Erfurt. The year before, John Staupitz, later a friend of Martin, received the position of vicar of the Order.

In 1506, Luther took monastic vows, and in 1507 he was ordained a priest.

In 1508, Luther was sent to teach at the new University of Wittenberg. There he first became acquainted with the works of St. Augustine. Among his students was, in particular, Erasmus Alberus. Luther simultaneously taught and studied to obtain a doctorate in theology.

In 1511, Luther was sent to Rome on order business. The trip made an indelible impression on the young theologian. It was there that he first encountered and saw firsthand the corruption of the Roman Catholic clergy.

In 1512 he received his doctorate in theology. After this, Luther took the position of professor of theology in place of Staupitz.

Luther constantly felt suspended and incredibly weak in relation to God, and these experiences played a significant role in shaping his views.

In 1509, Luther taught a course on the “Sentences” of Peter of Lombardy, in 1513-1515 - on the psalms, in 1515-1516 - on the Epistle to the Romans, in 1516-1518 - on the Epistles to the Galatians and to the Hebrews. Luther painstakingly studied the Bible, and in addition to his teaching duties, he was the overseer of 11 monasteries and preached in the church.

Luther said that he was constantly in a state of feeling sin. Having experienced a spiritual crisis, Luther discovered a different understanding of the Epistles of St. Pavel. He wrote: “I understood that we receive divine righteousness as a consequence of faith in God itself and thanks to it, thereby the merciful Lord justifies us as a consequence of faith itself.” At this thought, Luther, as he said, felt that he was born again and entered heaven through the open gates.

The idea that a believer receives justification through his faith in the mercy of God was developed by Luther in 1515-1519.

On October 18, 1517, Pope Leo X issues a bull on the remission of sins and the sale of indulgences in order to “Provide assistance in the construction of the Church of St. Peter and the salvation of the souls of the Christian world."

Luther explodes with criticism of the role of the church in salvation, which is expressed on October 31, 1517 in 95 theses.

Theses were also sent to the Bishop of Brandenburg and the Archbishop of Mainz. It is worth adding that there have been protests against the papacy before. However, they were of a different nature. Led by humanists, the anti-indulgence movement approached the issue from a humanist perspective. Luther criticized dogma, that is, the Christian aspect of teaching.

The rumor about the theses spreads with lightning speed and Luther was summoned to trial in 1519 and, having softened, to the Leipzig dispute, where he appeared, despite the fate of Jan Hus, and in the dispute expressed doubt about the righteousness and infallibility of the Catholic papacy. Then Pope Leo X anathematizes Luther; in 1520, the bull of damnation was drawn up by Pietro of the house of Accolti (in 2008 it was announced that Catholic Church plans to “rehabilitate” him). Luther publicly burns the papal bull Exsurge Domine excommunicating him in the courtyard of the University of Wittenberg and, in his address “To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation,” declares that the fight against papal dominance is the business of the entire German nation.

Emperor Charles V summoned Luther to the Reichstag of Worms, where Luther showed great steadfastness. He stated: “Since Your Majesty and you, sirs, wish to hear a simple answer, I will answer directly and simply. Unless I am convinced by the testimony of Holy Scripture and the clear arguments of reason - for I do not recognize the authority of either popes or councils, since they contradict each other - my conscience is bound by the Word of God. I cannot and do not want to renounce anything, because it is neither good nor safe to act against my conscience. God help me. Amen". In the earliest editions of his speech, the words were added: “On this I stand and cannot do otherwise,” although they are not in the notes made directly at the meeting of the Sejm.

Luther was released from Worms, according to the imperial letter of safe conduct, but a month later, in May 1521, the Edict of Worms followed, condemning Luther as a heretic. On the way back, Luther was captured at night by the knights of Elector Frederick of Saxony and hidden in Wartburg Castle; for some time he was considered dead. Luther hid in the castle from 1520 to 1521. There the devil supposedly appears to him, but Luther (together with like-minded people) begins to translate the Bible into German. Kaspar Kruziger, professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg, helped him edit this translation.

In 1525, 42-year-old Luther tied the knot with 26-year-old former nun Katharina von Bora. In their marriage they had six children.

During the Peasants' War of 1524-1526, Luther sharply criticized the rioters, writing “Against the murderous and plundering hordes of peasants,” where he called reprisals against the instigators of the riots a godly act.

In 1529, Luther compiled the Larger and Smaller Catechism, which were the cornerstones of the Book of Concord.

Luther did not participate in the work of the Augsburg Reichstag in 1530; the positions of the Protestants were represented by Melanchthon.

Luther appeared in Jena several times. It is known that in March 1532 he stayed incognito at the Black Bear Inn. Two years later he preached in the city church of St. Michael against staunch opponents of the reformation. After the founding of Salan in 1537, which later became a university, Luther received ample opportunities here to preach and call for the renewal of the church.

Luther's follower Georg Röhrer (1492-1557) edited Luther's works during his visits to the University and the library. As a result, the “Jena Luther Bible” was published, which is currently in the city museum.

In 1546, Johann Friedrich the First commissioned master Heinrich Ziegler from Erfurt to make a statue for Luther's tomb in Wittenberg. The original was supposed to be a wooden statue created by Lucas Cranach the Elder. The existing bronze plaque was stored in a Weimar castle for two decades. In 1571 middle son Johann Friedrich donated it to the university.

The last years of Luther's life were marred by chronic illnesses. He died in Eisleben on February 18, 1546.

Fundamental Principles achieving salvation according to the teachings of Luther: sola fide, sola gratia et sola Scriptura (only faith, only grace and only Scripture).

Luther declared untenable the Catholic dogma that the church and clergy are necessary mediators between God and man.

The only way to save the soul for a Christian is faith, given to him directly by God (Gal. 3:11 “The just shall live by faith,” and also Eph. 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” ). Luther declared his rejection of the authority of papal decrees and epistles and called for the Bible, rather than the institutional church, to be considered the main source of Christian truths. Luther formulated the anthropological component of his teaching as “ Christian freedom": the freedom of the soul does not depend on external circumstances, but exclusively on the will of God.

One of the central and sought-after provisions of Luther’s views is the concept of “vocation” (German: Berufung). In contrast to the Catholic teaching about the opposition of the worldly and the spiritual, Luther believed that in worldly life in the professional field it is carried out God's grace. God destined people for one type of activity or another, investing in them various talents or abilities, and it is a person’s duty to work diligently to fulfill his calling. In the eyes of God, no work is noble or despicable.

The concept of “calling” appears in Luther in the process of translating a fragment of the Bible into German (Sirach 11:20-21): “continue in your work (calling).”

The main goal of the theses was to show that priests are not mediators between God and man, they should only guide the flock and set an example of true Christians. “Man saves his soul not through the Church, but through faith,” wrote Luther. He opposes the dogma of the divinity of the pope, which was clearly demonstrated in Luther's discussion with the famous theologian Johann Eck in 1519.

Refuting the divinity of the pope, Luther referred to the Greek, that is, Orthodox, church, which is also considered Christian and does without the pope and his unlimited powers. Luther asserted the infallibility of Holy Scripture, and questioned the authority of Holy Tradition and councils.

According to Luther, “the dead know nothing” (Eccl. 9:5). Calvin counters this in his first theological work, The Sleep of Souls (1534).

According to Max Weber, Lutheran preaching not only gave impetus to the Reformation, but served as a turning point in the emergence of capitalism and defined the spirit of the New Age.

Luther also entered the history of German social thought as a cultural figure - as a reformer of education, language, and music. In 2003, according to opinion polls, Luther became the second greatest German in German history. He not only experienced the influence of Renaissance culture, but in the interests of fighting the “papists” he sought to use folk culture and did a lot for its development. Luther's translation of the Bible into German (1522-1542) was of great importance, in which he managed to establish the norms of the common German national language. In his last work, he was actively assisted by his devoted friend and colleague Johann-Caspar Aquila.

Regarding Luther's anti-Semitism ("On the Jews and Their Lies") exist various points vision. Some believe that anti-Semitism was Luther's personal position, which had no impact on his theology and was only an expression of the spirit of the times. Others, such as Daniel Gruber, call Luther a “Holocaust theologian,” believing that the private opinion of the founding father of the denomination could not but influence the minds of fragile believers and could contribute to the spread of Nazism among German Lutherans.

At the beginning of his preaching career, Luther was free from anti-Semitism. He even wrote a pamphlet in 1523, “Jesus Christ Was Born a Jew.”

Luther condemned the Jews as carriers of Judaism for their denial of the Trinity, so he called for their expulsion and the destruction of synagogues, which subsequently aroused the sympathy of Hitler and his supporters. It is no coincidence that the Nazis designated the so-called Kristallnacht as the celebration of Luther’s birthday.

Writings of Martin Luther:

Berleburg Bible
Lectures on the Epistle to the Romans (1515-1516)
95 theses on indulgences (1517)
To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation (1520)
On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church (1520)
Letter to Mulpfort (1520)
Open letter to Pope Leo X (1520), September 6.
About the freedom of a Christian
Against the damned bull of the Antichrist
Speech at the Worms Reichstag on April 18, 1521
On the Slavery of the Will (1525)
Large and Small Catechism (1529)
Letter of transfer (1530)
Praise of Music (German translation) (1538)
About the Jews and their lies (1543)

Essays

Lectures on the Epistle to the Romans (1515-1516)
To the Christian nobility of the German nation ()
On the freedom of a Christian (German) Von der Freiheit eines Christenmenschen , )
Against the damned bull of the Antichrist

Biography

Beginning of life

Martin Luther was born into the family of Hans Luther (1459-1530), a former peasant who moved to Eisleben (Saxony) in the hope of a better life. There his father changed his profession and took up mining in copper mines. After Luther's birth, the family moved to the mountain town of Maxfeld, where the father became a wealthy burgher. In 1497, 14-year-old Martin was taken by his parents to the Franciscan school in Marburg. During these times, Luther and his friends earned their living by singing songs under the windows of devout inhabitants. In 1501, by decision of his parents, Luther entered the University of Erfurt. The fact is that in those days all the burghers sought to give their sons a legal higher education. But he was preceded by completing the so-called “liberal arts” course. In 1505, Luther received a master's degree in liberal arts and began studying law. Then, against the will of his father, he entered the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt. There are several points of view to explain this unexpected decision. The first is a depressed state due to “awareness of one’s sinfulness.” The second says that one day Luther was caught in a severe thunderstorm and was so frightened that he took a vow of monasticism. The third speaks of the extreme severity of parental education, which Luther could not survive. In fact, the reason must be sought in Luther’s circle and in the wavering of minds that existed then among the burghers. The decision was also influenced by my acquaintance with many members of the humanists circle. Luther later responded by describing his monastic life as very difficult, but nevertheless he was an exemplary monk and carried out all his tasks with great care. Luther joined the Augustinian Order in Erfurt. A year earlier, Vicar John Staupitz received the position of vicar of the order, who subsequently became a friend of Martin. Luther took monastic vows in 1506 and was ordained a priest in 1507.

In Wittenberg

In 1508, Luther was sent to teach at the new university in Wittenberg. There he first became acquainted with the works of St. Augustine. Luther simultaneously taught and studied to obtain a doctorate in theology. In 1511 Luther was sent to Rome on order business. The trip made an indelible impression on the young theologian. It was there that he first encountered and saw firsthand the corruption of the Roman Catholic clergy. In 1512 he received the degree of Doctor of Theology. After this, Luther received the rank of professor of theology instead of Staupitz. Luther was taken advantage of big influence nominalism and scholasticism. Luther constantly felt suspended and incredibly weak in relation to God, and these experiences played a significant role in shaping his views. In 1509 Luther taught about Peter Lombard, in 1513-15. - about the psalms, 1515-16. - about the letter to the Romans, in 1516-18. - about the letters to the Galatians and Jews. Luther painstakingly studied the Bible, and in addition to his teaching duties, he was the overseer of 11 monasteries and preached in the church.

Luther said that he was constantly in a state of feeling sin. After a strong crisis, Luther discovered a different interpretation of the letters of St. Pavel. “I understood,” he wrote, “that we receive divine justice as a consequence of faith in God itself and thanks to it, thereby the merciful Lord justifies us as a consequence of faith itself.” At this thought, Luther, as he said, felt that he was born again and entered heaven through the open gates. The idea that a believer receives justification through his faith in the mercy of God was developed by Luther in 1515-19.

Reform activities

On October 18, 1517, Pope Leo X issues a bull on the remission of sins and the sale of indulgences for the purpose of “Providing assistance in the construction of the Church of St. Peter and the salvation of the souls of the Christian world.” Luther explodes with criticism of the role of the church in salvation, which is expressed on October 31, 1517 in 95 theses. Theses were also sent to the Bishop of Brandenburg and the Archbishop of Mainz. It is worth adding that there have been protests against the papacy before. However, they were of a slightly different nature. Led by humanists, the anti-indulgence movement viewed it from a humane perspective. Luther criticized dogma, that is, the Christian aspect of teaching. The rumor about the theses spreads with lightning speed and Luther was summoned in 1519 to trial and, having relent, to a dispute in Leipzig, where he refuses to appear, keeping in mind the fate of Jan Hus. Then Pope Leo X anathematizes Luther in 1520 (the Catholic Church is currently planning to “pardon” him). Luther publicly burns a papal bull excommunicating him in the courtyard of the University of Wittenberg and, in his address “To the Christian nobility of the German nation,” declares that the fight against papal dominance is the business of the entire German nation.

The Pope is supported by Emperor Charles and Luther seeks salvation from Frederick of Saxony at Wartburg Castle (-). There the devil supposedly appears to him, but Luther begins to translate the Bible into German.

Luther did not participate in the work of the Augsburg Reichstag in 1530; the positions of the Protestants were represented by Melanchthon.

For the last 13 years of his life, Luther suffered from digestive illnesses.

Historical significance of Luther's work

One of the central and sought-after provisions of Luther’s philosophy is the concept of “vocation” (German. Berufung). In contrast to the Catholic teaching about the opposition of the worldly and the spiritual, Luther believed that the grace of God is also realized in the worldly life in the professional field. God destined a person for a certain type of activity through invested talent or ability, and it is the duty of a person to work diligently to fulfill his calling. Moreover, in the eyes of God there is no noble or despicable work.

The labors of monks and priests, no matter how hard and holy they may be, do not differ one iota in the eyes of God from the labors of a peasant in the field or a woman working on the farm

The very concept of “calling” appears in Luther in the process of translating a fragment of the Bible into German (Sirach 11:20-21): “continue in your work (calling)”

The main idea of the theses was to show that priests are not mediators between God and man, they only must guide the flock and set an example of true Christians. “Man saves his soul not through the Church, but through faith,” wrote Luther. He refuted the dogma of the divinity of the pope, which was clearly demonstrated in Luther's discussion with the famous theologian Johann Eck in 1519. Refuting the divinity of the pope, Luther referred to the Greek, i.e. Orthodox Church, which is also considered Christian and does without the pope and his unlimited powers. Luther asserted the infallibility of Holy Scripture, and questioned the authority of Holy Tradition and councils.

Luther and anti-Semitism

Luther in art

Several films have been made about Luther: the American-Canadian “Luther”, two German films “Martin Luther” ( Martin Luther, both in ) and the German "Luther" ( Luther; in the Russian box office "The Luther Passion"

Martin Luther short biography Christian theologian, initiator of the Reformation, translator of the Bible into German.

Martin Luther biography briefly

The future activist and reformer was born into the family of a miner on November 10, 1483 in Saxony. When the baby was six months old, the family moved to Mansfeld, where his father received the status of a wealthy burgher.

In 1497, his parents sent 14-year-old Martin to the Franciscan school in Magdeburg. At that time, Luther and his friends earned their living by singing under the windows of devout inhabitants.

After graduating from university, the philosopher decided to devote himself to serving God, abandoning worldly life. In the temple, he performed the work of a gatekeeper, served the elders, swept the church yard, wound the tower clock, and collected alms in the city.

In 1506, Luther took monastic vows. In 1507 he was ordained a priest.

In 1519, the Pope invited Martin Luther to his trial, but he did not appear. Then the pontiff anathematized the Protestant, that is, excommunicated him from the holy sacraments.

Martin Luther's public activities led to the fact that in 1529 his Protestantism was officially accepted by society and began to be considered a movement of Catholicism.

Until the end of his days, he worked hard: he preached, lectured, and wrote books.

In the last years of his life, Luther suffered from chronic illnesses. He died in Eisleben February 18, 1546.

500 years ago, the Augustinian monk Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 theses to the door of the temple in Wittenberg. What did the founder of the Reformation prove in them? Who was he himself? And what consequences did all this have?

1. Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 - February 18, 1546) - the founder of the Reformation, during which Protestantism emerged as one of the three (along with Orthodoxy and Catholicism) main directions of Christianity. The name "Protestantism" comes from the so-called Speyer Protestation. This was a protest brought in 1529 by six princes and fourteen free German cities at the Reichstag in Speyer against the persecution of Lutherans. By name of this document

supporters of the Reformation subsequently received the name Protestants, and the totality of non-Catholic confessions that arose as a result of the Reformation - Protestantism.. So far they have not contained either a denial of the supreme power of the Pope, much less declaring him the Antichrist, or a general denial of the church organization and church sacraments as necessary intermediaries between God and man. The theses challenged the practice of indulgences, which at that time was especially widespread in order to cover the costs of the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

95 Theses of Martin Luther

3. Dominican monk Johann Tetzel, who was an agent for the sale of papal indulgences and who shamelessly traded them and thereby provoked Martin Luther by reading the 95 theses, declared: “I will ensure that in three weeks this heretic ascends the fire and proceeds to heaven in an urn.”

Tetzel argued that indulgences have b O greater power than Baptism itself. The following story is told about him: one aristocrat in Leipzig turned to Tetzel and asked to forgive him a sin that he would commit in the future. He agreed on condition of immediate payment of the indulgence. When Tetzel left the city, the aristocrat caught up with him and beat him, saying that this was the sin he meant.

4. Martin Luther was born into the family of a former peasant who became a successful mining master and wealthy burgher.

His father shared in the profits from eight mines and three smelters (“fires”). In 1525, Hans Lüder bequeathed 1,250 guilders to his heirs, with which it was possible to purchase an estate with arable land, meadows and forest. At the same time, the family lived very moderately. Food was not very plentiful, they skimped on clothing and fuel: for example, Luther’s mother, like other city women, collected brushwood in the forest in the winter. Parents and children slept in the same alcove. 5. The real name of the founder of the Reformation is Luder (Luder or Luider).

6. The father dreamed of seeing his capable son become a successful lawyer and was able to provide his son with a good education.

But suddenly Martin decides to become a monk and, against the will of his father, having experienced a strong conflict with him, he enters the Augustinian monastery. According to one explanation, he was once caught in a very strong thunderstorm when lightning struck very close to him. Martin felt, as he later said, “a monstrous fear of sudden death” and prayed: “Help, Saint Anne, I want to become a monk.” 7. The father, having learned about Luther’s intention to take monastic vows, became furious and refused to give him his blessing. Other relatives said they didn't want to know him anymore. Martin was at a loss, although he was not obliged to ask his father's permission. However, in the summer of 1505, a plague raged in Thuringia. Two

younger brother

Martin fell ill and died. Then Luther's parents were informed from Erfurt that Martin had also become a victim of the plague. When it turned out that, fortunately, this was not the case, friends and relatives began to convince Hans that he should allow his son to become a monk, and the father eventually agreed. 8. When the papal bull excommunicating Luther “Exsurge Domine” (“Arise, Lord...”) was prepared, it was delivered for signature to Pope Leo X, who was hunting wild boar on his estate. The hunt was unsuccessful: the boar wandered off into the vineyards. When the upset dad took the formidable document in his hands, he read its first words, which sounded like this: Arise, Lord, and Peter, and Paul... against the wild boar that devastates the vineyard of the Lord.” The Pope nevertheless signed the bull. 9. At the Reichstag of Worms in 1521, where Luther’s case was heard in the presence of the German emperor and they demanded his abdication, he utters his famous phrase “I stand here and cannot do otherwise.” Here are his fuller words: “

If I am not convinced by the testimony of Scripture and the clear arguments of reason - for I do not believe either the pope or the councils, since it is obvious that they often erred and contradicted themselves - then, in the words of Scripture, I am caught up in my conscience and caught in the word God's... Therefore, I cannot and do not want to renounce anything, for it is unlawful and unjust to do anything against my conscience.

I stand on this and cannot do otherwise.– both civil and international. They lasted more than 100 years until the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. These wars brought a lot of grief and misfortune, hundreds of thousands of people died in them.

11. During the German Peasants' War of 1524–1526, Luther sharply criticized the rebels, writing “Against the murderous and plundering hordes of peasants,” where he called the reprisal against the instigators of the riots a godly act.

However, the uprisings were largely caused by the reformation ferment of minds generated by Luther. At the peak of the uprising in the spring and summer of 1525, up to 300,000 people took part in the events. Modern estimates place the death toll at around 100,000. 12. Luther resolutely rejected forced celibacy of the clergy, including by his own example.

In 1525, he, a former monk, at the age of 42, married 26-year-old and also a former nun, Katharina von Bora. In their marriage they had six children. Following Luther, another leader of the Reformation from Switzerland, W. Zwingli, married. Calvin did not approve of these actions, and Erasmus of Rotterdam said: “Lutheran tragedy turns into comedy, and all troubles end in a wedding.” 13. Luther in 1522 translates into German and publishes New Testament, and in the next 12 years the Old Testament.

14. The Germans still use this Lutheran Bible. According to the great German sociologist Max Weber in his famous work "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism", Luther not only marked the beginning of the Reformation, but also gave a decisive beginning to the emergence of capitalism.

According to Weber, the Protestant ethic defined the spirit of the New Age. 15. Unlike Orthodoxy, Lutheranism recognizes only two full-fledged sacraments - Baptism and Communion.

Luther disagreed greatly with Zwingli and Calvin on this most important issue. The latter understood the presence of the Body and Blood of Christ only as symbolic, “faith-warming” actions. Luther, having rejected the doctrine of transubstantiation, could not, in polemics with the Swiss Reformed, reject the real, but invisible presence of Christ in bread and wine. Thus, Luther allowed the sacrament of communion, believing that Christ was present in it, but he considered it as a kind of specific or “sacramental unity” with material bread and wine, without specifying the nature of this co-presence. Later, in one of the doctrinal documents of Lutheranism, the “Formula of Concord” (1577), the following formula for the co-presence of the Body and Blood of Christ will be developed: “The Body of Christ is present and taught under bread, with bread, in bread (sub pane, cum pane, in pane) ... by this way of expression we wish to teach the mysterious union of the unchangeable substance of bread with the Body of Christ.”

Attitudes towards the priesthood also vary greatly. Although Luther recognized the need for the priesthood, there is not a word about succession in the Lutheran doctrinal books pastoral ministry, nor about a special messenger from above. The right to ordination is recognized for any member of the Church (emissary from below).

Lutherans also deny the invocation and help of saints, the veneration of icons and relics, and the meaning of prayers for the dead.

Dream Interpretation