Martin Luther Biography and Timeline

Birth of Martin Luther

Birth of Martin Luther, Eisleben, Saxony, the son of a wealthy copper miner

Young Luther Studies In Magdeburg

Martin Luther attended school at Magdeburg while still a boy and encountered religious life before becoming a reformer.

Wittenberg Appointment

Begins teaching at the university founded by Frederick the Wise.

Role range: 1508-1546

Professor

Appointed Professor at Erfurt University

95 Theses

Luther is said to have posted the 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany

Reformation, The

Luther is said to have posted the 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany

95 Theses

The 95 Theses which spread over most of Europe within 1 yr are provoked by the sale of Papal indulgences by the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther nails a list of 95 theses attacking use of indulgences on the Church door at Wittemberg. Disagrees with selling remissions for sins. Triggers off the Reformation

Plenitudo Potestatis

Disagrees with selling remissions for sins.

Plenitudo Potestatis

Luther expresses doubts over the legitimacy of indulgences and the Plenitudo Potestatis of the Pope.

Plenitudo Potestatis

Luther nails a list of 95 theses attacking use of indulgences on the Church door at Wittemberg.

Plenitudo Potestatis

Luther protests against the corruption in Rome & Germany.

Plenitudo Potestatis

The 95 Theses which spread over most of Europe within 1 yr are provoked by the sale of Papal indulgences by the Archbishop of Mainz.

Reformation, The

Disagrees with selling remissions for sins.

Reformation, The

Luther expresses doubts over the legitimacy of indulgences and the Plenitudo Potestatis of the Pope.

Reformation, The

Luther nails a list of 95 theses attacking use of indulgences on the Church door at Wittemberg.

Reformation, The

Luther protests against the corruption in Rome & Germany.

Reformation, The

The 95 Theses which spread over most of Europe within 1 yr are provoked by the sale of Papal indulgences by the Archbishop of Mainz.

Reformation, The

The 95 Theses which spread over most of Europe within 1 yr are provoked by the sale of Papal indulgences by the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther nails a list of 95 theses attacking use of indulgences on the Church door at Wittemberg. Disagrees with selling remissions for sins

Reformation, The

The 95 Theses which spread over most of Europe within 1 yr are provoked by the sale of Papal indulgences by the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther nails a list of 95 theses attacking use of indulgences on the Church door at Wittemberg. Disagrees with selling remissions for sins. Triggers off the Reformation

Reformation, The

Luther begins his Reformation by criticizing the selling of indulgences, insisting that the Pope had no authority over purgatory and that the Catholic doctrine of the merits of the saints had no foundation in the gospel

Sale of Indulgences

Luther begins his Reformation by criticizing the selling of indulgences, insisting that the Pope had no authority over purgatory and that the Catholic doctrine of the merits of the saints had no foundation in the gospel

Translation of Bible

Luther's translation of the Bible during the Reformation into German was a decisive moment in the spread of literacy, and stimulated the printing and distribution of religious books and pamphlets. From 1517 onward, religious pamphlets flooded Germany and much of Europe

Arrival for Leipzig Debate

Arrives in Leipzig for the theological disputation with Johann Eck.

Debate with Johann Eck

Begins his direct theological debate with Johann Eck.

Council Authority Challenged

Argues that church councils can err, sharpening his break with established authority.

Jan Hus Comparison

Accepts that some teachings of Jan Hus condemned at Constance were genuinely Christian.

An Address to the Nobility of the German Nation

Publication of "On the Freedom of a Christian Man". Publication of "On the Babyonian Captivity of the Church of God". Publication of "An Address to the Nobility of the German Nation"

On the Babyonian Captivity of the Church of God

Publication of "On the Freedom of a Christian Man". Publication of "On the Babyonian Captivity of the Church of God". Publication of "An Address to the Nobility of the German Nation"

On the Freedom of a Christian Man

Publication of "On the Freedom of a Christian Man". Publication of "On the Babyonian Captivity of the Church of God". Publication of "An Address to the Nobility of the German Nation"

Trial

Luther is summoned to Rome on a charge of heresy for implying the Pope is fallible

Trial

Luther is summoned to Rome on a charge of heresy for implying the Pope is fallible. Luther is forced to deny the divine authority of the Church

Leipzig Debate

Luther debates with Johann Eck arguing that sola scriptura (scripture alone) is the basis for Christian faith and doctrine

Reformation, The

Luther debates with Johann Eck arguing that sola scriptura (scripture alone) is the basis for Christian faith and doctrine

Sola Scripture

Luther debates with Johann Eck arguing that sola scriptura (scripture alone) is the basis for Christian faith and doctrine

Lutheran Church

The Pope bans Luthers works

Excommunication

Luther is excommunicated by the Pope

Lutheran Church

Publicly burns the Papal Bull at Wittenberg

Papal Bull

Publicly burns the Papal Bull at Wittenberg during the Reformation

Lutheran Church

The Pope bans Luthers works. Luthers books are publicly burned in Louvain by the Papal Nuncio Aleander

Papal Bull

Pope Leo X had issues the Papal Bull Exsurge Domine, demanding that Luther retract forty-one of his 95 theses criticising the Church