What did Martin Luther contribute?

Who was Martin Luther? Martin Luther, a 16th century monk and theologian, was one of the most significant figures in Christian history. His beliefs helped spawn the Reformation—which would give rise to Protestantism as the third major force within Christendom, along with Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

What was Martin Luther's contribution to the Reformation?

Luther caused many people to reconsider what the Bible taught and to seek to purify the practices and teachings of the churches. Martin Luther is considered one of the fathers of the Reformation. Luther nailed 95 Theses to Wittenberg Castle Church in 1517 as a way of saying what was wrong with the Catholic Church.

How did Martin Luther influence the world today?

Martin Luther has an influence on our lives today. One influence is that the Bible is printed in many languages. Martin Luther emphasized the importance of individual people learning about the Bible and studying it. He did not believe that the Roman Catholic Church should control what people wanted to know about the Bible.

What made Martin Luther's ideas during the Protestant Reformation successful?

Basically, Luther succeeded because his ideas appealed to people of all classes. In its maturity, his theology was seen as revolutionary in economic, social and political – as well as intellectual and doctrinal ways. Another reason for Luther's success was the relative weakness of the forces that opposed him.

What did Martin Luther say about worldly authority?

In his Treatise on Secular Authority, Luther noted: "[t]hese people [that is, the people of God's kingdom] need neither secular sword nor law. And if the whole world were composed of true Christians, that is, true believers, there would not be need no prince, no king, lord, sword or law.

Why was Martin Luther important to the church?

Luther sought to orient the understanding of Christianity to enable people to live authentically in the world, just as Jesus did. For this and his contribution to the church's view of vocation we must be grateful.

Who was one of Martin Luther's most talented employees?

Luther's most able collaborator, Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560), was moderate and humanist. But once Luther had been excommunicated and banned and gained powerful political support, compromise was unlikely. Politically, opposition to the Lutherans centered in the youthful Charles V, who became Holy Roman Emperor in 1519.

How did Martin Luther influence the view of vocation?

One of the main problems with the pre-Reformation view of vocation was the conflation of personal identity with vocation. Thus a priest engaged in administering the sacraments was considered holier than the laborer in the field. Luther pushed back directly against this distinction: