Martin Luther's Life

Birth

Sep 10, 1483

Birth of Martin Luther in present day Germany

95 Theses

1517

Luther publishes the 95 Theses and nails it to the church door. The text criticizes the church for selling and promoting indulgences. The 95 theses was quickly spread throughout Europe with the help of the printing press.

Papal Bull

1520

Pope Leo X issued a papal bull condemning Luther telling him to recant and take back what he said about the church. Luther burned the documentation in public.

Excommunication

1521

During the meeting, Diet of Worms, Luther was asked to declare that what he had published about the church as wrong, but Luther insists that he isn't wrong.
This resulted in Martin Luther declared as an outlaw and also excommunicated, kicked out of church.

Translation of the New Testament

1522

Luther publishes his German translation of the New Testament. He translated the New Testament because he believed that everyone should be able to interpret God's words by themselves. The translated text soon spread to ordinary people with the help of the printing press making text more easily accessible.

Publication of Confessio Augustana

1530

The Confessio Augustana, written by Philip Melanchthon, a close collaborator of Martin Luther is consists of 28 articles that outline the theology of Lutheranism. Again with the help of the printing press it spread the ideas of Lutheranism around Europe to even ordinary people and educating people on Luther's teachings.

Death

1546

Luther’s death.