Changes

In 1505, Martin Luther was a law student caught outside in the middle of a thunderstorm.  A bolt of lightning struck the ground near him.  Terrified, he cried out to St. Anne for protection and promised to become a monk if he survived the storm.  He did survive, and then left law school to join an Augustinian monastery.

In 1505, Martin Luther was a law student caught outside in the middle of a thunderstorm.  A bolt of lightning struck the ground near him.  Terrified, he cried out to St. Anne for protection and promised to become a monk if he survived the storm.  He did survive, and then left law school to join an Augustinian monastery.

At the monastery, Martin Luther felt plagued by the devil and realized how corrupt the Catholic church was at that time.  He began to form his own opinions.

At the monastery, Martin Luther felt plagued by the devil and realized how corrupt the Catholic church was.  He began to form his own opinions.

Martin Luther founded Protestantism in Europe on October 31, 1517, when he nailed [[the 95 Theses]] or issues to the door of his Wittenberg Church in what is now Germany.  The source of Luther's complaint was a project to rebuild St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, for which church officials were offering [[indulgences]] in exchange for donations.  Martin Luther objected and list 95 complaints to spark public debate.

Martin Luther founded Protestantism in Europe on October 31, 1517, when he nailed [[the 95 Theses]] or issues to the door of his Wittenberg Church in what is now Germany.  The source of Luther's complaint was a project to rebuild St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, for which church officials were offering [[indulgences]] in exchange for donations.  Martin Luther objected and list 95 complaints to spark public debate.

But Luther had already left the trial before the verdict was rendered.  He hid at Wartburg Castle at Eisenach, where Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony, protected him.  Luther took the pseudonym Junker Jorg (Nobleman George), grew a wide beard and dressed like a knight.  While in hiding he translated the New Testament from Greek into German in 1522.  (By 1534, Luther had translated all of the Old Testament from Hebrew to German also.)

But Luther had already left the trial before the verdict was rendered.  He hid at Wartburg Castle at Eisenach, where Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony, protected him.  Luther took the pseudonym Junker Jorg (Nobleman George), grew a wide beard and dressed like a knight.  While in hiding he translated the New Testament from Greek into German in 1522.  (By 1534, Luther had translated all of the Old Testament from Hebrew to German also.)

Luther translated Romans 3:28 by adding an extra German word for "alone" (alleine or alleyn) after the phrase: "justified by faith":  "So halten wir nun dafür, daß der Mensch gerecht werde ohne des Gesetzes Werke, alleyn durch den Glauben."  Luther believed that man is justified (saved) by faith alone, and that salvation comes only from faith.  The Catholic Church (and [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]) taught that man is justified (saved) by faith and good works.

Luther translated Romans 3:28 by adding an extra German word for "alone" (alleine or alleyn) after the phrase: "justified by faith":  "So halten wir nun dafür, daß der Mensch gerecht werde ohne des Gesetzes Werke, alleyn durch den Glauben."  Luther believed that man is justified (saved) by faith alone, and that salvation comes only from faith.  The Catholic Church (and [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]) taught that man is justified (saved) by faith, good works and confession to the Church authorities.

A remarkable invention awaited Luther's German translation of the Bible:  in 1447 the German Johannes Gutenberg had already invented the printing press (with movable type).  This enabled Luther's translation to be printed for the public in September 1522.  The Christian world would never be the same again.  (The Gutenberg Bible (in Latin, not German), had been printed in 1455 and it is the oldest existing (extant) book in the West.)

A remarkable invention awaited Luther's German translation of the Bible:  in 1447 the German Johannes Gutenberg had already invented the printing press (with movable type).  This enabled Luther's translation to be printed for the public in September 1522.  The Christian world would never be the same again.  (The Gutenberg Bible (in Latin, not German), had been printed in 1455 and it is the oldest existing (extant) book in the West.)