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{{Christianity}}

{{Christianity}}

'''Martin Luther''' (November 10, 1483 - February 18,1546) was the leader of the German [[Reformation]].

'''Martin Luther''' (November 10, 1483 - February 18, 1546) German religious reformer and theologian began the [[Protestantism|Protestant Reformation]] and founded the Lutheran Church as a branch of [[Christianity]] dominant in Germany<ref> There were many different independent German-speaking countries with different rulers; collectively they were called "Germany."</ref>  and Scandinavia.

He was a Monk and Theologian whose writing sparked the [[Protestant Reformation]] which led to the founding of the [[Lutheran Church]] as an alternative to the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. From the perspective of [[Roman Catholic]] scholars, Luther remains a monk who overeacted and caused a great deal of needless trouble.  To [[Protestants]], Luther as a prophet has largely been forgotten, but prior to the 18th century, Luther was seen as a witness to and agent of [[Jesus Christ]] who God mysteriously chose to bestow a gift of deep insight into scripture and the true nature of the Catholic church, not unlike the kind of conversion experience given to [[St. Paul]]<ref>''Martin Luther:Prohpet to the Church Catholic'', [[James Atkinson]], Eerdmans, 1983, ISBN 0-8028-1260-0, pp.43-58</ref>. "Luther, and with him all the Reformers of the sixteenth century, German, Swiss, and British alike, believed that God spoke to them in the Scriptures in exactly the same way He had spoken to his prophets and apostles.<ref>''Martin Luther:Prohpet to the Church Catholic'', [[James Atkinson]], Eerdmans, 1983, ISBN 0-8028-1260-0, p.143</ref>"

[[Image:Luther-Cranach.jpg|thumb|225px]]

 

 

From the perspective of [[Roman Catholic]] scholars, Luther remains a monk who overeacted and caused a great deal of needless trouble.  To [[Mainline]] Protestants, Luther was a great reformer --a witness to and agent of Jesus Christ who God mysteriously chose to bestow a gift of deep insight into scripture and the true nature of the Catholic church, not unlike the kind of conversion experience given to [[St. Paul]]<ref>[[James Atkinson]], ''Martin Luther: Prophet to the Church Catholic'', (1983) , ISBN 0-8028-1260-0, pp.43-58</ref>. "Luther, and with him all the Reformers of the sixteenth century, German, Swiss, and British alike, believed that God spoke to them in the Scriptures in exactly the same way He had spoken to his prophets and apostles.<ref>''Martin Luther:Prohpet to the Church Catholic'', [[James Atkinson]], Eerdmans, 1983, ISBN 0-8028-1260-0, p.143</ref>"

== History ==

== History ==

== See also ==

== See also ==

*[[Priesthood of all believers]]

*[[Priesthood of all believers]]

==References==

==References==