Martin Luther

Martin Luther was born in Germany in 1483. He became a monk and a professor of theology. In 1517, he wrote a list of 95 problems he saw with the Catholic Church and nailed it to a church door. This brave act started a huge movement called the Protestant Reformation. Luther believed that people should be able to read the Bible in their own language and worship God in their own way.

Standing Up for His Beliefs

Luther was upset that church leaders sold indulgences, which were papers that supposedly forgave sins in exchange for money. He wrote his 95 Theses to explain what was wrong. Thanks to the printing press, his ideas spread across Europe in just a few weeks. The Catholic Church told Luther to take back his words. He refused and said, 'Here I stand. I can do no other.' He was kicked out of the church.

Luther's Legacy

Even after being kicked out of the church, Luther kept working. He translated the Bible from Latin into German so that ordinary people could read it. He wrote hymns that people still sing today. His ideas led to the creation of Lutheran churches and other Protestant churches. Luther died in 1546, but his courage to stand up for what he believed in changed the world.

Fun Facts

• Luther's 95 Theses were written in Latin, but someone quickly translated them into German.
• Luther wrote the famous hymn 'A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.'
• Luther married a former nun named Katharina von Bora, and they had six children.

Did You Know?

Martin Luther once hid in a castle for almost a year. During that time, he translated the entire New Testament of the Bible into German!