Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther

by Martin Luther

Overview

Martin Luther (1483-1546) is a name that is synonymous with reformation. His 1517 posting of ninety-five theses on the door of All Saints church in Wittenburg changed the course of history forever. In his theses, Luther objects to the Roman Catholic Church and its practice of selling indulgences, as well as the idea that money could buy one's way to salvation. His controversial ideas inspired the Reformation and influenced the Lutheran and Protestant ideologies. Most of Luther's books were ordered to be burned, however, a copy of his "Table Talk" (originally titled "Divine Discourses") was found under the foundation of a German home in 1626. It contains a series of informal conversations recorded by Luther's students and colleagues in his home, and illustrates the reformist's firm beliefs on religious doctrine, history, academics and history, to name a few. These selections expound some of Martin Luther's most profound ideas, completely uncensored.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781420943528
Publisher:	Digireads.com Publishing
Publication date:	10/04/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a German priest and professor of theology who initiated the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment of sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517. His refusal to retract all of his writings at the demand of Pope Leo X in 1520 and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms in 1521 resulted in his excommunication by the pope and condemnation as an outlaw by the emperor. Luther taught that salvation is not earned by good deeds but received only as a free gift of God's grace through faith in Jesus as redeemer from sin. His theology challenged the authority of the pope of the Roman Catholic Church by teaching that the Bible is the only source of divinely revealed knowledge and opposed sacerdotalism by considering all baptized Christians to be a holy priesthood. Those who identify with Luther's teachings are called Lutherans. His translation of the Bible into the language of the people (instead of Latin) made it more accessible, causing a tremendous impact on the church and on German culture. It fostered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the translation into English of the King James Bible. His hymns influenced the development of singing in churches. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage, allowing Protestant priests to marry.