Martin Luther
German priest and theologian who wrote the Ninety-five Theses and led the Protestant Reformation Show bio
Bio
Martin Luther vowed to become a monk, one story says, when lightning struck near him. He came to see salvation as God's free gift, received through faith alone.
Luther challenged the pope's authority in his Ninety-five Theses, sparking an international debate. He refused the pope's demand to renounce his writings and was cast out of the Church.
Luther translated the Bible into German, making it far more accessible to ordinary people. He also wrote works calling for Jews to be expelled and synagogues burned. Luther married a former nun, setting the model that let Protestant clergy marry.