Martin Luther
Martin Luther (1483-1546) was the leader of the Reformation, a religious movement that led to the birth of Protestantism. Luther, a German theologian, taught that the Bible should be the sole authority in the church. He also taught that people are justified (made righteous in the eyes of God) solely through faith in Christ, apart from any works of their own. Although Luther did not intend to establish a new church, his theology led to beliefs and practices quite different from those of the Roman Catholicism of his day.
Luther was born on Nov. 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Saxony. His father intended him to have a career in law. Luther enrolled at the University of Erfurt in 1501, but in 1505 he abandoned his legal studies and entered a monastery. Luther was ordained a priest in 1507, and by 1512 he was a professor of Biblical theology at Wittenberg University. He held that position for the rest of his life.
Excerpt adapted from the "Luther, Martin," article, The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999