Early Life:

Martin Luther

Martin Luther (born as Martin Luder, later he called himself Luther) was born in Eisleben, Germany on November 10, 1483 to parents Hans and Margarette Luther. At age seven, Martin Luther entered school in Mansfeld. At 14, he went to north to Magdeburg, where he continued his studies. In 1498, he returned to Eisleben and enrolled in a school, studying grammar, rhetoric and logic (he later compared this experience to purgatory and hell).

He attended the University of Erfurt and got his Master of Arts degree. Later, in 1505, after a life-changing moment, he became a monk. The first few years of monastery life were difficult for Martin Luther, as he did not find the religious enlightenment he was seeking. A mentor told him to focus his life exclusively on Christ and this would help him. At age 27, he was given the opportunity to be a delegate to a church conference in Rome. Upon his return to Germany, he enrolled in the University of Wittenberg. He excelled in his studies and received a doctorate to become a professor of theology m

While preparing a lecture on Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, he read, “The just will live by faith.” He dwelled on this statement for some time. Finally, he realized the key to spiritual salvation was not to fear God or be enslaved by religious dogma but to believe that faith alone would bring salvation. This period marked a major change in his life and set in motion the Reformation.u

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