The German Nation and Martin Luther - Essay Example

About Martin LutherMartin Luther, a German, lived between 1483 and 1546. During this period, the Roman Catholic Church had established a strong following across Europe. The church’s doctrines were not only strong, but also strict and promised eternal life for believers and hell fire for the none–believers. For these reasons, Martin felt that he could only find safety in being a catholic priest. He, therefore, joined the monastery to pursue his ambition. He had become a professor in theology by 1517 and had written ninety-five theses criticizing the Catholic Church after he discovered that, it was his own actions that could grant him eternal life, not the church.

His theses were printed and distributed all over Europe in a span of three months. Among his biggest criticisms was the Pope’s role in raising money, an act that made him one of the richest men of his time. His argument was that the Pope should have used his wealth to help the needy in society. David’s unrelenting battle with the church got him exiled a few months after the formation of the Diet of Worms Council in 1521. A group of Martin Luther’s supporters who wanted to make him a martyr formed this council.

Arthur states that in 1523, Martin Luther published the German version of the Pentateuch before producing an edition of the New Testament, in 1529 (254). This marked the beginning of translation of the Bible into many languages, and task that is still being practiced up to date. In addition to this, Luther wrote several hymns, hence marking the beginning of singing during congregational services. Presently, hymns are sung in Christian church services all over the world.His matrimony to a woman, who was herself an ex-nun, introduced the concept of marriage among Christian clergy.

This act was unheard of among priests in his time. They had a large family and lived a simple life.Works CitedArthur, Dickens. The German Nation and Martin Luther. London: Edward Arnold, 1974. Print.