1. Martin Luther
The Protestant Legend
By Sam Linville

2. Biography
Name: Martin Luther
Date Of Birth: November 10th, 1483
Place of Birth: Eisleben, Saxony
Parents: Hans and Margaret Luther
Spouse: Kathrina von Bora
Date of Death: February 18, 1546
Place Of Death: Eisleben, Saxony
Reason For Death: Sickness and old age
What Made him Famous: He was famous for open defiance of the Roman
Catholic Church, and for being the Leader of the Protestants.
Most Notable Works: The 95 Theses

3. Some Interesting Facts
• Luther, a former monk, married to Kathrina von Bora, who was a former
nun after his excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church.
• He actually returned to Eisleben before his death in 1546.
• The Catholic Church was doing the same thing to heretics that the Romans
did to them in Ancient Rome… killing all the people who were going
against them.

4. Childhood
Martin Luther was born on Nov. 10, 1483. His
parents were Hans and Margaret Luther. He
was born in Eisleben, Saxony. His father
worked as a copper miner. His childhood was
modest, but he got an excellent education at
four different schools.

5. Education
When he was young, Luther studied at Magdeburg and
Eisenach, and later attended the University of Erfurt.
In 1505, his father pushed him to study law. Before
the year was over, Luther quit law school and moved
on to be a Augustinian monk. He entered in the
Augustinian monastery in Erfurt in July, 1505. he
then earned a doctorate in theology in 1512 and
became a professor of Biblical literature at
Wittenberg University.

6. Adulthood/Family
Martin Luther had no brothers or sisters. He
married Kathrina von Bora in 1525. They had
no children. In other words, his family was
very small.

7. Career
Luther’s career was very interesting. He began
as a monk, and then as a priest, and later as a
professor at Wittenberg. Obviously, his work
in the Catholic Church ended on October 31,
1517, but he continued to teach the word of
God throughout his life.

8. Impact on World
Luther had an amazing impact on the world, and
even today his mark is left all over the world.
He wrote the hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our
God, and was the first person to translate the
New Testament into German. He stood up to
the Pope, and went on the start the
reformation. It is because of him that we have
the Protestant Churches today

9. Awards and Recognitions
Luther received no awards or recognitions in his
lifetime, even though he deserved them more
than anyone. However, today he is very well-
known and recognized as the Leader of the
Reformation, and the founder of the
Protestant Churches.

10. “Martin Luther” By Wes King
On the eve of All Saints Day,
The year was 1517.
Absolution paved the way,
The piece of silver set you free.
One man stood from the rest,
Was compelled to confess.
CHORUS
I’m gonna light me on fire.
Flames of truth are burning me.
I’m gonna light me a fire.
The world will come to see,
This truth that’s changed in me.
The chapel ceilings austere.
No man would dare question Rome.
The superstition and fear,
Was filled with fairies and gnomes.
The door of Wittenberg,
The truth was finally heard.
I’m gonna light me on fire.
Flames of truth are burning me.
I’m gonna light me a fire.
The world will come to see,
This truth that’s set you free.
I can not, I will not recant.
I can not, I will not recant.
Here I stand.
Five centuries have come and gone,
His flame has not been forgotten.
On Sundays I sing his song,
The mighty fortress is our god.
With growing certainty,
This truth prevails in me.
CHORUS
I’m gonna light me on fire.
Flames of truth are burning me.
I’m gonna light me a fire.
The world will come to see,
This truth that’s set you free.

11. Sources
• http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/web/ninetyf
ive.html
• http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/jod/texts/95.theses.html
• Forrel, George Wolfgang, “Martin Luther,” Microsoft Encarta®2006 (CD).
Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2005.
• The Software Toolworks Multimedia Encyclopedia
• "LUTHER, Martin."Comptons Encyclopedia & Fact-Index. 1997. 1997.
• Wes King, “Martin Luther,” “The Robe” 1997