There were a lot of important events in Luther’s life, so this list is, of course, subjective. But getting your head around these events will give you a backbone for the life of Luther.
- 1483, November 10 Martin Luther born in Eisleben, the second son of Hans Luder; baptized at St. Peter’s Church the next day November 11, on the feast day of St. Martin of Tours.
- 1507, April 3. Luther ordained priest at Erfurt Cathedral.
- 1518 (?) Luther’s “tower experience” understanding Roman 1:17 how we are counted as righteous by the work of Christ, to arrive at the justification by faith in tower of Black Cloister in Wittenberg, exact date unknown.
- 1520, June 1. Leo X issues papal bull Exsurge Domine, giving Luther sixty days to recant or be excommunicated.
- 1521, April 18. At his second hearing, Luther distinguishes between his books, allowing him to make a statement. On key points, however, he stands firm. He says, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, God help me. Amen.”
- 1521, May 4. Luther “kidnapped” in the forest near Mohra.
- 1525, June 13. Luther marries Katharina von Bora a former nun in Wittenberg, who he had helped escape from a badly run convent.
- 1526, August. Diet of Speyer in the Edict of Speyer reaffirms the Edict of Worms only for Catholic territories and allows German Lutheran princes the right to establish religion in their territory, stopping the Edict of Worms for the Lutheran princes (for now).
- 1529, March-April. Second Diet of Speyer, condemned the results of the Diet of Speyer of 1526 and prohibited future reformation aiming to reverse the policy of religious tolerance adopted in 1526, the Lutheran members of the Diet protested, resulting in the issue of the Pretestio, giving rise to the label “Protestant,” which the Romanists applied to all who agree with Luther.
- 1529, October 2-4. Luther, Melanchthon, and Zwingli meet for Marburg Colloquy; Reformed and Lutherans are brought together to create a united Protestant front, unable to agree on Lord’s Supper.
- 1530, June 25. Augsburg Confession first read and presented to Charles V at Diet of Augsburg.
- 1538 Luther’s Smalcald Articles published.
- 1546, February 18. Luther dies at the age of 62, in Eisleben.
