Wikipedia: Martin Luther

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Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a Catholic priest and Augustinian monk who questioned certain policies and points of theology of the Roman Catholic Church of his time.

At the age of eighteen in 1501? he entered the University of Erfurt. In 1507? he was ordained to the priesthood. In 1508? he began teaching philosophy at the University of [[Wittenberg]. He continued his theological studies.

In 1517? he posted a document known as the 95 Theses on the door of the church in Wittenburg, Germany. In the 95 Theses he objected to many policies and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. The Church took offense to his questions and branded him as a traitor to the church.

He defended the theses in Worms.

This event is usually taken to mark the beginning of the Protestant movement, which split from the Catholic church in the largest division of western Christianity. However, it is clear that Luther began his work inside the church and only later - and with some reluctance - realized that he was leading a movement away from communion with Rome.

Luther translated the New Testament into German. He used the recent critical edition done by Erasmus, a text which was later called textus receptus. The translation was published in 1521.

The translation of the Old Testament followed in 1534.

Today most Protestant denominations follow ideas based in Luther's teachings, and the Lutheran Church in particular is directly descended from his work.