History of Lutherans

Dear Lovelies,

As we are Lutheran and it is October, I thought it’d be fun to share some, let’s say ten, fun facts about the history of Lutherans:

Note: Martin Luther didn’t like the fact that his “followers” were being called Lutherans: “How is it that I – poor, stinking bag of maggots that I am – should have people call the children of Christ by my wretched name?”

1. Martin Luther is born on November 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany.
2. On July 2, 1505, Martin is overtaken by a thunderstorm near Stotternheim. When lightning strikes nearby, he vows to become a monk and two weeks later, enters an Augustinian Monastery.
3. In 1512, Martin begins teaching at Wittenberg University, lecturing on the Bible.
4. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther writes the 95 Theses (also called A Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences) in Wittenberg.  
5. In 1521, Martin is excommunicated by the pope; and defends himself before the Imperial Diet in Worms, where he famously says…“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason… I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted, and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise, here I stand, may God help me, Amen.”
6. Martin is “kidnapped” (or rescued) by Frederick the Wise and taken to Wartburg Castle in 1521/22, where he grew a beard and was disguised as Junker Jörg (Knight George) and translated the New Testament into German. The entire Bible is translated for print in 1534.
7. The Small and Large Catechisms are published in 1529 as an aid for parents to teach their children.
8. Philip Melancthon, who joined the Wittenberg faculty in 1518, drafts the Augsburg Confession in 1530, the primary confession of faith for the Lutheran church.
9. Lutheranism spreads and in 1537, Denmark and later, Norway, adopts it as their state religion.
10. The first Lutheran church in what would become America is First Lutheran Church in Albany, New York, founded by Dutch settlers in 1649.

Happy Reformation Day!

Traci Billman, Director of Christian Education