Martin Luther
1483 Born at Eisleben, November 10
1484 Parents, Hans and Margaretha Luder, move family to Mansfeld, where Hans works in copper mines
1492 Attends school in Mansfeld
1497 Attends school in Magdeburg
1498 Attends school in Eisenach
1501 Enters University of Erfurt
1502 Receives B.A. at Erfurt
1505 Earns M.A. at Erfurt; begins law studies; in thunderstorm on July 2, vows to become a monk; enters Order of Augustinian Hermits
1507 Ordained and celebrates first Mass
1509 Becomes bachelor of Bible
1510 Visits Rome
1511 Transferred to Augustinian house at Wittenberg
1512 Becomes doctor of theology
1513 Begins lecturing on The Psalms
1515 Lectures on Romans; appointed district vicar over ten monasteries
1516 Begins lecturing on Galatians
1517 Begins lecturing on Hebrews; on October 31, posts “95 Theses” on indulgences
1518 At meeting of Augustinians in Heidelberg, defends his theology; in October, appears before Cardinal Cajetan at Augsburg, but refuses to recant; in December, Frederick the Wise protects Luther from being handed over to Rome.
1519 Understands the “righteousness of God” as “passive righteousness with which God justifies us by faith”; in July, debates Professor John Eck at Leipzig and denies supreme authority of popes and councils
1520 Papal bull “Exsurge Domine” gives Luther 60 days to recant or be excommunicated; writes 3 seminal documents: To the Christian Nobility, On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and The Freedom of a Christian; burns papal bull and canon law
1521 Excommunicated by the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem; at Diet of Worms in April, he refuses to recant writings, and edict (in May) condemns him as heretic and outlaw; he is “kidnapped” ...

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