Martin Luther
The Early Years
In the house of Cotta, Luther was introduced to an entirely different form of life. There he was able to be happy and not want for anything. He was able to look at life with joy rather than fear, and his thirst for knowledge began to increase. He began to learn literature and science, and because Ursula had a love for music, he learned to play the flute and compose his own hymns. Later in life, Martin looked back, thankful for the generosity of the Cotta family to invite him into their home. If it would not have been for Ursula, Martin Luther would not have gained the education of his youth, and may have even had to join his father at the mines of Mansfeld.
As Luther progressed in his studies, he surpassed all his fellow-students in his learning and education. Luther had a yearning for knowledge. At the age of 18, in 1501, Luther arrived at the University in Erfurt. It was here he studied the philosophy of Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas. Later he would be disgusted with scholasticism being the breeding ground for the doctrine of good works attaining to salvation. It was in his second year at the University that he was in the library and found a book unlike anything he had seen before. It was a Latin Bible! A rare book, and at that time hidden from the common people by the Catholic Church. Now Martin Luther could read for himself the stories of the Bible instead of merely hearing the public readings of the Church once a week. He returned to the library day after day, reading and re-reading the Holy Scriptures. In this, the first rays of Truth began to shine upon him. It was in the pages of this deserted book in which the Reformation was hid.
In 1505, at the University of Erfurt, he obtained his degree of Master of Arts and became a Doctor of Philosophy. His father, John, being very proud of him wished his son to become a lawyer. Luther began teaching physics, philosophy, and the ethics of Aristotle, but was not happy with this path of life. That summer, in hopes to discuss this with his father, Luther returned to Mansfeld to visit his parents. His father made it abundantly clear that Martin was to continue on the road of becoming a lawyer and nothing else would please him. Upon returning from Mansfeld back to Erfurt, he was overtaken by a violent storm in which he feared for his life. He threw himself onto his knees and made a vow to God, if he is delivered from the danger of this storm, he would abandon the world, and give himself entirely to God and become a monk. It was shortly before this event, at the University of Erfurt, that his friend had suddenly died. This frightened Luther, and not yet knowing the Truth of Jesus, feared for his eternal salvation. The storm desisted, and Luther was saved. He kept his vow and sought a way to become holy, and in that, he thought ignorantly, a way to secure eternal life.
As Luther progressed in his studies, he surpassed all his fellow-students in his learning and education. Luther had a yearning for knowledge. At the age of 18, in 1501, Luther arrived at the University in Erfurt. It was here he studied the philosophy of Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas. Later he would be disgusted with scholasticism being the breeding ground for the doctrine of good works attaining to salvation. It was in his second year at the University that he was in the library and found a book unlike anything he had seen before. It was a Latin Bible! A rare book, and at that time hidden from the common people by the Catholic Church. Now Martin Luther could read for himself the stories of the Bible instead of merely hearing the public readings of the Church once a week. He returned to the library day after day, reading and re-reading the Holy Scriptures. In this, the first rays of Truth began to shine upon him. It was in the pages of this deserted book in which the Reformation was hid.
In 1505, at the University of Erfurt, he obtained his degree of Master of Arts and became a Doctor of Philosophy. His father, John, being very proud of him wished his son to become a lawyer. Luther began teaching physics, philosophy, and the ethics of Aristotle, but was not happy with this path of life. That summer, in hopes to discuss this with his father, Luther returned to Mansfeld to visit his parents. His father made it abundantly clear that Martin was to continue on the road of becoming a lawyer and nothing else would please him. Upon returning from Mansfeld back to Erfurt, he was overtaken by a violent storm in which he feared for his life. He threw himself onto his knees and made a vow to God, if he is delivered from the danger of this storm, he would abandon the world, and give himself entirely to God and become a monk. It was shortly before this event, at the University of Erfurt, that his friend had suddenly died. This frightened Luther, and not yet knowing the Truth of Jesus, feared for his eternal salvation. The storm desisted, and Luther was saved. He kept his vow and sought a way to become holy, and in that, he thought ignorantly, a way to secure eternal life.