Martin Luther
The Early Years
artin Luther, born November 10th, 1483 in Eisleben, Germany, son of miner John Luther. Six months after Martin was born, his family moved to Mansfeld where his father, known for his integrity, blameless life, and good sense, would become counsellor of Mansfeld, at the same time keeping an occupation as a mine worker as well. This elevated status in Mansfeld gave John Luther the means to enable his son, Martin, to obtain an education, however, the family was still very poor.
The household of Luther was of strict virtue and stood by the divine wisdom which said, “He that spareth the rod, hateth his son.” Martin Luther once said, “My parents treated me harshly, and made me very timid. My mother one day chastised me about a filbert till the blood came. They believed with all their heart they were doing right, but they could not discriminate between dispositions, though this is necessary in order to know when and how punishments should be inflicted.” Martin went to the school of Mansfeld where he learned Latin and the fundamentals of Catholic doctrine. But instead of learning the Truth of Jesus, he became fearful of Him and whenever he heard Jesus Christ mentioned, he grew pale with terror; for the Savior had been represented to him as an angry Judge. Martin’s father longed to make him a learned man. Seeing his son was very bright, at the age of 14, he sent him to a school of the Franciscans at Magdebourg, 1497. Being away from home, Martin scarcely had enough means for sustenance, and often begged for his food. Being made aware of the difficulties their son had endured, John and his mother Margaret sent him to a celebrated school in Isenach, but it was no better. Martin found himself going from house to house begging for bread as well. Finally, upon knocking on a door, Ursala, wife of Conrad Cotta, opened the door and invited the starving boy into the house. Seeing the boy in desperate need of help, God’s favor intervened, and Conrad and Ursula opened up their home to young Luther, allowing him to live and eat at their table. |
Young Luther
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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.