Martin Luther was born on November 10, 1483.
Luther taught that salvation and subsequently eternity in heaven is not earned by good deeds but is received only as a free gift of God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. His theology challenged the authority of the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church by teaching that the Bible is the only source of divinely revealed knowledge from God. Those who identify with these, and all of Luther's wider teachings, are called Lutherans.
His translation of the Bible (instead of Latin) made it more accessible, which had a tremendous impact on the church and on German culture. It fostered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the writing of an English translation, the King James Bible. His hymns influenced the development of singing in churches. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage, allowing Protestant priests to marry. Together, they had six children.
Martin Luther is also recognized for the Ninety-Five Theses and both the large and small Catechisms. He died at the age of sixty two, on February 18, 1546.
what is a catechism
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