by Charles Fry /
This timeline (of the main events and writings addressed by these posts) will help the reader more clearly understand how the details of Martin Luther’s life fit into his overarching story and that of the Reformation.
Read all the posts published to date in this extended series on the life and theology of Martin Luther, as we celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the birth of the Reformation.
| 1415 July 6 | John Hus burned at the stake, c. 100 years before the Reformation |
| 1483 November 10 | Martin Luther born in Eisleben, Germany |
| 1505 | Begins study of Law |
| 1505 July 2 | Vows to become monk after thunderstorm |
| 1505 July 17 | Enters Augustinian order to become a monk |
| 1507 | Luther conducts his first Mass |
| 1511 | Transferred by Staupitz to Wittenberg from Erfurt |
| 1513–1516 | Lectures on Psalms, Romans, and Galatians at University of Wittenburg |
| 1517 October 31 | Announces 95 Theses in Wittenberg |
| 1518 April 26 | Heidelberg Disputation |
| 1519 July 4–14 | Debates Eck at Leipzig, Sola Scriptura is realized by Luther |
| 1520 | Treatise on Good Works, To the Christian Nobility, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and The Freedom of a Christian are published |
| 1520 | Pope Leo X issues papal bull giving Luther 60 days to recant |
| 1521 April 16–26 | Luther defends at the Diet of Worms |
| 1521 May 4 | Luther is hidden at the Wartburg castle |
| 1522 | Luther’s German translation of the New Testament published |
| 1524 | Peasants’ War begins. Thomas Munzer, a key leader of the Anabaptists |
| 1525 January 21 | Formal beginning of Anabaptist movement(Conrad Grebel baptizes) |
| 1525 | Luther marries Katherine Von Bora, a nun |
| 1529 | Marburg Colloquy (Luther & Zwingli split over the Lord’s Supper) |
| 1529 | Luther writes Large Catechism (April) and Small Catechism (May) |
| 1530 June 25 | The Augsburg Confession is presented |
| 1535 | Lectures on Galatians is published |
| 1536–1537 | Luther writes Smalcald Articles |
| 1539 | Luther writes Against the Antinomians |
| 1546 February 18 | Martin Luther dies at age 62 in Eisleben, Germany |
Part 9 of an extended series drawn from A World Upside Down: The Life and Theology of Martin Luther, by Charles E. Fry.
Chuck Fry holds degrees from Marshall University, Moody Bible Institute, and Christ College. He has been in discipleship ministry since 1989 and is on staff with The Navigators in Huntington, West Virginia. He and his wife, Lisa, organize and host the annual Majesty of God conference, held each April.
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