Friedrich's greatest historical merit was his protection of Martin Luther from the Court of Inquisition. This tested his repertoire of diplomatic stalling tactics. Opponents could never find a weak point. Frederick saw Luther as unjustly persecuted because he believed Luther could not be found guilty of any real crime. Friedrich had a habit of forming his own opinion after exact consideration of the state of affairs by his advisers and listening to the opinion of a recognized expert. In the case of Luther that expert was Erasmus von Rotterdam.
This protection in the early years gave Luther and the entire Reformation a chance to flourish. But more was at play than religious belief. Political influences prompted him to help Luther. Frederick opposed the power of the pope and the emperor in Germany and Luther was a threat to both men. Frederick also couldn't stand to see Luther condemned as a heretic if his teaching was actually the truth.
In 1520 he refused to put into execution the papal bull which ordered Luther's writings to be burned and the reformer to be put under restraint or sent to Rome. Frederick secured an exemption from the Edict of Worms for Saxony and ensured Luther would be heard before the Diet of Worms in 1521. He further protected Luther from the emperor and pope by taking him into custody at Wartburg Castle after the Diet of Worms. The risk in doing this was great. Luther, condemned as a heretic, was a criminal in the eyes of church and state. Anyone could kill him (and perhaps claim a bounty). Anyone aiding and abetting said criminals could also be punished. I suspect the Elector's army and influence gave him an advantage Luther did not have.
In having Luther spirited away to the Wartburg, Frederick did not want to know the details. He wanted to truthfully say to both Pope and Holy Roman Emperor, "I do not know where Luther is." However, Luther still corresponded with others in Wittenberg as he translated the New Testament into German while staying at the Wartburg and word got to him about Carlstadt's "reforms" in Wittenberg.
Frederick was among the princes who pressed the need of reform upon the German king Maximilian I. in 1495, and in 1500 he became president of the newly-formed council of regency (Reichsregiment). In 1493 Frederick took a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where he was made a knight of the Holy Sepulchre.
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