Martin Luther's New Testament

Posted by Brian Tubbs Sep 21, 2006

This is an important day in western Protestant history. On this date, the Great Reformer Martin Luther, first published his German translation of the New Testament. He would follow it up years later with the entire Bible.

The medieval Catholic Church bitterly opposed translating the Scriptures into the common tongue. Luther believed (correctly) that putting the Scriptures in the hands of the common man - in a language accessible to the masses - would draw the people closer to God and break down the power of the Catholic Church.

The Luther Bible is still regarded as his greatest literary achievement.