Module 2: Martin Luther
Hi everyone, and welcome to the second module of the History of Christianity 2 Course. In this section, we'll be working through the life and ministry of Martin Luther, which represents the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Luther is an extremely influential figure in the history of the Christian church. And the Protestant Reformation, of which he was a primary catalyst, dramatically changed the course of church history.
This module will help you to understand the tremendous changes in the history and practices of the European church, based on the revolutionary theological breakthrough of Luther and his contemporaries. The student will be exposed to the doctrines of Luther, the impacts on the church of his day, and the long term effect on the European church.
This module will also aid the student to evaluate these doctrines and changes, and work through how the lessons learned can be applied in their own life and ministry.
Introductory Scenario
Imagine that you are a member of the jury on a contentious criminal trial. You are convinced that the defendant is innocent, and the rest of the jury is convinced they are guilty. For whatever reason, you noticed some evidence that the rest of the jury overlooked, and you are convinced that you are right. There is tremendous pressure on you to go along with everyone else, though you have very good reasons to stand on your conclusion and convictions. What would you do in that situation? How could you resist the tremendous pressure? How would you try to convince the others that you are right? How would you respond if they attack you as being in the wrong? How would you respond in a similar situation dealing with issues even more important than a jury trial? Please consider these questions and be watching for material that will help you answer them as you work through this module.
Module Objectives and Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module, the student will:
- Understand and describe the life of Martin Luther and the tremendous theological breakthrough that changed his life and ministry.
- Describe the theological ideas taught by Luther and the result of these ideas on the church of his time.
- Demonstrate the various reactions to Luther's ideas and actions and how they impacted subsequent history.
- Place the major events of Luther's life and ministry in a general chronology.
Instruction Guides
In this section, you'll find links to important instructional documents for this module. Click the following links to open each document. There is a set of instructions for individual study and a document for group study.
Textbook Content
In this section, you'll find a study guide for the textbook reading for module 2. And then you'll find the link to a practice quiz covering this textbook reading.
This section also contains a review quiz to test your understanding of the textbook material for this module. By clicking the banner below, you will be given a series of questions, in random order. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once.
Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the Submit
button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.
Lecture Content
In this section, you will find the video lectures for the Martin Luther module. They are designed to be watched in order, but each video should make sense on its own. Click each banner to open access to each video. There are also links with each video if you prefer to watch on the Rumble or YouTube interface or download just the audio to listen offline.
Reviews
In this section, you will find the review slides from the course lectures for module 8. This is a convenient way to view and review the summaries for each lecture. Click the banner to open the slide show.
Click the prev.
and next
buttons (bottom right of the slide) to move through the slides. You can also click on any thumbnail to go directly to that slide.
Discussion/Reflection/Essay Questions
This section contains questions for further thought and discussion from Module 2. It is recommended that you take time to think through these issues in order to thoroughly grasp the significance and explore the application of the material you are learning. These questions can also be used as essay questions in a classroom setting exam. Below, you will find links to the Response and Application Reflection Instructions for Individuals, and the Response and Application Discussion Instructions for Groups. And you will find a link to the detailed question document for this module. Or Click the banner below to view the questions in a simplified format.
The following questions are for your thoughtful consideration and discussion:
- What can we learn from Luther's character, attitude & actions? How can we apply this to our own life & ministry?
- What issues was Luther wrestling with and fighting about? Why are they important? How does this apply?
- Describe Luther's Theological ideas. Why are they important? What difference can/should they make in your own situation?
- Describe the impact of Luther's teaching on the church, society, and politics of his day. Why did they make a difference? What difference can/should they make in your own life & ministry?
- What else did you learn? How does it apply?
(Optional) Timeline - Part 2
This section contains instructions for an optional Timeline activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.
Step Two of the Timeline should include the following information:
- Any significant events from the life and ministry of Martin Luther.
- Any significant controversies and issues that confronted Luther, and which he addressed in his ministry.
- Any significant writings of Luther, and the ideas, doctrines, and approaches which they represent, and the impact they had.
(Optional) Principles Chart - Part 2
This section contains instructions for an optional Principles Chart activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.
Step two of the Principles chart will add any important principles noted from the life, writings, and ministry of Martin Luther, the influence he had, the reasons behind that influence, and how those principles can be applied.
It is suggested that the student begin this activity before watching the Guiding Principles
portion of the lecture. Then the student may supplement their work after learning additional insights from the Guiding Principles.
Primary Source Reading
This section contains instructions and resources for the Primary Source Reading activity. The student should read a minimum of 10-20 pages from a primary resource or resources discussed in this module's lecture and write or discuss a brief response to their reading. Below is a link to detailed instructions for the Primary Source Reading, which contain a list of recommended resources, by module. And click the banner below to access a list of recommended resources with links to where they may be found.
The following is a list of the recommended primary sources for this module. This list contains links to the resources in print and/or online format. These links may change, so feel free to search for other sources for these same titles. In addition, please do not feel you are limited only to this list. Feel free to choose from any primary source from the period and topic covered in this module:
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A Reformation Reader: Primary Texts and Introductions,Print ISBN : 978-1506474694Online : archive.org
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A Reformation of the Church: A Collection of Reformed and Puritan Documents,Print ISBN : 978-1800400160
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The 95 Theses,Print ISBN : 978-0143107583, or 979-8880907939Online : apostles-creed.org, luther.de, ccel.org, reverendluther.org, or archive.org
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Luther Bible [In German],Print ISBN : 978-1683071570Online : ntslibrary.com, archive.org, luther1545.org, or ebible.org
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Lectures on Romans,Print ISBN : 978-0664241513Online : archive.org, or scribd.com
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The Liepzig Disputation,Online : germanhistory-intersections.org
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The Heidelberg Disputation,Print ISBN : 978-0664241667, or 978-0143107583Online : mbird.com, reverendluther.org, silveredalelutheran.org, or apostles-creed.org
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Address to the German Nobility,Print ISBN : 978-1947644687, or 978-1506413495
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The Babylonian Captivity of the Church,Print ISBN : 978-1947644687, or 978-1506413471
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On the Freedom of a Christian,Print ISBN : 978-1947644687, 978-1433582264, or 978-0800663117
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Treatise on Good Works,Print ISBN : 978-0800698935, or 978-1483701585Online : gutenberg.org, archive.org, or ccel.org
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A Simple Way to Pray,Print ISBN : 978-0664238391Online : archive.org, or beresolute.org
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Letters of Martin Luther,Print ISBN : 978-0664230852
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Commentary on Galatians,Print ISBN : 978-0825430831, 978-1589601178, 978-0891079941, or 978-1483701615Online : monergism.com, ccel.org, archive.org, gutenberg.org, or ntslibrary.com
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Commentary on Romans,Print ISBN : 978-0825431203Online : archive.org
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Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount,Online : monergism.com, archive.org, or sabda.org
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Selected Sermons,Print ISBN : 9780985604585
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The Bondage of the Will,Print ISBN : 978-1598562804, 978-1483701660, 978-1878442512, 978-0801048937, or 978-1506413457Online : monergism.com, or ccel.org
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Selected Political Writings,Print ISBN : 978-1592442041Online : archive.org
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The Small Catechism,Print ISBN : 978-0758611208, 978-0758660244, or 978-0806610764Online : apostles-creed.org, lutheranph.org, archive.org, or ccel.org
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The Large Catechism,Print ISBN : 978-1506413556, 979-8880917082, 978-1483701646, or 979-8880917075Online : apostles-creed.org, lutherantheology.org, archive.org, or ccel.org
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Table Talk,Print ISBN : 978-0486443591, or 978-1506434315Online : monergism.com, archive.org, ntslibrary.com, lutheranlibrary.org, or ccel.org
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The Augsburg Confession,Print ISBN : 978-1506494104, or 978-0758670236Online : martinluther.us, gutenberg.org, or apostles-creed.org
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Exsurge Domine,Online : papalencyclicals.net
Review Quiz
This section is a link to a review quiz to test your understanding of the objective material for Module 2. By clicking the banner, you will be taken to a series of questions, in random order. Answer each question and then push the Submit
button to check your answers. Every question must be answered before you can submit the quiz. At the end, you will be shown your score for the entire quiz. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once. Click the banner to begin the quiz.
Here is a review quiz for the material covered in this module's lectures. Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.
Module Completed!
Congratulations, you have reached the end of the second module. I hope that you have found it rewarding and have noticed personal growth.
I encourage you to continue on the next module as soon as is convenient. The button below will take you to Module 3.
