To combat abuses in the church of his day, Martin Luther drafted nearly a hundred propositions for public debate. The young German monk posted these "theses" on the church door in Wittenberg, an action that helped to give birth to the Reformation.

Nearly everyone has heard of the Ninety-Five Theses, but few have read it. "This is such a crucial text," writes editor Stephen J. Nichols, "that it deserves to be read widely." He has written an illuminating introduction and many explanatory notes (conveniently located on facing pages), putting Luther's classic statement in everyone's reach.

"Martin Luther has left a legacy that continues to enrich the church through his writings ...," writes Nichols. "All of this may be traced back to the last day in October 1517 and the nailing of the Ninety-Five Theses to the church door."

About the Author

Martin Luther (1483, 1546) was a German monk, a theologian and church reformer, he is considered to be the founder of Protestantism. Luther was a professor of Bible at the University of Wittenberg when he posted his famous 95 Theses (1517). In addition to writing many books, Luther translated the Bible into German. Luther believed that salvation was only by faith in Jesus, unmediated by the church. He challenged papal authority by emphasing the Bible as the only source of religious authority and believed the church to be a priesthood of all believers.These ideas helped to inspire the Protestant Reformation and changed the course of Western civilization. He married Katharina von Bora thus initiating the practice of clerical marriage within Protestantism.