Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we explore the explosive life of Martin Luther (1483–1546), the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation who forever changed Western history. From his terrifying vow in a thunderstorm to become an Augustinian friar to his final days in Eisleben, we track the evolution of the man who challenged the most powerful institution in the world,.

Join us as we discuss:

• The Spark of Reformation: How the sale of indulgences by Johann Tetzel provoked Luther to write his famous Ninety-five Theses in 1517,.

• Here I Stand: The dramatic showdown at the Diet of Worms in 1521, where Luther refused to recant his writings before the Holy Roman Emperor, resulting in his excommunication and declaration as an outlaw,,.

• Faith Alone: Luther’s theological breakthrough that salvation is a free gift of God’s grace received through faith, rather than earned through human deeds or merit,.

• A Cultural Revolution: How Luther’s translation of the Bible into German democratized scripture and standardized the German language, and how his marriage to the former nun Katharina von Bora set a new model for clerical life,.

• The Darker Legacy: We also examine the controversial aspects of Luther's life, including his condemnation of the Peasants' War and the staunchly antisemitic views he expressed in later works like On the Jews and Their Lies,,.

Whether you know him as a theologian, a hymnwriter, or a rebel, this episode uncovers the complex legacy of the German priest who split Christianity,.