1505–1519

Martin Luther: the path to his "theological discovery"

After a vow made during a thunderstorm, Luther entered the Augustinian monastery at Erfurt in 1505. He was ordained in 1507 and became a doctor of theology at the new University of Wittenberg in 1512. From 1513 to 1517 he lectured on the Psalms and Romans and during this time was tormented by uncertainty about his salvation.

He gradually came to a new understanding of "the righteousness of God" (Rom. 1:17). Luther himself later dated this discovery (the "Turmerlebnis") to 1519, but scholars usually place it around 1515. It became the core of the doctrine of justification by faith alone.