Martin Luther

MARTIN LUTHER: THE RELUCTANT REVOLUTIONARY
PROF. M. M. NINAN
He spent nearly a year there, writing furiously and fighting depression and numerous physical
ailments. It was in a small study in the castle in 1522 that he translated the New Testament from
Greek into German which took nearly 10 years and profoundly influenced the form and
standardization of the German language.
Luthers Bible
Luther’s German Bible
The Martin Luther Bible translation was begun at the Wartburg castle, where he was held prisoner
by Frederick the Wise of Saxony for his own safety from May, 1521 to April, 1522.
Martin Luther Bible in the Lutherhaus in Wittenberg
With eleven months on his hands and nothing to do, Luther studied and wrote prodigiously. He
completed a translation of the New Testament from the original Greek in a mere four months
between November of 1521 and March of 1522. After his release, he extensively revised it with the
help of the learned Philip Melancthon, his friend and co-worker throughout the time of the
Reformation.
The New Testament was released September 21, 1522, and a second edition was produced the
same December.
Luther went immediately to work on the Old Testament, producing the Pentateuch in 1523 and the
Psalms in 1524.
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