Sarah Mitchell
Martin Luther, the German priest, theologian, and former Augustinian friar, is regarded as one of the most influential figures in Western and Christian history. He played a pivotal role in the Protestant Reformation, challenging several teachings and practices of the contemporary Roman Catholic Church, particularly on indulgences and papal authority. Luther's writings, such as On the Jews and Their Lies, expressed antisemitic and anti-Catholic sentiments, which have been debated and scrutinized extensively. His theological beliefs form the foundation of Lutheranism, and his impact on Christianity is significant. Luther died on February 18, 1546, in his hometown of Eisleben, after a journey that took a toll on his health. His death and legacy continue to be studied and discussed, leaving an indelible mark on religious and historical discourse.
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What You'll Learn
Martin Luther's deathbed sermon
Martin Luther, the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation, died on February 18, 1546, in his hometown of Eisleben. Luther had been severely ill, and his death came after a challenging journey to his hometown to settle a dispute.
Luther's last sermon, or "deathbed sermon", was delivered in Eisleben shortly before his death. By this point, Luther was physically weak and unable to preach at length. His sermon consisted of quoting two texts: Psalm 68:19, "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation", and John 3:16, "Our God is indeed a God of salvation, and that salvation comes through the work of His Son". Luther's final sermon reflected his enduring faith in Christ, a theme that was central to his teachings throughout his life.
In the weeks leading up to his death, Luther had a sense of premonition about his impending demise. He wrote to his wife, Katie, expressing his weariness and longing for peace. Despite his physical decline, Luther's sense of humour remained intact, as he jested about the chunks of ice on his journey as being Anabaptist opponents or Roman Catholic bishops and popes.
Luther's deathbed confessor, Justus Jonas, recorded the reformer's final hours in detail. Jonas, a longtime associate of Luther, wished to counter false rumours that might be spread by Luther's Roman Catholic opponents, including that Luther died suddenly or in his sleep.
Luther's death was seen as his final liberation from sin and death by Christ. He viewed death as a continuation of his existence as a new person in Christ, liberated from his old self. This perspective on death provided comfort and guidance to Luther as he faced his own mortality.
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The journey that took its toll on his health
Martin Luther, the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation, died at 3:00 AM on February 18, 1546, in his hometown of Eisleben, Germany. Luther's last journey, which took him to his birthplace, took a toll on his health.
Two weeks before his death, Luther was called to mediate a dispute between two brothers who were both counts of Mansfeld. Accompanied by his longtime associate, Dr. Justus Jonas, and an enlarged traveling party, Luther made a triumphal entry into Eisleben. The hometown hero was welcomed with cheering crowds and escorted by a cavalcade.
However, Luther wrote to his beloved wife, Katie, about the bitter winds, freezing rains, and chunks of ice that they had encountered on their journey. The harsh weather conditions took a toll on Luther's health, and he became severely ill. Despite his illness, Luther preached his last sermon on Sunday, January 31.
Luther's last sermon was a reflection of his legacy and his unwavering faith in Christ. He quoted Psalm 68:19, "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation," and John 3:16, emphasizing the salvation that comes through God's Son. This final sermon was a testament to Luther's enduring impact on Christianity.
In the weeks leading up to his death, Luther seemed to have a premonition of his impending passing. His statements from that time emphasized that death is the great equalizer, a perspective shaped by the Black Death that had plagued Europe in the 14th century. Luther saw his death as his final liberation from sin and death through Christ, a belief rooted in his faith and teachings.
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His death in Eisleben, his birthplace
Martin Luther died at 3:00 AM on the 18th of February 1546, in Eisleben, his birthplace. Contrary to his expectations, he did not pass away in Wittenberg, the location of many of his greatest accomplishments. Instead, he died in the town of his birth, where he had been called to mediate a dispute between two brothers, both counts of Mansfeld.
Luther's final journey had taken its toll on his health. He wrote to his beloved wife Katie of bitter winds, freezing rain, and chunks of ice. Luther was already severely ill. Despite this, he preached on the Sunday of the 31st of January, his last sermon before his death. He preached Christ and Him crucified, and his congregation saw not Luther, but Christ.
Luther's final hours were recorded in detail by his deathbed confessor, Justus Jonas, who had recently become the town pastor at Halle. Jonas rushed to Luther's bedside when he heard that the reformer was close to death. He wanted to give a detailed account of Luther's passing to counter false rumours that he knew would be spread by Luther's Roman Catholic opponents. These included the claim that Luther had died suddenly or in his sleep. Instead, Jonas recorded that Luther's last hours were lucid and conscious. He confessed his sins and affirmed his faith in Christ and everything he had taught.
Lucas Cranach, a painter and friend of Luther, offered a final memorial to him. The painting graces the altar in the Castle Church, depicting Luther preaching to a crowd.
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False rumours spread by Roman Catholic opponents
Martin Luther, a seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation, died at 3:00 AM on 18 February 1546 in his hometown of Eisleben. Notably, this was not the place of his greatest accomplishments, which were mostly in Wittenberg. In the weeks leading up to his death, Luther had a premonition that he would pass away soon.
Luther's deathbed confessor, Justus Jonas, recorded the reformer's last hours in detail. Jonas did this to counter false rumours that he knew would be spread by Luther's Roman Catholic opponents. One of the rumours was that Luther had died suddenly or in his sleep. In the sixteenth century, it was believed that if a person was wicked, they would die suddenly, without the chance to confess their sins, and their soul would be dragged to hell by the Devil. Roman Catholics also circulated the claim that Luther had died in a state of terror, believing he would be eternally condemned. However, Jonas recorded that Luther's last hours were lucid and conscious. He confessed his sins and affirmed his faith in Christ, which was in line with his teachings.
Luther's last sermon, preached from his deathbed, consisted of quoting two texts: one from the Psalms and one from the Gospels. He cited Psalm 68:19, "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation", and John 3:16.
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His death as liberation from sin
Martin Luther, a seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation, died at 3:00 AM on February 18, 1546, in his hometown of Eisleben. Contrary to the expectations of Luther and his colleagues, he did not pass away in Wittenberg, the site of many of his greatest achievements.
In the weeks leading up to his death, Luther seemed to have a premonition that he would die soon. Many of his statements from that time emphasise that death is the great equaliser. This attitude reflected that of his contemporaries in the wake of the Black Death (1347 and after).
Luther's death was recorded in detail by his deathbed confessor, Justus Jonas, who wrote that Luther's last hours were lucid and conscious. He confessed his sins and affirmed his faith in Christ, along with everything else that he had taught. Jonas wished to give a detailed account of Luther's passing to counter false rumours that he knew would be spread by Luther's Roman Catholic opponents. One such rumour was that Luther had died suddenly or in his sleep, which, in the sixteenth century, was believed to be a sign of wickedness.
Luther himself saw his death as his final liberation from sin and death by Christ. In his writing, Luther states that Christians repentantly return to the death of Christ, to which they have been mystically joined in Baptism. Through repentance, faith, and sanctification, the old self falls away, and the Christian is liberated from it, entering fully into their existence as a new person in Christ. In this way, Luther's death serves as an enduring model of faith and Christian freedom.
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Frequently asked questions
Martin Luther died at 3:00 AM on February 18, 1546, in Eisleben, his hometown. He preached his last sermon from his deathbed, quoting Psalm 68:19 and John 3:16.
Contrary to the rumours spread by his Roman Catholic opponents, Luther's last hours were lucid and conscious. He confessed his sins and affirmed his faith in Christ.
Luther is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Western and Christian history. He was the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation, and his theological beliefs form the basis of Lutheranism.
