sought to make a lawyer of his son.
Luther’s days at the University of Erfurt,
however, were shadowed by doubt and
guilt over his sinfulness and his worthiness
in the eyes of God. On passing through a
forest in a thunderstorm, Luther vowed to
follow a life of devotion should he survive.
He decided to drop his study of the law to
become a monk, much to his father’s dis-
may, and entered the Augustinian monas-
tery of Erfurt. He led a strict life of con-
fession, fasting, and prayer, which did little
to relieve his self-doubt and uncertainty.
Luther was ordained as a priest in 1507
and studied for a doctorate in theology at
the University of Wittenberg. After win-
ning his doctorate in 1512, he was ap-
pointed to a teaching position at the uni-
versity that he held throughout his life. In
the meantime, the questions of worthinessMartin Luther defends his views on Christianity at the Diet of Worms in 1521, before Holy
Roman Emperor Charles V and the members of the Reichstag. HULTON/ARCHIVE.REPRODUCED
BY PERMISSION.
Luther, Martin