Martin Luther and the Discovery of Justification by Faith

In a recent reflection on the life and theological development of Martin Luther, Ligonier Ministries examines how the Reformer’s engagement with Scripture transformed his understanding of salvation. The author explains that Luther, initially a monk and priest, struggled under the medieval church's teaching that salvation required the accumulation of merit through penance and good works.

Drawing on the historical context of the Renaissance and the University of Wittenberg, the text describes how Luther’s access to the Bible in its original languages allowed him to move beyond scholastic traditions. While preparing lectures on the book of Romans, Luther focused on the passage in Romans 1:17, “The righteous shall live by faith.” This study led him to the realization that justification is received by grace through faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ, a discovery he described as being “born again.”