Gottfried G. Krodel

Volume 50 of the American Edition of Luther's Works is the third and final volume of letters in this series; it presents 89 letters written by Luther in the period from January 1532, to February 14, 1546, a date four days prior to Luther's death.

For Martin Luther, the period stretching from March 1522 to October of 1530 marked a time of tremendous changeecclesiastical, political, and personal. Through the 117 letters presented here, the reader is given a well-rounded look at shaping forces and milieu of Luther's life and of the enire Reformation. Each letter in this volume, given in its entirety, unveils important aspects of Luther's complex personality. Historical introductions explain clearly the political and religious background of each letter.

Luther wrote the 119 letters in this volume between 1507 and 1522, during the momentous years that saw him change from an obedient and determined priest of his Order to a vigorous critic of the sale of indulgences and finally to the leader of a reformed church. In these letters Luther discusses his posting of the Ninety-five Theses, the disputations at Heidelberg, Augsburg, and Leipzig, and the bull excommunicating him.