Martin Luther

In 1520, with the bull Exsurge Domine, Pope Leo X condemned 41 propositions from Luther's writings and on 3 January 1521 expelled him from the Church with the bull Decet Romanum Pontificem. The Diet of Worms then declared him an outlaw. In 2013 the Lutheran/Roman Catholic Commission on Unity called the proceedings a tragedy. Luther himself recommended in 1543 in "On the Jews and Their Lies", among other things, burning synagogues; in 2015 the Evangelical Church in Germany spoke of the "undisguised hatred of Jews" in his late writings, which National Socialism also invoked. He did not cause the Peasants' War of 1525; peasant uprisings against the landlords had existed long before the Reformation. Luther at first called most of the peasants' demands justified, but then called on the princes to stab and strangle the rebels "like mad dogs".

Life dates

10 Nov 1483-18 Feb 1546 (62 years old)

Country

Germany

Institutions

Holy See
Protestant Church

Category

Anti-Judaism, Heresy trials

Level of evidence

A Primary source · what does this mean?

Persons involved

Leo X (Pope)
Josel of Rosheim (advocate of the Jews)
John Frederick of Saxony (Duke, expelled the Jews in 1537)

Background

Course of events

1. Luther was born in Eisleben on 10 November 1483 and died there on 18 February 1546.
   Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 9 (1910), Einleitung

   „born at Eisleben, 10 November, 1483; died at Eisleben, 18 February, 1546“

2. Luther did not cause the Peasants' War. Uprisings of peasants against the arbitrary rule of their lords had existed long before the Reformation, for example in 1476, 1492, 1502 and 1514. In 1524/25, however, the peasants appealed to the Bible and to Luther.
   Evidence: Philip Schaff (1888); Christian Classics Ethereal Library, § 76, Der Bauernkrieg

   „Long before the Reformation revolutionary outbreaks took place in various parts of Germany,—a.d. 1476, 1492, 1493, 1502, 1513, and especially in 1514“

   Evidence: Philip Schaff (1888); Christian Classics Ethereal Library, § 76, Der Bauernkrieg

   „They appealed to the Bible and to Dr. Luther in support of their grievances“

3. Luther at first answered the Twelve Articles of the Swabian peasants with an exhortation to peace: he called most of the demands justified and rebuked princes, nobility and especially the bishops for oppressing the poor, but also warned the peasants against rebellion.
   Evidence: Philip Schaff (1888); Christian Classics Ethereal Library, § 76, Der Bauernkrieg

   „He replied to the Twelve Articles of the Swabian peasants with an exhortation to peace“

   Evidence: Philip Schaff (1888); Christian Classics Ethereal Library, § 76, Der Bauernkrieg

   „He admitted that most of them were just. He rebuked the princes and nobles, especially the bishops, for their oppression of the poor people“

4. When the uprising turned violent, Luther called on the authorities to stab, kill and strangle the rebellious peasants like mad dogs. The Encyclopaedia Britannica calls this writing a stain on his whole life.
   Evidence: Philip Schaff (1888); Christian Classics Ethereal Library, § 76, Der Bauernkrieg

   „He called upon the magistrates to "stab, kill, and strangle" them like mad dogs“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Abschnitt zum Bauernkrieg

   „Luther issued the pamphlet, which casts a stain on his whole life, in which he hounds on the ruling classes to suppress the insurgents with all violence“

5. In 1543 Luther wrote "On the Jews and Their Lies", in which he recommended to the authorities, among other things, burning synagogues, destroying Jewish houses, confiscating the Talmud and prayer books, a ban on trading and forced labour.
   Evidence: Synode der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland, Nr. 7

   „1543 verfasste er die Schrift "Von den Juden und ihren Lügen"“

   Evidence: Synode der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland, Nr. 7

   „empfahl er am Ende dieser Schrift der weltlichen Obrigkeit u.a. die Verbrennung der Synagogen, die Zerstörung jüdischer Häuser, die Konfiszierung von Talmud und Gebetbüchern, Handelsverbot und Zwangsarbeit“

6. If that did not help, according to Luther, the Jews should be "driven out like mad dogs".
   Evidence: Synode der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland, Nr. 7

   „Wenn das nicht helfe, riet er, solle man die Juden "wie die tollen Hunde ausjagen"“

7. In 2015 the synod of the EKD described Luther's late writings from 1538 onwards as writings of undisguised hatred of Jews.
   Evidence: Synode der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland, Nr. 5

   „seinen späten Schriften ab 1538 mit ihrem unverhüllten Judenhass“

8. In 1523 Luther had still advocated friendly dealings with Jews, in the hope of their conversion.
   Evidence: Synode der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland, Nr. 7

   „Ein Zusammenleben von Juden und Christen konnte es für Luther nur auf Zeit und in der Hoffnung auf Bekehrung der Juden geben“

Why? Justification and motives (according to the sources)

1. By his own account, Pope Leo X felt obliged to protect the "orthodox faith" from those who twisted Scripture.
   Evidence: Lutherisch/Römisch-katholische Kommission für die Einheit, Nr. 50, S. 27

   „Pope Leo X felt obliged to protect the »orthodox faith« from those who »twist and adulterate the Scriptures«“

2. According to the EKD, Luther recommended persecution out of fear that tolerating the Jewish religion could bring God's wrath upon the Christians too. He wanted the princes to persecute the Jews without mercy and the preachers to stir up the mob against them. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, it is not known with certainty what exactly triggered his change of mind.
   Evidence: Synode der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland, Nr. 7

   „Aus Angst, die Duldung der jüdischen Religion könne den Zorn Gottes auch über das christliche Gemeinwesen heraufbeschwören“

   Evidence: Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906), Einleitung

   „He wishes the princes to persecute them mercilessly and the preachers to set the mob against them. What caused this change of attitude is not exactly known“

Original texts

See also

• 1300-1562 · 262 years

  Sale of indulgences, forgiveness of sins for money

  • Germany
  • Vatican City
  • United Kingdom
  • Financial misconduct

Original documents to read

1. Historical source (contemporary text)
   Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Münchener DigitalisierungsZentrum: Martin Luther: Wider die Mordischen vn[d] Reubischen Rotten der Bawren ([Augsburg]: Steiner, 1525), Digitalisat. Open document (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
2. Historical source (contemporary text)
   Columbia University Libraries, Burke Library: Martin Luther: Von den Jüden vnd jren Lügen (Wittenberg: Hans Lufft, 1543), Digitalisat. Open document (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
3. Church document
   Synode der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland: Kundgebung „Martin Luther und die Juden – Notwendige Erinnerung zum Reformationsjubiläum“, 11 November 2015. Original (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
4. Commission report
   Lutherisch/Römisch-katholische Kommission für die Einheit: From Conflict to Communion. Lutheran-Catholic Common Commemoration of the Reformation in 2017, 17 June 2013. Original (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)

Scholarly literature and reference works

1. Reference work
   Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906): Luther, Martin (Gotthard Deutsch). Original (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
2. Scholarly literature
   Philip Schaff (1888); Christian Classics Ethereal Library: History of the Christian Church, Bd. 7: Modern Christianity. The German Reformation, § 76 The Peasants’ War, 1 January 1888. Original (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
3. Reference work
   Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911): Luther, Martin, 1 January 1911. Original (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
4. Reference work
   The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 9 (1910): Martin Luther, 1 January 1910. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)

Last changed on 22 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.