Slide 1 Life of Luther Wife, Family, and Home Based on a study by Pastor Edward Starkey Great Lakes Pastoral Conference 2009

Slide 2 Life of Luther Wife, Family, and Home Martin Luther ( ) Married in 1525 at the age of 42 Had six children (four survived to adulthood)

Slide 3 Luther the Outlaw Photo: Pope's declaration excommunicating Luther from the Roman Catholic Church Luther was reluctant to marry because he did not expect to live long

Slide 4 Luther Considers Marriage It is better to marry than burn with passion 1 Corinthians 7:9b He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD Proverbs 18:22

Slide 5 Luther Writes Against the So-Called Spiritual Estate of the Pope and the Bishops (1522) In denying the meritorious value of celibacy, Luther elevated marriage as a reflection of God's natural order of creation

Slide 6 Luther Married June 13, 1525 John Bugenhagen, pastor and good friend of Luther Luther's wife Katherine Lucas Cranach, famous painter and friend of Luther Bugenhagen probably performed the marriage ceremony. It is likely that Lucas Cranach was in attendance.

Slide 7 Luther's Friends Learn of the Marriage George Spalatin (painting by Lucas Cranach) Philip Melanchthon (painting by Lucas Cranach)

Slide 8 Katherine Luther Katherine von Bora Born January 29, 1499 (16 years younger than Luther) Sent away to cloister at age six Became a nun at age sixteen

Slide 9 Marienthron Cloister Ruins of Marienthron Cloister where Katherine von Bora lived as a nun

Slide 10 Katherine Escapes Escaped the cloister along with eleven other nuns. They hid in the fish barrels on Herr Koppe's wagon the night of April 4, 1523

Slide 11 Katherine and Martin Martin was not Katherine's first choice for a husband Although she was not considered outwardly beautiful, Martin held Katie in high regard saying: "This life has nothing more lovely and delightful than a woman who loves her husband"

Slide 12 Birthdays of Luther's Children HansJune 8, 1526 ElizabethDecember 10, 1527 MagdalenaDecember 17, 1529 MartinNovember 9, 1531 PaulJanuary 28, 1533 MargaretaDecember 17, 1534 Elizabeth died in infancy. Magdalena died at age 14 (a deep sorrow to Luther). The rest of the children outlived their parents.

Slide 13 Magdalena Luther (?) This could be a portrait (painted by Lucas Cranach, elder) of Magdalena Luther, Luther's daughter who died at the age of fourteen.

Slide 14 Luther's Children Grown Hans studied law and held a government position Paul studied medicine and became a prominent physician Martin studied theology, but was in poor health and died at age 34 Margareta married into an influential family, but also died young. The Luther family line still exists today through Margareta

Slide 15 Luther Teaches His Children Of utmost importance was the teaching of the Scriptures In his home, Luther taught his own children as well as visitors from the Small Catechism A page (Fifth Commandment) from an earlier edition of the Small Catechism

Slide 16 The Black Cloister (Lutherhaus) This monastery in Wittenberg (known as the Black Cloister) was built in 1502 When no longer used as a monastery, Elector Frederick gave it to the Luthers for their home The property contained gardens and a fish pond, among other amenities. It is said that Luther and his wife were good gardeners.

Slide 17 The Lutherhaus Today Today, the monastery the Luthers once owned houses a museum dedicated to Reformation history.

Slide 18 The Lutherhaus Today The Luther Living Room where the famous "Table Talks" took place Luther's wooden drinking mug Luther's robe (from 1517)

Slide 19 The Gospel of Christ For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:17