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Summary: Composed by Erasmus of Rotterdam, at the latest, in 1533, this tract on preparing for death first appeared in printed form in Basel at the beginning of 1534. This printing was followed by the Cologne printing in April. It is dedicated to Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond (1477-1539), the father of Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn.

Summary: Composed by Erasmus of Rotterdam, at the latest, in 1533, this tract on preparing for death first appeared in printed form in Basel at the beginning of 1534. This printing was followed by the Cologne printing in April. It is dedicated to Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond (1477-1539), the father of Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn.

Summary: A call for concord and harmony in the church by one of the great Humanists of the time.

Summary: A call for concord and harmony in the church by one of the great Humanists of the time.

Summary: First edition of the second Latin translation of Luther's Large Catechism, published earlier the same year. This translation was done Vincentius Opsopäus (Vinzenz Heidecker). Issued with it is the first Latin edition of Johann Brenz's catechism, first published in German in 1528 under the title "Fragstuck des christlichen Glaube[n]s für die Jugend zu Schwebische[n] Hall]."

Summary: First edition of the second Latin translation of Luther's Large Catechism, published earlier the same year. This translation was done Vincentius Opsopäus (Vinzenz Heidecker). Issued with it is the first Latin edition of Johann Brenz's catechism, first published in German in 1528 under the title "Fragstuck des christlichen Glaube[n]s für die Jugend zu Schwebische[n] Hall]."

Summary: Public renunciation of his monastic vows and earlier teachings by Sebastian Meyer, a preacher in the city of Strassburg and an early follower of Martin Luther.

Summary: Public renunciation of his monastic vows and earlier teachings by Sebastian Meyer, a preacher in the city of Strassburg and an early follower of Martin Luther.

A woodcut of the four beasts which appeared to Daniel in a vision. Each beast represented a different kingdom.

A woodcut of the four beasts which appeared to Daniel in a vision. Each beast represented a different kingdom.

Summary: This is the first printing of the first part of Luther's translation of the Old Testament into idiomatic German. It comprises the Pentateuch, or the five Books of Moses. Scholars long believed that this edition had been destroyed by Luther's friends because of its many printing errors. This printing contains 11 full-page and six initial-figure woodcuts. The volume has been heavily annotated in an early to mid-sixteenth century hand.

Summary: This is the first printing of the first part of Luther's translation of the Old Testament into idiomatic German. It comprises the Pentateuch, or the five Books of Moses. Scholars long believed that this edition had been destroyed by Luther's friends because of its many printing errors. This printing contains 11 full-page and six initial-figure woodcuts. The volume has been heavily annotated in an early to mid-sixteenth century hand.

Summary: The Book of Judith was probably written between 175 and 125 B.C. and is part of the literature known as the Apocrypha, composed between the Old and New Testament eras. The Catholic Church accepted the Apocrypha as canonical while Luther did not. The story is of the pious widow Judith who beheads the enemy general Holofernes after he has become drunk. It is reminiscent of Jael's killing of Sisera in Judges 4. This is apparently the only separate printing of this translation, issued the same year as the complete German Bible.

Summary: The Book of Judith was probably written between 175 and 125 B.C. and is part of the literature known as the Apocrypha, composed between the Old and New Testament eras. The Catholic Church accepted the Apocrypha as canonical while Luther did not. The story is of the pious widow Judith who beheads the enemy general Holofernes after he has become drunk. It is reminiscent of Jael's killing of Sisera in Judges 4. This is apparently the only separate printing of this translation, issued the same year as the complete German Bible.

Open letter to Hans Schott, Knight, by Luther on the subject of filial piety in marriage, i.e. to what extent the wishes of the parent must be taken into account in the choice of a life partner. Parental consent was an issue during the Reformation. Catholic orthodoxy demanded parental consent of the bridal couple as it impacted property. Luther saw value in both sides, arguing that while parents ought not to be able to compel children to marry or prevent weddings, the children ought to seek their parents' consent.

Open letter to Hans Schott, Knight, by Luther on the subject of filial piety in marriage, i.e. to what extent the wishes of the parent must be taken into account in the choice of a life partner. Parental consent was an issue during the Reformation. Catholic orthodoxy demanded parental consent of the bridal couple as it impacted property. Luther saw value in both sides, arguing that while parents ought not to be able to compel children to marry or prevent weddings, the children ought to seek their parents' consent.

Parental consent was an issue during the Reformation. Catholic orthodoxy demanded parental consent of the bridal couple as it impacted property. Luther saw value in both sides, arguing that while parents ought not to be able to compel children to marry or prevent weddings, the children ought to seek their parents' consent.

Parental consent was an issue during the Reformation. Catholic orthodoxy demanded parental consent of the bridal couple as it impacted property. Luther saw value in both sides, arguing that while parents ought not to be able to compel children to marry or prevent weddings, the children ought to seek their parents' consent.

Summary: Parental consent was an issue during the Reformation. Catholic orthodoxy demanded parental consent of the bridal couple as it impacted property. Luther saw value in both sides, arguing that while parents ought not to be able to compel children to marry or prevent weddings, the children ought to seek their parents' consent.

Summary: Parental consent was an issue during the Reformation. Catholic orthodoxy demanded parental consent of the bridal couple as it impacted property. Luther saw value in both sides, arguing that while parents ought not to be able to compel children to marry or prevent weddings, the children ought to seek their parents' consent.

Summary: Parental consent was an issue during the Reformation. Catholic orthodoxy demanded parental consent of the bridal couple as it impacted property. Luther saw value in both sides, arguing that while parents ought not to be able to compel children to marry or prevent weddings, the children ought to seek their parents' consent.

Summary: Parental consent was an issue during the Reformation. Catholic orthodoxy demanded parental consent of the bridal couple as it impacted property. Luther saw value in both sides, arguing that while parents ought not to be able to compel children to marry or prevent weddings, the children ought to seek their parents' consent.

Summary: Sermon preached May 27, 1526, on John 3:1-16 (Nicodemus).

Summary: Sermon preached May 27, 1526, on John 3:1-16 (Nicodemus).

Summary: Sermon preached July 20, 1522, on Luke 5:1-11 (Peter's large catch of fish).

Summary: Sermon preached July 20, 1522, on Luke 5:1-11 (Peter's large catch of fish).

Summary: The fifth printing of Luther's early treatise, "That Jesus Christ was born a Jew", in which he denies the charges made against him that he did not believe in the Virgin Birth, but rather that Jesus was a naturally born child of Joseph and Mary. In this tract, Luther confesses that he believes that Jesus was born a Jew of the Virgin Mary. He also hopes that his teaching will bring more Jews to convert to Christianity.

Summary: The fifth printing of Luther's early treatise, "That Jesus Christ was born a Jew", in which he denies the charges made against him that he did not believe in the Virgin Birth, but rather that Jesus was a naturally born child of Joseph and Mary. In this tract, Luther confesses that he believes that Jesus was born a Jew of the Virgin Mary. He also hopes that his teaching will bring more Jews to convert to Christianity.

Summary: Luther was accused by Ferdinand (brother of Charles V) of teaching that Jesus was the seed of Abraham and that Mary was not a virgin either before or after the birth of Jesus. Luther replied with this booklet that demonstrated the human and divine natures of Jesus and showed sensitivity to Jesus' Jewish background. Luther hoped that books like this could be used to convert Jews from their erroneous beliefs.

Summary: Luther was accused by Ferdinand (brother of Charles V) of teaching that Jesus was the seed of Abraham and that Mary was not a virgin either before or after the birth of Jesus. Luther replied with this booklet that demonstrated the human and divine natures of Jesus and showed sensitivity to Jesus' Jewish background. Luther hoped that books like this could be used to convert Jews from their erroneous beliefs.

Summary: German translation by Wenzeslaus Linck of Epistola contra Judaeorum, thought to be written in Arabic by Samuel of Marocco, an apostate Jew at the beginning of the 11th century and translated into Latin by the Spanish Dominican Alphonsus Bonihominis in the 14th century and widely disseminated. Bonihominis is likely the real author of the work.

Summary: German translation by Wenzeslaus Linck of Epistola contra Judaeorum, thought to be written in Arabic by Samuel of Marocco, an apostate Jew at the beginning of the 11th century and translated into Latin by the Spanish Dominican Alphonsus Bonihominis in the 14th century and widely disseminated. Bonihominis is likely the real author of the work.

Summary: Luther wrote this exposition of the Magnificent (Luke 1:46-55) in March 1521. He dedicated it to Duke Johann Frederich of Saxony as a token of his thanks to the Duke for his support and encouragement after Luther's condemnation by Pope Leo X. Text in German includes Luther's German translation of the Magnificat from the N.T. Greek of St. Luke's Gospel.

Summary: Luther wrote this exposition of the Magnificent (Luke 1:46-55) in March 1521. He dedicated it to Duke Johann Frederich of Saxony as a token of his thanks to the Duke for his support and encouragement after Luther's condemnation by Pope Leo X. Text in German includes Luther's German translation of the Magnificat from the N.T. Greek of St. Luke's Gospel.

A woodcut depicting the Monk-Calf of Freyberg, which was born with a tonsure-like irregularity on its head, resembling the common hairstyle of a Catholic monk.

A woodcut depicting the Monk-Calf of Freyberg, which was born with a tonsure-like irregularity on its head, resembling the common hairstyle of a Catholic monk.

Summary: Luther's translation from the original Greek of the New Testament is a landmark in the history of the German language. His forceful style ensured that his Thuringian-Saxon dialect would provide the standard for High German in years to come. From a religious standpoint, Luther's decision to refer to the original Greek rather than merely to translate the Vulgate ensured that the German New Testament would be much more faithful to the original. Erasmus' New Testament provided the basis for the translation.

Summary: Luther's translation from the original Greek of the New Testament is a landmark in the history of the German language. His forceful style ensured that his Thuringian-Saxon dialect would provide the standard for High German in years to come. From a religious standpoint, Luther's decision to refer to the original Greek rather than merely to translate the Vulgate ensured that the German New Testament would be much more faithful to the original. Erasmus' New Testament provided the basis for the translation.

Summary: Luther's German translation of the Wittenberg usage of the Catholic rite of Baptism (Ordo baptizandi). The work was reprinted fifteen times between 1523 and 1526, when Luther issued a revised edition.

Summary: Luther's German translation of the Wittenberg usage of the Catholic rite of Baptism (Ordo baptizandi). The work was reprinted fifteen times between 1523 and 1526, when Luther issued a revised edition.

Summary: The Second printing of Luther's book, "Against the Heavenly Prophets addresses A. Karlstadt's doctrine of the Sacraments. This is the second printing of this work in its year of issue.

Summary: The Second printing of Luther's book, "Against the Heavenly Prophets addresses A. Karlstadt's doctrine of the Sacraments. This is the second printing of this work in its year of issue.