The German Martin Luther became mainly known for having published ninety five theses produced against the Catholic Church’s position at the end of October 1517. His theses became the theological base for the Protestant Reform which followed. What is curious is that he was only 34 when he wrote that document.
Although this was an extraordinary event and of fundamental importance to the Christian Church, it was not his only achievement. At 39 he finished the first translation of the New Testament directly from Greek into German, and at 51 he finished the first translation of the Old Testament directly from Hebrew into German. As soon as the New Testament was completed, he published it in pocket size to enable common people to have access to the biblical truths.
Certainly, our days call for young people that will propose better ways for the future based on the deep knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures. Sadly, pseudo knowledge has done too much damage to the Church as well as to society, for ignorance invariably leads to error.
It is not by chance or coincidence that most nations that have truly observed fundamentals of the Reform possess superior development indexes than others. These fundamentals are no other than the biblical truths correctly interpreted. When we follow these truths, God receives the deserved adoration, people the due respect, and the inequalities are reduced making coexistence more pleasant.
Once Jesus told the Jews that “they would know the truth, and the truth would set them free”. As knowing to read frees you from illiteracy, to know Jesus who is the way the truth and the life, frees you from all and every oppressive chain. Luther knew that and publicised it, now it is our turn.
- How do you evaluate your biblical knowledge?
- How does your bible knowledge help others?
(The ignorance that imprisons, Mathew 22:29 / The truth that frees, John 8:38)
Commissioner Torben Eliason is the Territorial Commander of the Southern Africa Territory.