Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched the Protestant Reformation.

The Lutheran Church, also known as Evangelical Lutheran Church or Lutheranism in English, is a Protestant denomination that originated from the religious reform movement initiated by the German theologian Martin Luther in the 16th century.

In the 16th century, the Roman Catholic Church had become entwined with politics and had deviated from the teachings of God. They even openly sold indulgences, leading people to believe that could atone for their sins and go to heaven by buying indulgences. As a theologian, Martin Luther realise the problems. On October 31, 1517, he posted his Ninety-Five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, initiating the religious reform movement. Martin Luther did not intend to split the Church; rather, he hoped to address the corrupt practices within the Roman Catholic Church and promote reform that would bring God's grace directly to the people.In 1520, the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church put pressure on Luther to abandon his beliefs. However, Luther refused to retract his statements and even burned the order. In 1521, Luther publicly declared at the Diet of Worms (an imperial council held in the city of Worms in the Holy Roman Empire) that he would not abandon his beliefs and his claims.

His famous quotes in the defence, he said

“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen.”

(Reply to the Diet of Worms, April 18, 1521)”

― Martin Luther, Luther's Works: Career of the Reformer III

The Protestant Reformation was built on five foundational doctrines known as the "five solas," which state that Christians are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed in Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.

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• Sola Gratia - "grace alone"

• Sola Fide - "faith alone"

• Solus Christus - "Christ alone"

• Sola Scriptura - "Scripture alone"

• Soli Deo Gloria - "to the glory of God alone”

Historically, Lutherans understand the Bible to present all doctrines and commands of the Christian faith clearly. In addition, Lutherans believe that God's Word is freely accessible to every reader or hearer of ordinary intelligence, without requiring any special education.  A Lutheran must understand the language that scriptures are presented in, and should not be so preoccupied by error so as to prevent understanding. As a result of this, Lutherans do not believe there is a need to wait for any clergy, pope, scholar, or ecumenical council to explain the real meaning of any part of the Bible.

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Lutherans are confident that the Bible contains everything that one needs to know in order to obtain salvation and to live a Christian life. There are no deficiencies in Scripture that need to be filled with by tradition, pronouncements of the Pope, new revelations, or present-day development of doctrine. Lutherans understand the Bible as containing two distinct types of content, termed Law and Gospel (or Law and Promises). Properly distinguishing between Law and Gospel prevents the obscuring of the Gospel teaching of justification by grace through faith alone.

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