The Reformation of Martin Luther, Pietism and the Word

In the 16th century, for the first time, Martin Luther’s Reformation placed the Bible at the centre of the teaching of salvation. At the same time, Luther demanded that every individual should be able to study the Bible on his or her own. Thus ‘the Word’, especially through Luther’s translation of the Bible into German, became a force that changed the relationship of believers to religion and society.

The emphasis on personal piety and the individual’s responsibility for his or her own salvation through active engagement with the Word of God were among the most formative effects of the Reformation, for this presupposed the fundamental education of a broad strata of society and in the long term brought about a change in social interactions. The emergence of new types of schools revolutionised the education system. The introduction of the vernacular in church services and the revaluation of the sermon, as well as the Protestant hymn culture, also empowered the ordinary members of the congregation and at the same time committed them to a responsible and moral life.

This is where Pietism tied in as a reform movement in the 17th century to help realise Luther’s basic objectives. Through sound education, all believers would be enabled to avail themselves of ‘the Word’ – be it spoken, sung, written or printed. At the same time, by translating Lutheran texts into other languages, the Pietists strove to give worldwide significance to the aims of the Reformation. In this way, Pietism paved the way for the emergence of a modern civic self-image that to this day places a high value on the personal development of the individual.