To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation: The First of Three Treatises of 1520

Martin Luther, full of compassion, grief, disappointment, and frustration, turns away from his entreaties to and debates with church leaders and writes instead to the German political leaders. With extreme clarity, Luther explains in this letter the unbalanced nature and habits of the religious institution - certain at this point that the German people could only be set free from this continual and escalating religious destruction through the intervention of their government. Containing immensely important historical context, these letters also paved the way for imperative theological doctrines and understandings. In his aim to stop the abuse of the Catholic church, Luther discusses the need for a system which holds religious institutions accountable, acknowledges and allows for interpretations of the Bible outside of the Pope alone, and establishes a separation of church and state. This incredible letter is a rare and crucial document for understanding and appreciating the history of denominations, the development of religious freedoms, and so many current systems of politics and national faith.