Martin Luther is a figure in world history. The forthcoming anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 has increasingly focused public attention on Luther. This holds true for admirers as well as critics of the reformer. Whoever engages oneself with Luther has to tolerate ambiguities. The present book tries to make Luther accessible to a wider public from a church historical point of view. Nonreflective admiration and mere rejection are equally unhelpful. Everyone who wants to understand Luther has to consider his complex personality as well as his theology. It is the intention of this richly illustrated book to combine biography and theology in a productive way.