On October 31, 1517, a monk with a mallet hammered one of the most consequential nails in history. On this day, Martin Luther posted his 95 theses—a series of arguments against the heretical practice of selling indulgences—to the castle church door in Wittenberg, Germany. Though Luther was but one in a faithful line of saints committed to the truth of Scripture, his actions are often celebrated as the start of the Protestant Reformation.
Luther’s stand for the truth led to his own imprisonment, excommunication, and exile, as well as the death of countless Protestant martyrs. The work of men like Luther, William Tyndale, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin brought crucial doctrines to the forefront of Christian thinking, inspired and equipped thousands for the ministry, and transformed the church.
Today, despite the calls of many to forsake biblical fidelity for the sake of alleged unity, TMAI is training faithful expositors across the globe to stand boldly like Luther for the truths of the Reformation. These men are continuing in the spirit of the Reformation, training others, and leading the church onward in the defense of the truth.
Among them stands the faculty of European Bible Training Center (EBTC), TMAI’s member school in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Walking in the very lands that giants of history like Luther and Calvin once trod, these men are determined to continue proclaiming biblical truth, and training up others for the work of the ministry.
Earlier this year EBTC hosted a historic Reformation Conference in the city of Wittenberg. One of the fruits of that conference was a document recently published by EBTC titled For the Love of the Truth – 95 Theses for a New Generation. For the Love of the Truth focuses on defining and defending the Reformation’s “Five Solas” and upholding a firm commitment to the doctrine of inerrancy. It is filled with powerful statements of truth, like Thesis 55:
“God’s glory embodies everything truly praiseworthy and everything we ought to desire. Therefore, He is more deserving of our wonder, interest, and delight than any earthly charm or pleasure.”
“God’s glory embodies everything truly praiseworthy and everything we ought to desire. Therefore, He is more deserving of our wonder, interest, and delight than any earthly charm or pleasure.”
The full document—endorsed by John MacArthur, Steven Lawson, James White, and many more—is available to download here.
Please pray that the Lord would continue to bless the training of EBTC as well as TMAI’s 16 other member schools around the globe. Our greatest desire is that God would raise up a generation of godly church leaders committed to the same truths that drove the Reformers — truths that strengthen the church, make disciples of our Lord Jesus, and bring glory to God alone.
