Luther's books and pamphlets and especially his New Testament translation spread the gospel in the language of the people.

In A Sermon on Keeping Children in School (1530), Martin Luther said, "They say of writing that ‘it only takes three fingers to do it;' but the whole body and soul work at it too." During most of his working life Luther kept three Wittenberg printers busy. He received no fees or royalties, being satisfied with his university salary.

Broadcasting God's Word in the people's language

Luther's books and pamphlets and especially his translation of the New Testament spread the gospel in the language of the people. Most people could not read German, and even fewer could read Latin. Those who could read, however, shared his message with the illiterate.

For some time before 1521, Luther had worked on a translation of the New Testament. During the 10 months that he was in protective custody at the Wartburg, he completed it. It was published in 1522. After that, he and university colleagues worked together on both the New and Old Testaments. The complete Bible in German was published in 1534. It wasn't the first Bible in German, but it was the first based on the original Hebrew and Greek.

Luther never thought of this translation as a finished product, but as a work in progress. Luther scholars generally regard it as the most important tool and product of the Reformation, broadcasting God's Word in the language of the people.

Luther's adversaries were quick to criticize. They especially criticized his rendering of Romans 3:28, "by faith alone." Luther knew that the word "alone" does not appear in the Greek original, but he pointed out that when Paul excludes deeds of the law that leaves faith alone.

Sharing views on the church's problems

During a three-month period in 1521, Luther published three publications, often called Luther's "Reformation Manifesto." In them he set forth his views on what the church's problems were and what ought to be done.

In To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, written at the urging of government leaders and university colleagues, Luther spoke his mind on what government could do to improve conditions in church and state. He recommended that the church in Germany be a German (not Roman) church and that a council of the German church be held. He called for school reform, better provisions for the poor, and measures to improve the moral climate.