It's February 19th, 1521.

Luther has received a letter from his old friend Johann von Staubitz, the vicar general of

the Augustinian order.

But the letter is troubling.

It sounds to Luther, as if his old friend might be wavering, caving in under the immense

pressure from Rome.

Luther mutters a reply under his breath.

Our Lord Jesus is reviled and blessed, fiend.

This is not a time to draw back, but to cry aloud.

You encouraged me to be cautious.

I encourage you to be bold.

Few men had exerted a greater influence on Luther than Johann von Staubitz.

He had been his father-confessor at the monastery and, therefore, listening patiently to Luther's

endless confessions.

He was the one who had sent Luther on that pilgrimage to Rome when Luther had seen the

corruption of Rome first and.

He was the one who had commissioned Luther to teach the Bible here in Vittenburg.

He had cancelled Luther when he was in despair, and he had protected Luther's position within

the Augustinian order, as Luther well remembered.

Only a few months after Luther had posted his 95theses in the spring of 1518, Staubitz

had suggested a friendly debate in Heidelberg between Luther and other leading theologians.

But some of his friends feared for what might happen to Luther on the journey, so he disguised

...