Philipp Melanchthon, whose real family name is Schwarzerd (meaning "black earth"), of which Melanchthon is the Greek translation, had been educated at Heidelberg and Tubingen, where he had read widely in the Greek classics and Hebrew scriptures.

In 1518, Melanchthon goes to the University of Wittenberg as a professor of Greek and delivers an inaugural address on behalf of humanistic studies.

Under Martin Luther's influence, Melanchthon is won over to the evangelical cause.

Luther himself defends his theology before his fellow Augustinians.

Copies of his ninety-five theses, which are quickly spread throughout Europe, unleash a storm of controversy.

Thirty-one-year-old German Roman Catholic theologian Johann Eck writes his Obelisci in reply to Luther's theses, condemning his ideas.