Pope Paul III issues a bull calling for a general council of the Roman Catholic Church to deal with the Reformation movement.

In response, Johann Friedrich (John Frederick), Lutheran elector of Saxony, seeks to determine what issues can be negotiated with the Roman Catholics and what can not be compromised.

He therefore asks Martin Luther to review earlier statements of faith by the Reformers to determine what is essential to the faith.

After Luther prepares the articles, he invites several Reformers to Wittenberg to discuss them, and after some minor changes, eight theologians sign them.

They are then sent to the Elector in January 1537, and become known as the Schmalkaldic Articles.