Did Martin Luther really nail his 95 Theses to the church door? The traditional story is that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church doors of Wittenberg, Germany, which served as a bulletin board of sorts, on October 31, 1517. However, some sources debate this. For instance, this article about Luther commemoration in the US contains a slideshow with the following:


  Did Luther really nail his 95 theses to the main door of the Wittenberg Castle church? Reformation historians are still discussing this point 500 years later. In fact, Luther himself never mentioned the theses. Belgian historical painter Ferdinand Pauwels didn't seem to care - he painted Luther with hammer and nails anyway.


It unfortunately does not elaborate or provide sources.

Did Luther really nail his 95 Theses to the church door on October 31st? And if not, where did that traditional image and date come from?
Martin Luther, we know from his own writings, was clearly neither a fanatic nor a protester. His sensible and restrained attitude to the Iconoclasts (see other question and answer) demonstrates this.

'Nailed' is somewhat evocative and very likely an exaggeration as is the 'door' of the building. What appears to be the case (see Wikipedia entry below) is that the porchway to the Castle Church was used to post notices of forthcoming events, just as is the porchway of Malvern Abbey, just down the road from me,  today.

The Ferdinand Pauwels painting (below) is not exactly dramatic and may well represent the reality of what occurred.



Luther either pinned his letter to the Archbishop there, or (more probably) pinned a copy of his letter to the usual place for notices of interest, after having sent the original to its addressee.

This is the version of events favoured by the current Wikipedia account of the event.


  Luther sent the Theses enclosed with a letter to Albert of Brandenburg, the Archbishop of Mainz, on 31 October 1517, a date now considered the start of the Reformation and commemorated annually as Reformation Day. Luther may have also posted the Theses on the door of All Saints' Church and other churches in Wittenberg in accordance with University custom on 31 October or in mid-November. 





  The main portal was often used by the university staff to pin up messages and notices; it is generally believed that on 31 October 1517, the eve of All Saints' Day, Martin Luther posted his Ninety-five Theses on the doors of All Saints' Church. This act, meant to promote a disputation on the sale of indulgences, is commonly viewed to be a catalyst for the Protestant Reformation. Whether the event actually took place or not, however, cannot be conclusively established. Nevertheless, Luther sent his objections in a letter to Archbishop Albert of Mainz on the same day.


Wikipedia - 'All Saints' Church, Wittenberg'



In the heading of the letter, Luther makes it clear that his 95 theses (see below) will be 'defended' at his ordinary lectures at Wittenberg. It is therefore the notification of an event yet to take place, and therefore quite a justifiable document to pin up outside the Castle Church building, according to common practice.

The Heading of the 95 Theses :


  Out of love for the truth and from desire to elucidate it, the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology, and ordinary lecturer therein at Wittenberg, intends to defend the following statements and to dispute on them in that place. Therefore he asks that those who cannot be present and dispute with him orally shall do so in their absence by letter. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.


Luther, himself, claims to have behaved quite properly and in an orderly fashion, according to established procedures within Wittenberg.


  Luther always claimed that he brought his objections through proper channels rather than inciting a public controversy


Wikipedia 'Ninety-five Theses'


  The Full Text of the 95 Theses - is available to read here.