Martin Luther
The Smalcald Articles
"The Smalcald Articles" by Martin Luther is a summary of Lutheran doctrine written in 1537 for a meeting of the Schmalkaldic League. Commissioned to prepare for an intended church council, Luther outlined what he considered Christianity's most significant teachings. Though not adopted at the 1537 meeting due to concerns about divisiveness, Luther valued the Articles so highly he included them in his will. The text eventually became a confessional document in the Book of Concord in 1580.