Witnesses Before the Dawn: The Martyrs Luther Remembered Before the Reformation

Episode Description

Long before the hammer struck the Wittenberg door, the blood of the saints had already watered the Church. In this podcast, Charles Wiese leads a deep dive into the pre-Reformation martyrs Martin Luther discussed in his sermons, lectures, and writings. From Jan Hus and Jerome of Prague to the Waldensians, St. Lawrence, Polycarp, and the martyrs under Rome, we examine their witness, their suffering, and Luther’s verdict on their faith: that they were justified by Christ alone, preserved by the Spirit, and condemned not for crime, but for the Gospel. This episode also confronts Luther’s warnings about false teachers, persecution from within the Church, and the enduring mark of true Christianity—the theology of the cross.