Fact check: Did martin luther nail the 95 theses

1. Summary of the results

The question of whether Martin Luther physically nailed the 95 Theses to the church door cannot be definitively answered based on historical evidence. While the event is traditionally described as occurring on October 31, 1517, at the Schlosskirche (Castle Church) in Wittenberg ^[1], there is significant scholarly debate about whether the physical nailing actually took place ^[2]. What is certain is that Luther did write the 95 Theses and distributed them to church officials ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are missing from the simple yes/no question:

• The tradition of dating the Reformation's beginning from the door-nailing incident didn't develop until the mid-17th century ^[1]
• Philipp Melanchthon claimed Luther posted the theses, but Luther himself never mentioned nailing them in his own writings ^[2]
• Prominent historians remain divided on this issue:
• Heiko Oberman supports the nailing narrative
• Erwin Iserloh argues Luther only sent copies to church authorities ^[2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself reflects a common oversimplification of historical events. Several potential sources of bias should be considered:

• Religious institutions benefit from maintaining dramatic origin stories that emphasize decisive moments and bold actions
• The physical nailing narrative has become deeply embedded in Protestant tradition, making it difficult to challenge without facing resistance
• The debate is considered "insoluble" by historians ^[2], suggesting that definitive claims either way should be treated with skepticism
• The focus on the physical act of nailing overshadows the more historically significant fact that Luther did write and distribute the theses, which sparked significant religious controversy ^[1]