Protestant Reformation

The Augustinian priest, Martin Luther (1483-1546) was one of the first to point out that Scripture alone, without the Church interpretation was enough.  With the invention of the printing press in the late 15^th century and the growth of the new vernacular languages, printing and translating the Bible was an important element in the Protestant Reformation of the 16^th century.  Sermons on Bible readings took on a new importance.  The printed Bible book also became an icon.  There were immediate difficulties within this reform movement over the question of the clear meaning of Scripture.  Each group and even each individual within the group began to interpret Scripture as they saw fit.