Underlying the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century was the rupture of the medieval church which was precipitated by the separation of Martin Luther and his supporters from the institution headed by the pope. Hendrix traces the course of that separation with concentration on the decisive years 1517-1522. Focusing on Luther's relationship to the papal hierarchy, rather than to the personalities of individual popes, Luther's development as a reformer and the beginnings of the Reformation are studied. The book concentrates on the motivating force that consistently governed Luther's own actions in his encounter with the papacy, viz., his insistence on the obligation of the institutional church to nourish the faith of the people in the church. Luther emerges from this study as an advocate of the people against a papal hierarchy that was not fulfilling its obligation. - Jacket flap.