German Protestant reformer Martin Luther translated entire Bible into German, completing New Testament in 1521 and full Bible published 1534. Luther's translation used East Central German dialect becoming standard German literary language. He developed German biblical vocabulary, created German idioms from biblical sources, and established German orthography conventions. Luther's missionary linguistics (though reformer rather than traditional missionary) emphasized vernacular language accessibility for common people. This translation occurred during German Protestant Reformation, transforming German religious and literary culture.

Luther's German Bible established standardized literary German, enabling German poetic Renaissance including Martin Opitz's baroque poetry and later Goethe's works. Luther created German biblical idioms entering everyday language and literary expression. The translation influenced German religious poetry (including hymns by Luther himself), biblical poetry, and secular literature. German Bible became foundation for modern German language and national literary identity.