In 1512 Dr. Von Staupitz secured a position as Doctor in Biblia for Luther at the University of Wittenberg. At first, Luther was not keen to go. He was still struggling with his guilt over sin. Still wrestling with the concepts of righteousness by faith. He felt that he had no business teaching theology when he himself was struggling so desperately. Staupitz countered that going to Wittenberg would be good for him. He argued that having more time to devote to the study of the Scriptures would help Luther grow spiritually and nurture the flame of his struggling faith.

Finally, Luther reluctantly agreed and set off for Wittenberg. His responsibilities there were numerous and included teaching at the university, preaching at the local church, supervising Masters's students, and working on his own doctorate. It was at Wittenberg that Luther slowly began to crystallize his views on justification by faith. He studied the book of Romans and began to lecture on it from 1513 onwards.

It was here that he first articulated the five pillars that would become the bedrock of the Reformation; Sola Scriptura, Sola Christus, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, and Soli Deo Gloria.