![]() His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate, Our helper He amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing.įor still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe. (1) A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing A Mighty Fortress Is Our God – Hymn Lyrics Once he wrote, I would allow no man to preach or teach Gods people without a proper knowledge of the use and power of sacred song. Luther had strong convictions about the use and power of sacred music. The first line of this national hymn of Protestant Germany is fittingly inscribed on the tomb of the great reformer at Wittenberg, This hymn has been translated into practically every known language and is regarded as one of the noblest and most classic examples of Christian hymnody. Inspired by Psalm 46, Luther caught up in the hymn the very essence of faith, and the fervor and flavor of patriotism which he found in the Psalm. Its majestic and thunderous proclamation of our faith is a singing symbol of the reformation. This hymn became the battle cry of the people, a great source of strength and inspiration even for those who were martyred for their convictions. It symbolized the start of the Protestant Reformation.Īnd the single most powerful hymn of the Protestant Reformation Movement was Luthers A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, based on Psalm 46. That date was sometimes called the 4th of July of Protestantism. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the door of the Cathedral of Wittenberg, Germany. The Spirit and the gifts are ours Thro’ Him who with us sideth.Story Behind The Hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God That word above all earthly pow’rs - No thanks to them - abideth: His rage we can endure, For lo! his doom is sure, The prince of darkness grim - We tremble not for him We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us. Lord Sabaoth is His name, From age to age the same,Īnd tho’ this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us Were not the right Man on our side, The Man of God’s own choosing.ĭost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He ![]() His craft and pow’r are great, And, armed with cruel hate,ĭid we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing Our shelter He, amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing.įor still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe The two most enduring are Thomas Carlyle’s “ A Safe Stronghold Our God Is Still” and Frederic Henry Hedge’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” Hedge’s translation being far more popular.Ī mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing There have been many attempts to translate the hymn into English. (The story that the tune came from a tavern song that was popular in Luther’s day is the result of a misunderstanding of German musical terminology.) More recently, however, scholars are inclined to believe that Luther wrote it himself. In times past, it was believed to have been borrowed by Luther, perhaps from an old Gregorian melody. There is debate about where the tune came from. The evidence for this date is the printing history surrounding it (no copies beforehand, and a growing number of copies afterwards). Benson concludes, along with several other historians, that the most likely story is that it was written in October 1527 as the plague was approaching. There are at least 7 documented theories on the time and circumstances in which the hymn was written. ![]() This association is symbolized in the monument to Luther at Wittenberg where the first line of the lyrics were engraved on the base. The hymn became closely associated with Luther himself, as it embodied in its words and melody so much of the character of its author - bold, confident, defiant in the face of opposition. It is woven into the web of the history of Reformation times, and it became the true national hymn of Protestant Germany. It was sung by poor Protestant emigrants on their way into exile, and by martyrs at their death. It was sung in the streets and, so heard, comforted the hearts of Melanchthon, Jonas, and Cruciger, as they entered Weimar, when banished from Wittenberg in 1547. It was sung at Augsburg during the Diet, and in all the churches of Saxony, often against the protest of the priest. It was … the Marseillaise of the Reformation. After its publication, it gained immense popularity throughout Reformed Europe. Sponsor Show Your Support Become a Patronīased on Psalm 46, the hymn is a celebration of the sovereign power of God over all earthly and spiritual forces, and of the sure hope we have in him because of Christ. ![]()
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