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Martin Luther

1483–1546 · Germany · Medieval

Author Composer Translator

German reformer, professor at Wittenberg, and the father of evangelical congregational song; his roughly three dozen hymns shaped Lutheran worship.

Life

Martin Luther was born at Eisleben in 1483, entered the Augustinian order, was ordained priest in 1507, and became professor of Bible at Wittenberg. His Ninety-five Theses on indulgences (1517) began the debate that became the Reformation. He refused to recant, was excommunicated by Pope Leo X (1521) and declared an outlaw by Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms the same year. At the heart of his teaching was justification by grace through faith in Christ, apart from human merit, with good works as the fruit of living faith. He translated the Bible into German, wrote the Small and Large Catechisms, reformed the Mass in German, and married Katharina von Bora (1525). He died at Eisleben in 1546.

As a Hymn Writer

Luther wanted the people to sing the Gospel. From 1523 he wrote and adapted hymns for the reformed services: German versions of Latin hymns and chants (the Kyrie, the Te Deum, 'Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland'), metrical psalms ('A Mighty Fortress', 'From Depths of Woe'), festival hymns ('From Heaven Above', 'Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands'), and catechism hymns on the Commandments, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. His hymns teach doctrine directly, often in the first person of the whole Church; they are full of Law and Gospel, of the devil's defeat and Christ's victory, and they give the congregation the Church's confession to sing. Several tunes are his or were shaped by him and his musical collaborator Johann Walter.

In The Lutheran Hymnal and Lutheran Service Book (20)

  • TLH 80 All Praise to Thee, Eternal God
  • TLH 85 From Heaven Above to Earth I Come
  • TLH 103 To Shepherds as They Watched by Night
  • TLH 137 In Peace and Joy I Now Depart
  • TLH 195 Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands
  • TLH 224 Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord!
  • TLH 249 Isaiah, Mighty Seer, in Days of Old
  • TLH 259 Flung to the Heedless Winds
  • TLH 260 O Lord, Look Down from Heaven, Behold
  • TLH 261 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Thy Word
  • TLH 262 A Mighty Fortress is Our God
  • TLH 267 If God Had Not Been on Our Side
  • TLH 287 That Man a Godly Life Might Live
  • TLH 311 Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior
  • TLH 313 O Lord, We Praise Thee
  • TLH 329 From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee
  • TLH 387 Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice
  • TLH 458 Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above
  • TLH 500 May God Bestow on Us His Grace
  • TLH 590 In Midst of Earthly Life

Sources: Wikipedia, 'Martin Luther'; Wikipedia, 'List of hymns by Martin Luther'.

Hymn Texts (50)

Tunes Composed (2)

Translations (3)