Luther was a sinner as we all are, but a sinner who knew the love and power of God to save him from sin .death, and the devil. It is because Luther was not afraid to stand before popes and emperors and confess his faith, that I today in America know Christ as my Savior. Thank you, Martin Luther! You are a hero and I love your hymn "Amighty Fortress Is our God." It has such powerful lyrics and melody.
"Unless I am convinced by scripture and plain reason and not by Popes and councils who have so often contradicted themselves, my conscience is captive to the Word of God". Martin Luther And so it is ..........
The hymn that can tell one thousand stories. No one has ever written like Martin Luther. God gifted him with the talent of writing inspiring spiritual volumes. An ordinary person's life time may not be sufficient to read this Spiritual legends books. His writing speed would simply overtake a normal person's reading capacity. An extraordinary person who opposed kingdoms and dominions all alone by the power vested on him by the Almighty fortress. By his expense every believer carries a Bible
I'm no longer an active member of the church, but as a young girl, I did attend with my family. This hymn is exactly as I remember hearing it at church and later, when my brother learned to play the pipe organ. Eternal Father, The Naval Hymn is the other hymn that holds much meaning for me. I was just listening to it a few minutes ago and it too, is exactly as I remember it and I'm also reminded of my mother and how that hymn moved her to tears and how she sang this one with all her heart.
A glorious hymn exhibiting the feelings and aspirations of a free, democratic, catholic church that St. Martin Luther [inadverantly] founded! The words and the music are an inspiration to all Christians. Thanks be to God for this holy man!
Beautiful ..So beautiful ! I love Jazz , Fusion , classical , etc . This tune is right from the Throne of GOD ! JESUS is the only way to GOD ! HE loves us ! HE ( GOD ) that spared not HIS own SON ( JESUS ) , but delivered Him up for us all , how shall HE not with Him freely give us all things ! ... Romans 8 : 32 . GOD bless You . . . Thanks for posting !
This song matches the most holy faith in all regards to suffering and adversity. I myself suffered persecutions from zealous brethren who were following mere traditions of men. Let's be careful to love and serve Jesus plus nothing. It is His covenant and it is perfect and has no need of human additions or modifications. We humans must avoid exalting our opinions, knowing that in these last days, God has given us the last Word through Jesus Christ and the Apostles moved by the Holy Spirit.
Martin Luther, one of the most bravest souls ever, to stand up against the church, would be like standing up against God himself of that era, God has spoken through Martin Luther, which changed the church for good, and 486 years later, the mighty fortress is and will always be our god
The reformation started with the 95 thesis. But the msot amazing thing is he stood up for the word of God even though the papacy condemned him for teaching that we are saved by grace through faith.
I am an ELCA Lutheran from South Carolina. I play the piano and organ. Today (February 17, Lent 1), we sang this as the Opening Hymn. Ditto for me as I played it as the Closing Hymn at a local Lutheran Church that I filled in at. It is #504 in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
How great is a hymn that won't let you stop after the first stanza! Incredibly enough, I once attended a service where only that first stanza was sung.
My life and ministry was deeply influenced by reading the biography and inspirational studies of this precious brother. Thanks for the great german people for this gift.
Thanks for posting this video. I have played this on the organ many hundreds of times, and it still gives me thrills at the concepts contained therein, not to mention the powerful tune. May God bless you and your work.
People who want only to discuss Luther's statements about the Jews throw out the baby with the bathwater. This was a great man, who stood for the true gospel and one would do well to study his writings. He is a true hero of the true gospel. One of the greatest heros of the faith.
What a man! I want to see him in the eternity and have a good conversation how he challenged those SOBs. Oh...! A mighty fortress is our God. He changed the Western civilization to become what we are now. May He bring us and to fools like @FRAGIORGIO1 an atom of wisdom to have the simple understanding of his grace.
People, do not throw out the baby with the bathwater! Luther was a great man, greatly used of God in his time. We owe to a great extent our freedom to men like Luther, who stood up for the free conscience of the individual, and put a tyrannical institution in its place. America is free from the domination of Rome and others because men like Luther stood up and demanded freedom.
Thanks for posting this video. I play this on any organ I can use, as often as I can, including every Sunday when I warm up for the service. While lots of my Pastor friends prefer Pastor/Dr. Luther's melody, this English one is sung more enthusiastically by most groups with which I have sung, with the exception of groups of LCMS pastors!
@JordanAP96 I could be wrong, but I think the last time we sang this hymm at my church, out preacher told us that a bulwark is somthing like a wall that holds back floodwaters. It makes sence. "Our helper he amid the flood"
Lutero fue un hombre que abrió el camino de la libertad de conciencia. Soy católico pero valoro que se respete el derecho de cada ser humano. Detesto que en la iglesia católica haya quienes afirman que fuera de ella no hay salvación. Las religiones no deben ser para dividir a la gente. Malditos aquellos que traigan lucha entre los seres humanos. Que viva la tolerancia, la buena música y un porro de marihuana ahora que la andan permitiendo en Colorado y Washington.
@JordanAP96 A bulwark is another word meaning fortification, fortress, castle, a refuge, a shelter. In the context of this hymn it is used to describe how the faithful can find the strength and will of God to be a safe place to seek refuge when besieged by evil's cruel hatred and how by accepting God and the teachings of Christ into their lives the faithful can overcome these challenges.
@SpidersOnDrugz Nobody's ever stood more opposed to the rules, regulations, rituals and routines of structured religion than the historical Jesus (which ultimately got him killed) so at least when it comes to not liking "religion" you and Jesus may actually have a lot in common. :) We really like this hymn too.
@Festizzle When we're really passionate about something it's hard to avoid occasionally saying something that we wish we could take back. Thanks so much for one of the coolest comments ever.
@Fersomling Yes it is a part of the Catholic hymnal book in Sweden; the hymn as it is interpreted in the 20th and 21st century is not against the Pope.
@thedagonjones Hey, I just love the hymn--and it's hard to find a version on YT that is not "New Age" or "rearranged" in some way or other to suit mor modern tastes. I'm not Lutheran or advocating any Lutheran doctrine--about which I know nothing. But having been brought up Catholic, I have to say I truly love and respect what he nailed to the door of his church. As far as Jews go, I waited tables and tended bar in NYC for several years--but I wouldn't go so far as killing any of them...
Fret not! There are more books written about Martin Luther than anyone else in the world, with ONE exception, and that exception would be just fine with Dr. Luther, since that was Yeshua (Jesus) Himself. Most folks do not know that, but check with any librarian. I'm from Altenburg, MO, btw, where the LCMS started and thrived to spread around the world, spreading the Gospel, and helped by the power & inspiration of this hymn.
@martinspecialeffects No matter about that; the words should not be interpreted as against the Pope and the Catholic church. That is why it is a part of the Catholic hymnal book.
@OddityArt Exactly what Luther was against. During the time of the Crusades young men would join the battles in order to receive a plenary indulgence which would wipe clean their sins and need to buy indulgences. These indulgences were a money making scheme of the Roman Church to build St. Peters Basilica.
@dannytibi Luther loved Jesus (who was a Jew) but definitely didn't have much good to say about the Jews of his day who he perceived as attempting to pull Christians away from Jesus. Here's another quote from that text... "For why do they curse us? Solely because we confess, praise, and laud this Jesus, the true Messiah, as our consolation, joy, and delight, from whom we win not he parted or separated by weal or woe, in whom and for whom we will confidently and willingly live and die."
Luther was a man, not God in the flesh as Jesus is/was. He obviously had problems as we all do, but was directed by God to make amazing changes in his time. God uses sinful humans to accomplish His will. We cannot look at any man to worship, except Jesus Christ, who was the perfect man.
As there's NO singing in this particular version of the hymn. I'll stand by what I wrote. This is the REAL thing--unlike so many of the syncopated, jazzed-up nonsense that others have posted on YT. So, I see someone's commented that Catholics are actually singing this now, too!!! LOL... That should have ML rolling in his grave! Maybe I'll go back to Mass... Naaah.... I prefer RUclips.
The huge point to be made is that we are utlimately saved by grace in all our human imperfection. We're not able to be perfect except through Christ. If Martin Luther had prejudices against Jews, can we say that his human fallacy was covered by Christ's great sacrifice to save him? Jewish people are God's children, too. Who can say how far Christ's work on the cross reached? We must let God alone be judge...& allow fallible Christian prejudices also to be covered in Christ's great sacrifice.
Do you mean the German tune? This is, I believe, usually referred to as the English tune or version, and is more popular with the American congregations for which I have played the organ. The seminarians and pastors often prefer the German tune, I've noticed, and it certainly is singable. In fact, these latter folks sing it like they mean it! May God bless you and your work for Him.
I don't understand why those against religous music come to these sites. Do you just want to preach hate? I'm not preaching to you, other than Gods love., I will not judge you, but I may disagee with you
@Festizzle The Catholic Church addressed Luther's Theses at the time... and Pope Benedict XVI has written extensively about Luther's errors. Pope Benedict is an excellent scholar... possibly the greatest theologian alive today. If the two of you sat down together, I'm sure the Pontiff would treat you very nicely... but I'm sure he would also tear your arguments to shreds.
Being a Lutheran and the son of a Lutheran Minister I have sung this song many times with many different translations. I have never heard those particular words. are they the actual literal translations of Luthers original text from German to English?
@ellietobe luther was not some type of superhuman. its unfortunate, but antisemitism is found all over the world. Luther did remain with some catholic beliefs, but the amount he accomplished in such a short time is unbelievable. i dont think many people can say they would have done a better job.
@NOVATICANWARS Actually, they didn't follow Jesus at all. The problem with Christianity (then and now) is that many of us Christians follow our denomination rather than following our founder. In World War II Germany that resulted in the church thinking that since Germany was a very "Christian" country, the best way for the world to have more Jesus was for it to have more Germany...and we all know how terribly wrong that went.
Martin Luther Great Man... but like all of us with Flaws.. despite his hatred against God people the Jews which in itself is Horrible... Martin Luther remains the Great Reformationist...
@tommerrigan1956 Abandoned his vows because the Catholic church was denying people the right to read scripture for themselves and adding lies to God's word, such as the idea of indulgences. According to you he is "now in hell" for being excommunicated by the Pope. Where in the Bible do you find support for that belief - that you're damned if you leave Catholic priesthood? The Pope is a mere man, horribly over-exalted when Christ is the only man who ever deserved such glorification.
@dannytibi I'd say he was really angry about how some Jews were behaving and he used very foolish words in the passage you quoted but it's really not helpful to dredge stuff up that will create a rift between our Lutheran and Jewish friends. I don't know about you but I've spouted stuff in anger that I probably shouldn't have, and I suspect Luther was guilty of doing the same when he wrote "On the Jews and Their Lies".
@ellietobe Being politically correct wasn't his thing! I'm certainly not a scholar on Martin Luther but "hated the Jews" is the wrong phrase to use here. It's probably fair to say that he hated that they refused to move on from the old covenant and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord. He was also afraid that Jewish arguments would lure Christians away from their faith. "They insist that they are right, and if God himself were to do other than they think, he would be in the wrong." - Martin Luther
Having taken several religion classes taught by Lutheran Seminary Professors on which this specific topic was raised, not one of them deny the antisemitic attitude and remarks made by Luther, only that they hoped for understanding of a man in the declining years of his life, perhaps afflicted with medical issues not known at that time.
@HiFiHymnBook @ellietobe : Earlier in his life, Luther was supportive of Jews. He believed the reason they weren't coming to Christ was the horrid abuses of the Catholic Church. Later, when Martin Luther was experiencing that same rejection of the gospel from the Jews, it led him to believe they were anathema since they rejected Christ. In truth, I would believe that he held the same attitudes to any people-group what rejected Christ. He's a product of his time and culture-sadly.
@ellietobe Actually not. While he did write a couple of notoriously anti-Semitic pieces in the last few years of his life, they had little if any influence on German anti-semitism. This myth was popularized by journalist William Shirerer, who was unable to produce evidence to support it and simply said that it was something he surmised from "general reading." See The Fabricated Luther, a book on the subject by Gene Veith, available from Concordia Publishing House.
@HiFiHymnBook Luther was abmirable in his challenges to the abuses of the clergy, I certainly respect him for that. What I have trouble with regarding Luther is his anti-semitic sentiments and his flagrant disregard for science.
Luther was a sinner as we all are, but a sinner who knew the love and power of God to save him from sin .death, and the devil. It is because Luther was not afraid to stand before popes and emperors and confess his faith, that I today in America know Christ as my Savior. Thank you, Martin Luther! You are a hero and I love your hymn "Amighty Fortress Is our God." It has such powerful lyrics and melody.
Glad that I am a Lutheran, but more important that I believe in the Unconditional Love of God through Christ Jesus
LOVE this. Without God there is nothing. With God there is hope ,light and love
"Unless I am convinced by scripture and plain reason and not by Popes and councils who have so often contradicted themselves, my conscience is captive to the Word of God".
Martin Luther
And so it is ..........
Martin Luther was one tough hombre. He took on the awsome power of the only Church at that time.
God raised up Luther to reform His Church.
Happy Reformation Day to all Lutherans out there!
The hymn that can tell one thousand stories. No one has ever written like Martin Luther. God gifted him with the talent of writing inspiring spiritual volumes. An ordinary person's life time may not be sufficient to read this Spiritual legends books. His writing speed would simply overtake a normal person's reading capacity. An extraordinary person who opposed kingdoms and dominions all alone by the power vested on him by the Almighty fortress. By his expense every believer carries a Bible
As a Catholic, I love this hymn by Luther. It's one of my favorites.
I'm no longer an active member of the church, but as a young girl, I did attend with my family. This hymn is exactly as I remember hearing it at church and later, when my brother learned to play the pipe organ. Eternal Father, The Naval Hymn is the other hymn that holds much meaning for me. I was just listening to it a few minutes ago and it too, is exactly as I remember it and I'm also reminded of my mother and how that hymn moved her to tears and how she sang this one with all her heart.
God Bless Martin Luther, a true hero of bravery
A glorious hymn exhibiting the feelings and aspirations of a free, democratic, catholic church that St. Martin Luther [inadverantly] founded! The words and the music are an inspiration to all Christians. Thanks be to God for this holy man!
Beautiful ..So beautiful ! I love Jazz , Fusion , classical , etc . This tune is right from the Throne of GOD ! JESUS is the only way to GOD ! HE loves us ! HE ( GOD ) that spared not HIS own SON ( JESUS ) , but delivered Him up for us all , how shall HE not with Him freely give us all things ! ... Romans 8 : 32 . GOD bless You . . . Thanks for posting !
This song matches the most holy faith in all regards to suffering and adversity. I myself suffered persecutions from zealous brethren who were following mere traditions of men. Let's be careful to love and serve Jesus plus nothing. It is His covenant and it is perfect and has no need of human additions or modifications. We humans must avoid exalting our opinions, knowing that in these last days, God has given us the last Word through Jesus Christ and the Apostles moved by the Holy Spirit.
Martin Luther, one of the most bravest souls ever, to stand up against the church, would be like standing up against God himself of that era, God has spoken through Martin Luther, which changed the church for good, and 486 years later, the mighty fortress is and will always be our god
Finally. I've been searching for the real thing. This is the real thing.
The reformation started with the 95 thesis. But the msot amazing thing is he stood up for the word of God even though the papacy condemned him for teaching that we are saved by grace through faith.
I am an ELCA Lutheran from South Carolina. I play the piano and organ. Today (February 17, Lent 1), we sang this as the Opening Hymn. Ditto for me as I played it as the Closing Hymn at a local Lutheran Church that I filled in at. It is #504 in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
Praise His mighty name! May God have mercy on my sin sick soul.
How great is a hymn that won't let you stop after the first stanza! Incredibly enough, I once attended a service where only that first stanza was sung.
This is one of my FAVORITE hymns.
Just a beautiful piece of work inspired by God!
My life and ministry was deeply influenced by reading the biography and inspirational studies of this precious brother. Thanks for the great german people for this gift.
I love this Hymn. I went to a Lutheran school (First Lutheran Van Nuys). The organ is an Ochestra in itself. Thanks 4 Posting
one of the best versions on you tube
i'm sure every person who thumbed up Luther would do the same for Jesus.
Thanks for posting this video. I have played this on the organ many hundreds of times, and it still gives me thrills at the concepts contained therein, not to mention the powerful tune. May God bless you and your work.
Marin Luther's message lives on!
The words are so powerful, just like the Word our God.
Jesus Save us!
People who want only to discuss Luther's statements about the Jews throw out the baby with the bathwater. This was a great man, who stood for the true gospel and one would do well to study his writings. He is a true hero of the true gospel. One of the greatest heros of the faith.
@94David This hymn is also in Cecilia, the Catholic hymnal book in Sweden, so it is perfectly alright for Catholics to sing it.
This the most reverent of all I have listened to not for show but of the Spirit!
What a man! I want to see him in the eternity and have a good conversation how he challenged those SOBs. Oh...! A mighty fortress is our God. He changed the Western civilization to become what we are now. May He bring us and to fools like @FRAGIORGIO1 an atom of wisdom to have the simple understanding of his grace.
One of the more beautifully Hyms; both, words & melody!
love this /hym... it's one of my favorites....
One of my favorite hymns in church...
This is actually sung in Catholic parishes, too.
Thumbs for Lutherans!
People, do not throw out the baby with the bathwater! Luther was a great man, greatly used of God in his time. We owe to a great extent our freedom to men like Luther, who stood up for the free conscience of the individual, and put a tyrannical institution in its place. America is free from the domination of Rome and others because men like Luther stood up and demanded freedom.
Nice reply and rings of truth. May all of us heed it.
I found this in a Catholic hymnal, good stuff.
Thanks for posting this video. I play this on any organ I can use, as often as I can, including every Sunday when I warm up for the service. While lots of my Pastor friends prefer Pastor/Dr. Luther's melody, this English one is sung more enthusiastically by most groups with which I have sung, with the exception of groups of LCMS pastors!
@JordanAP96
I could be wrong, but I think the last time we sang this hymm at my church, out preacher told us that a bulwark is somthing like a wall that holds back floodwaters. It makes sence. "Our helper he amid the flood"
Love this hymn.
Lutero fue un hombre que abrió el camino de la libertad de conciencia. Soy católico pero valoro que se respete el derecho de cada ser humano. Detesto que en la iglesia católica haya quienes afirman que fuera de ella no hay salvación. Las religiones no deben ser para dividir a la gente. Malditos aquellos que traigan lucha entre los seres humanos. Que viva la tolerancia, la buena música y un porro de marihuana ahora que la andan permitiendo en Colorado y Washington.
Happy Reformation Day!! (I'm a little late, depending on where you are lol)
@JordanAP96 A bulwark is another word meaning fortification, fortress, castle, a refuge, a shelter. In the context of this hymn it is used to describe how the faithful can find the strength and will of God to be a safe place to seek refuge when besieged by evil's cruel hatred and how by accepting God and the teachings of Christ into their lives the faithful can overcome these challenges.
Pretty true. I´m not a Christian but I definitely do think Jesus was a great iconoclast.
Still the music is majestic,only to be played in the biggest Cathedrals,in heaven and on Earth.
@SpidersOnDrugz Nobody's ever stood more opposed to the rules, regulations, rituals and routines of structured religion than the historical Jesus (which ultimately got him killed) so at least when it comes to not liking "religion" you and Jesus may actually have a lot in common. :)
We really like this hymn too.
For as much as I disagree with Martin Luther's theology, I appreciate these gifts he has left us with, the better to praise God.
@ellietobe Well said. Hoping we'll all get back to just talking about music and leave the heavy duty discussions about religion to other channels. :)
Uh, Why not thumbs up for Jesus???
Martin Luther was one tough hombre!
@Festizzle When we're really passionate about something it's hard to avoid occasionally saying something that we wish we could take back. Thanks so much for one of the coolest comments ever.
God bless America!
@johnbresnik I heard that organ too. It was wonderful.
awesome
@Fersomling Yes it is a part of the Catholic hymnal book in Sweden; the hymn as it is interpreted in the 20th and 21st century is not against the Pope.
@thedagonjones Hey, I just love the hymn--and it's hard to find a version on YT that is not "New Age" or "rearranged" in some way or other to suit mor modern tastes. I'm not Lutheran or advocating any Lutheran doctrine--about which I know nothing. But having been brought up Catholic, I have to say I truly love and respect what he nailed to the door of his church. As far as Jews go, I waited tables and tended bar in NYC for several years--but I wouldn't go so far as killing any of them...
Amen Amen,!!!
@Alistairville Luther's version was probably in Deutsch.
Fret not! There are more books written about Martin Luther than anyone else in the world, with ONE exception, and that exception would be just fine with Dr. Luther, since that was Yeshua (Jesus) Himself. Most folks do not know that, but check with any librarian. I'm from Altenburg, MO, btw, where the LCMS started and thrived to spread around the world, spreading the Gospel, and helped by the power & inspiration of this hymn.
@martinspecialeffects No matter about that; the words should not be interpreted as against the Pope and the Catholic church. That is why it is a part of the Catholic hymnal book.
@OddityArt
Exactly what Luther was against. During the time of the Crusades young men would join the battles in order to receive a plenary indulgence which would wipe clean their sins and need to buy indulgences. These indulgences were a money making scheme of the Roman Church to build St. Peters Basilica.
@NOVATICANWARS Just want to throw in our 2 cents...
Christians may have been anti-semitic but the New Testament definitely wasn't...Jesus was a Jew.
@dannytibi
Luther loved Jesus (who was a Jew) but definitely didn't have much good to say about the Jews of his day who he perceived as attempting to pull Christians away from Jesus. Here's another quote from that text...
"For why do they curse us? Solely because we confess, praise, and laud this Jesus, the true Messiah, as our consolation, joy, and delight, from whom we win not he parted or separated by weal or woe, in whom and for whom we will confidently and willingly live and die."
Luther was a man, not God in the flesh as Jesus is/was. He obviously had problems as we all do, but was directed by God to make amazing changes in his time. God uses sinful humans to accomplish His will. We cannot look at any man to worship, except Jesus Christ, who was the perfect man.
As there's NO singing in this particular version of the hymn. I'll stand by what I wrote. This is the REAL thing--unlike so many of the syncopated, jazzed-up nonsense that others have posted on YT. So, I see someone's commented that Catholics are actually singing this now, too!!! LOL... That should have ML rolling in his grave! Maybe I'll go back to Mass... Naaah.... I prefer RUclips.
The huge point to be made is that we are utlimately saved by grace in all our human imperfection. We're not able to be perfect except through Christ. If Martin Luther had prejudices against Jews, can we say that his human fallacy was covered by Christ's great sacrifice to save him? Jewish people are God's children, too. Who can say how far Christ's work on the cross reached? We must let God alone be judge...& allow fallible Christian prejudices also to be covered in Christ's great sacrifice.
Thumbs up for Mendelssohn!
Do you mean the German tune? This is, I believe, usually referred to as the English tune or version, and is more popular with the American congregations for which I have played the organ. The seminarians and pastors often prefer the German tune, I've noticed, and it certainly is singable. In fact, these latter folks sing it like they mean it! May God bless you and your work for Him.
Amen+
I don't understand why those against religous music come to these sites. Do you just want to preach hate? I'm not preaching to you, other than Gods love., I will not judge you, but I may disagee with you
Just wondering, on what organ was this recorded?
@Festizzle
The Catholic Church addressed Luther's Theses at the time... and Pope Benedict XVI has written extensively about Luther's errors. Pope Benedict is an excellent scholar... possibly the greatest theologian alive today. If the two of you sat down together, I'm sure the Pontiff would treat you very nicely... but I'm sure he would also tear your arguments to shreds.
Being a Lutheran and the son of a Lutheran Minister I have sung this song many times with many different translations. I have never heard those particular words. are they the actual literal translations of Luthers original text from German to English?
@SpidersOnDrugz I dont understand how you could love the hymns but not believe that about which they are singing.
@ellietobe luther was not some type of superhuman. its unfortunate, but antisemitism is found all over the world. Luther did remain with some catholic beliefs, but the amount he accomplished in such a short time is unbelievable. i dont think many people can say they would have done a better job.
@NOVATICANWARS Actually, they didn't follow Jesus at all. The problem with Christianity (then and now) is that many of us Christians follow our denomination rather than following our founder. In World War II Germany that resulted in the church thinking that since Germany was a very "Christian" country, the best way for the world to have more Jesus was for it to have more Germany...and we all know how terribly wrong that went.
@JordanAP96 It is a wall or protective barrier.
Thumbs up for GOD :-)
Martin Luther Great Man... but like all of us with Flaws.. despite his hatred against God people the Jews which in itself is Horrible... Martin Luther remains the Great Reformationist...
@tommerrigan1956 Abandoned his vows because the Catholic church was denying people the right to read scripture for themselves and adding lies to God's word, such as the idea of indulgences. According to you he is "now in hell" for being excommunicated by the Pope. Where in the Bible do you find support for that belief - that you're damned if you leave Catholic priesthood? The Pope is a mere man, horribly over-exalted when Christ is the only man who ever deserved such glorification.
@dannytibi I'd say he was really angry about how some Jews were behaving and he used very foolish words in the passage you quoted but it's really not helpful to dredge stuff up that will create a rift between our Lutheran and Jewish friends. I don't know about you but I've spouted stuff in anger that I probably shouldn't have, and I suspect Luther was guilty of doing the same when he wrote "On the Jews and Their Lies".
Reminds me of devil may cry.
@ellietobe Being politically correct wasn't his thing! I'm certainly not a scholar on Martin Luther but "hated the Jews" is the wrong phrase to use here. It's probably fair to say that he hated that they refused to move on from the old covenant and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord. He was also afraid that Jewish arguments would lure Christians away from their faith. "They insist that they are right, and if God himself were to do other than they think, he would be in the wrong." - Martin Luther
Martin Luther died 1546, not 1547...
@HiFiHymnBook Politcally correct? What does that mean except veiled totalitarianism it says either agree with me or else..!
@FireWhisp How do u find it?
@edwinreb3l written in the 1520s I believe.
Having taken several religion classes taught by Lutheran Seminary Professors on which this specific topic was raised, not one of them deny the antisemitic attitude and remarks made by Luther, only that they hoped for understanding of a man in the declining years of his life, perhaps afflicted with medical issues not known at that time.
@HiFiHymnBook whoops! I'm sorry I didn't see this.
from what period was this?:)
@HiFiHymnBook @ellietobe : Earlier in his life, Luther was supportive of Jews. He believed the reason they weren't coming to Christ was the horrid abuses of the Catholic Church. Later, when Martin Luther was experiencing that same rejection of the gospel from the Jews, it led him to believe they were anathema since they rejected Christ. In truth, I would believe that he held the same attitudes to any people-group what rejected Christ. He's a product of his time and culture-sadly.
Hear our "Guitar and Voice" version of A Mighty Fortress is Our God: ruclips.net/video/kqNL4RFXRek/видео.htmlsi=atZNoo0ZbNtn-p7b
@ellietobe Actually not. While he did write a couple of notoriously anti-Semitic pieces in the last few years of his life, they had little if any influence on German anti-semitism. This myth was popularized by journalist William Shirerer, who was unable to produce evidence to support it and simply said that it was something he surmised from "general reading." See The Fabricated Luther, a book on the subject by Gene Veith, available from Concordia Publishing House.
What is a bulwark?
@HiFiHymnBook Luther was abmirable in his challenges to the abuses of the clergy, I certainly respect him for that. What I have trouble with regarding Luther is his anti-semitic sentiments and his flagrant disregard for science.