”A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”

Purpose of

Hymnal Journaling

1. Watch Video

2. Read History

3. Color/Doodle Hymn

4. Share photo in comments OR

5. Share photo in Facebook Group

The Author of the Hymn

THE AUTHOR ~ Martin Luther

Born November 10, 1483 in Eisleben, Germany
Died February 18, 1546 in Eisleben, Germany

Luther was a German professor of theology, composer, priest, monk, & a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1507. He came to reject several teachings & practices of the Roman Catholic Church; in particular, he disputed the view on indulgences. He proposed an academic discussion of the practice & efficacy of indulgences in his Ninety-Five Theses of 1517. His refusal to renounce all of his writings at the demand of Pope Leo X in 1520 & Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms in 1521 resulted in his excommunication by the pope & condemnation as an outlaw by the Holy Roman Emperor.

Luther taught that salvation & consequently, eternal life are not earned by good deeds but are received only as the free gift of God’s  grace through the believer’s faith in Jesus Christ as redeemer from sin. 

 In two of his later works, Luther expressed antagonistic, violent views towards Jews & called for the burnings of their synagogues & their deaths. His rhetoric was not directed at Jews alone, but also towards Roman Catholics, Anabaptists, & nontrinitarian  Christians. 

Luther died in 1546 with Pope Leo X’s excommunication still effective. 

History of Hymn

THE HISTORY ~ “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”  

“A Mighty Fortress” is one of the best loved hymns of the Lutheran tradition & among Protestants more generally. It has been called the “Battle Hymn of the Reformation “ for the effect it had in increasing the support for the Reformers’ cause. 

Alternatively, John M. Merriman writes that the hymn “began as a martial song to inspire soldiers against the Ottoman forces” during the Ottoman wars in Europe.