Rare early printing of "A Mighty Fortress."

"A Mighty Fortress is Our God" (German, Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott) is the best known of Martin Luther's hymns. Luther wrote the words and composed the melody sometime between 1527-1529.^[1] It has been translated into English at least seventy times and also into many other languages.^[1][2] The words are a paraphrase of Psalm 46.^[3] The most popular English version, "A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing," was translated by Frederick H. Hedge in 1853. Another popular English version by Thomas Carlyle begins "A safe stronghold our God is still." Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2820x2511, 1999 KB)One of only very few early printings of Luthers hymn: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2820x2511, 1999 KB)One of only very few early printings of Luthers hymn: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. ... Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 – February 18, 1546) was a German monk,[1] priest, professor, theologian, and church reformer. ... A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a god or other religiously significant figure. ... Psalms (Tehilim תהילים, in Hebrew) is a book of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, and of the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The most familiar view of Carlyle is as the bearded sage with a penetrating gaze. ...

History

Ein Feste Burg with Luther's signature

"A Mighty Fortress" is one of the best loved hymns of the Lutheran and Protestant traditions. It has been called the "Battle Hymn of the Reformation" for the effect it had in increasing the support for the Reformers' cause. John Julian records four theories of its origin:^[1] Image File history File links Luther's_Ein_Feste_Burg. ... Image File history File links Luther's_Ein_Feste_Burg. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Another major contention was the tremendous corruption within the Churchs hierarchy, all the way up to the Bishop of Rome, who appointed individuals to various positions within the Church (bishop, cardinal, etc. ...

• Heinrich Heine: it was sung by Luther and his companions as they entered Worms on April 16, 1521 for the Diet;
• K.F.T. Schneider: it was a tribute to Luther's friend Leonhard Kaiser, who was executed as a Protestant martyr on August 16, 1527;
• Jean-Henri Merle d'Aubigné: it was sung by the German Lutheran princes as they entered Augsburg for the Diet in 1530 at which the Augsburg Confession was presented; and
• the view that it was composed in connection with the Diet of Speyer (1529) at which the German Lutheran princes lodged their "protest" to Emperor Charles V, who wanted to enforce his Edict of Worms (1521).

The earliest extant hymnal in which it appears is that of Andrew Rauscher (1531), but it is supposed to have been in Joseph Klug’s Wittenberg hymnal of 1529, of which no copy exists. Its title was Der xxxxvi. Psalm. Deus noster refugium et virtus.^[1] Before that it is supposed to have appeared in the Hans Weiss Wittenberg hymnal of 1528, also lost.^[4] This evidence would support its being written in 1527-1529, since Luther's hymns were printed shortly after they were written. Christian Johann Heinrich Heine (born Chaim Harry Heine, December 13, 1797 – February 17, 1856) was a journalist, an essayist, and one of the most significant German romantic poets. ... // Worms (pronounced ) is a city in the southwest of Germany. ... Jean-Henri Merle dAubigné (16 August 1794 - 21 October 1872) was a Swiss Protestant minister and historian of the Reformation. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Augsburg Confession The Augsburg Confession, also known as the Augustana from its Latin name, Confessio Augustana, is the primary confession of faith of the Lutheran Church and one of the most important documents of the Lutheran reformation. ... Charles V (24 February 1500 - 21 September 1558) was ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily (1516-1554), Archduke of Austria (1519-1521), King of the Romans (or German King), (1519-1556 but did not formally abdicate until 1558) and...

Tradition states that King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden had it played as his forces went to battle in the Thirty Years' War. The psalm had been translated into Swedish already in 1536. Many centuries later, the song would also become an anthem of the early Swedish socialist movement. Gustav II Adolf King of Sweden Gustav II Adolf (also known as Gustaf Adolf the Great (Swedish Gustav Adolf den store, Latin Gustavus Adolphus Magnus), or Gustavus II Adolphus) (December 9, 1594 – November 6, 1632 O.S.), widely known by the Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus and referred to by Protestants... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Year 1536 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ...

It was first translated into English by Myles Coverdale in 1539 with the title, Oure God is a defence and towre. The first English translation in "common usage" was God is our Refuge in Distress, Our strong Defence in J.C. Jacobi's Psal. Ger., 1722, p. 83.^[1] Myles Coverdale (also Miles Coverdale) (c1488 - January 20, 1568) was a 16th-century Bible translator who produced the first complete printed translation of the Bible into English. ...

Perhaps ironically, given its Reformation pedigree, it is now a suggested hymn for Catholic masses[1], appearing in the second edition of the Catholic Book of Worship, published by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Ein Feste Burg. ... Software development stages In computer programming, development stage terminology expresses how the development of a piece of software has progressed and how much further development it may require. ... In the Roman Catholic Church, an Episcopal Conference, Conference of Bishops, or National Conference of Bishops is a conference consisting of all the bishops within a given territory. ...

Tune

A Mighty Fortress, isometric tune

A Mighty Fortress, rhythmic tune

The first line in German is Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott. Luther composed the melody for the hymn, which is called "Ein' Feste Burg" and is in hymn meter 87.87.55.56.7, denoted rhythmic tune as distinguished from the later isometric tune setting of the hymn, 87.87.66.66.7 meter. The isometric meter that is employed in the above media selection is more widely known and used in Christendom.^[5] In 1906 Edouard Rœhrich wrote, "The authentic form of this melody differs very much from that which one sings in most Protestant churches and figures in (Giacomo Meyerbeer's] The Huguenots. ... The original melody is extremely rhythmic, by the way it bends to all the nuances of the text ..."^[6] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (769x715, 193 KB) User:drboisclair: Scanned from material in public domain I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (769x715, 193 KB) User:drboisclair: Scanned from material in public domain I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (742x866, 242 KB) Created by User:Drboisclair by scanning from material in public domain I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (742x866, 242 KB) Created by User:Drboisclair by scanning from material in public domain I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Giacomo Meyerbeer Giacomo Meyerbeer (September 5, 1791 – May 2, 1864) was a noted German-born opera composer, and the first great exponent of Grand Opera. ...

While in the 19th century musicologists disputed Luther's authorship of the music to the hymn, that opinion has been modified by more recent research; it is now the consensus view of musical scholars that Luther did indeed compose the famous tune to go with the words. A musicologist is someone who studies musicology. ...

Arrangements

The tune has been used by numerous composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach, as the source material for his Cantata BWV 80. It was given two settings in Bach's Choralgesänge (Choral Hymns). Felix Mendelssohn used it as the theme for the fourth and final movement of his Symphony No. 5 (1830), which he named Reformation in honor of the Protestant Reformation started by Luther, Giacomo Meyerbeer used it in his five-act grand opera Les Huguenots (1836), and Richard Wagner used it as a "motive" in his Kaisermarsch (Emperor's March), which was composed to commemorate the return of Kaiser Wilhelm I from the Franco-Prussian War in 1871.^[1][3] Places in which Bach resided throughout his life Johann Sebastian Bach (pronounced ) (21 March 1685 O.S. – 28 July 1750 N.S.) was a prolific German composer and organist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought... Felix Mendelssohn at the age of 30 Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, born and known generally as Felix Mendelssohn (February 3, 1809 – November 4, 1847) was a German composer and conductor of the early Romantic period. ... The Symphony No. ... Another major contention was the tremendous corruption within the Churchs hierarchy, all the way up to the Bishop of Rome, who appointed individuals to various positions within the Church (bishop, cardinal, etc. ... Giacomo Meyerbeer Giacomo Meyerbeer (September 5, 1791 – May 2, 1864) was a noted German-born opera composer, and the first great exponent of Grand Opera. ... Les Huguenots is a French opera by Giacomo Meyerbeer. ... Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 – February 13, 1883) was an influential German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as he later came to call them). ... Wilhelm I of Germany (March 22, 1797 – March 9, 1888), German Emperor (Kaiser), ruled January 18, 1871 – 9 March 1888 and King of Prussia, ruled 2 January 1861 – 9 March 1888. ... Combatants Second French Empire North German Confederation allied with south German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III # Otto Von Bismarck Helmuth von Moltke the Elder Strength 400,000 at the beginning of the war 1,200,000 Casualties 150,000 dead or wounded 284,000 captured 350,000 civilian...

Lyrics

Original German

English translations

Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book of 1868

1. A mighty Fortress is our God,

A trusty Shield and Weapon;

He helps us free from every need

That hath us now o'ertaken.

The old evil Foe

Now means deadly woe;

Deep guile and great might

Are his dread arms in fight;

On earth is not his equal.

2. With might of ours can naught be done,

Soon were our loss effected;

But for us fights the Valiant One,

Whom God Himself elected.

Ask ye, Who is this?

Jesus Christ it is.

Of Sabaoth Lord,

And there's none other God;

He holds the field forever.

3. Though devils all the world should fill,

All eager to devour us.

We tremble not, we fear no ill,

They shall not overpower us.

This world's prince may still

Scowl fierce as he will,

He can harm us none,

He's judged; the deed is done;

One little word can fell him.

4. The Word they still shall let remain

Nor any thanks have for it;

He's by our side upon the plain

With His good gifts and Spirit.

And take they our life,

Goods, fame, child and wife,

Let these all be gone,

They yet have nothing won;

The Kingdom our remaineth.

Hedge

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

(This translation by Frederic Hedge, 1853)

Other Versions

• Catherine Winkworth
• Hymns of Martin Luther

Musical setting

• Ein' feste Burg, Luther, 1529
• This tune was used by A.W.R. Crawley for the School Song('Per Angusta ad Augusta') of Auckland Grammar School in New Zealand.

In popular culture

• The hymn was sung at the National Cathedral during the funeral service for United States President, Dwight David Eisnehower. ^[7]
• A version of "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" was used as the theme for the children's television series Davey and Goliath, which was produced for the Lutheran Church in America.
• Part of it can also be heard in the made- for- TV movie, A Separate Peace.
• Mystery Science Theater 3000 used the song as a running gag during the film "The Rebel Set", in which the mastermind of a bank heist disguised himself as a Lutheran minister. MST3K was produced in the state of Minnesota, known for a large Lutheran population.
• A Mighty Fortress was the name of a supplement for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game ; this supplement depicted the Renaissance and wars of religion as a campaign setting for this roleplaying game.

Washington National Cathedral was the site of two Presidential state funerals: for Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald W. Reagan, and a presidential burial in the cathedral mausoleum: Woodrow Wilson. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Dwight David Ike Eisenhower (October 14, 1890–March 28, 1969), American soldier and politician, was the 34th President of the United States (1953–1961) and supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II, with the rank of General of the Army. ... Davey and Goliath was the title of a 1960s stop-motion animated television series. ... The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. ... Mystery Science Theater 3000, often abbreviated MST3K, is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area  Ranked 12th  - Total 87,014 sq mi (225,365 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 8. ... This article is about the role-playing game. ...

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} John Julian, ed., A Dictionary of Hymnology: Setting forth the Origin and History of Christian Hymns of all Ages and Nations, Second revised edition, 2 vols., n.p., 1907, reprint, New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1957, 1:322-25
2. ^ W. G. Polack, The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal, Third and Revised Edition (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1958), 193, No. 262.
3. ^ ^{a b} Marilyn Kay Stulken, Hymnal Companion to the Lutheran Book of Worship (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1981), 307-08, nos. 228-229.
4. ^ Jaroslav Pelikan and Helmut Lehmann, eds., Luther's Works, 55 vols. (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House; Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1957-1986), 53:283.
5. ^ Cf. The Commission on Worship of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Lutheran Worship, (St. Louis: CPH, 1982), 992, 997.
6. ^ E. Rœhrich, Les Origines du Choral Luthérien. (Paris: Librairie Fischbacher, 1906), 23 (italics original): "La forme authentique de cette mélodie diffère beaucoup de celle qu'on chante dans la plupart des Églises protestantes et qui figure dans les Huguenots". ... La mélodie originelle est puissamment rythmée, de manière à se plier à toutes les nuances du texte ..."
7. ^ http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/i/mightyfo.htm Cyber hymnal: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"

Bibliography

• Commission on Worship of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Lutheran Worship. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1982. ISBN
• Julian, John, ed. A Dictionary of Hymnology: Setting forth the Origin and History of Christian Hymns of all Ages and Nations. Second revised edition. 2 vols. n.p., 1907. Reprint, New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1957.
• Pelikan, Jaroslav and Lehmann, Helmut, eds. Luther's Works. Vol. 53, Liturgy and Hymns. St. Louis, Concordia Publishing House, 1965. ISBN 0-8006-0353-2.
• Polack, W.G. The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942.
• Rœhrich, E. Les Origines du Choral Luthérien. Paris: Librairie Fischbacher, 1906.
• Stulken, Marilyn Kay. Hymnal Companion to the Lutheran Book of Worship. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1981.

External links

• Lyrics, Music, and MIDI file at CyberHymnal
• Version by Thomas Carlyle
• Psalm 46 in the King James version
• Psalms 46-50 in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer translation (Coverdale)