Adapter: Martin Luther

Luther, Martin, born at Eisleben, Nov. 10, 1483; entered the University of Erfurt, 1501 (B.A. 1502, M.A.. 1503); became an Augustinian monk, 1505; ordained priest, 1507; appointed Professor at the University of Wittenberg, 1508, and in 1512 D.D.; published his 95 Theses, 1517; and burnt the Papal Bull which had condemned them, 1520; attended the Diet of Worms, 1521; translated the Bible into German, 1521-34; and died at Eisleben, Feb. 18, 1546. The details of his life and of his work as a reformer are accessible to English readers in a great variety of forms. Luther had a huge influence on German hymnody. i. Hymn Books. 1. Ellich cristlich lider Lobgesang un Psalm. Wittenberg, 1524. [Hamburg Library.] This contains 8 German h… Go to person page >

Translator: Matthias Loy

Loy, M., President of the Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, contributed several original hymns, and translations from the German, to the Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal. Published by Order of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and Other States. Columbus, Ohio, 1880. The translations may be found through the Index of Authors, &c.; the original hymns are the following:— 1. An awful mystery is here. Holy Communion. 2. At Jesus' feet our infant sweet. Holy Baptism. 3. Come, humble soul, receive the food. Holy Communion. 4. Give me, 0 Lord, a spirit lowly. Humility desired. 5. God gave His word to holy men. Inspiration of Holy Scripture. 6. God of grace, Whose word is sure. Faithfulness. 7. How matchless is… Go to person page >

Gott der Vater wohn tins bei. [Holy Trinity.] Old Litany revised by Martin Luther. The original of this hymn is probably of the 15th century, or earlier. Wackernagel , ii., No. 684, quotes a form dating 1422, in 15 lines, beginning "Sanctus Petrus, won uns bey." In Michael Vehe's Gesangbüchlein, 1537 (edition 1853, p. 57), it is entitled, "A Litany in the time of Pro¬cessions upon St. Mark's Day and in Rogation Week"; and consists of 5 stanzas of 12 lines, followed by a series of Invocations of Patriarchs, Prophets, &c. Luther adopted stanza i. lines 1-6, rewrote stanza i. lines 7-12, and cut off the invocations to Mary, the Angels, and the Saints. His version appeared in the Geystliche gesangk Buchleyn, Wittenberg, 1524… In the Erfurt Enchiridio, 1526, it bears the title, "The hymn ' Godt der vatter won uns bey’ improved and evangelically corrected." In Luther's form it speedily became popular, and Lauxmann, iKoch, viii. 102-104, relates many instances of its use—at weddings, by the dying, in times of trouble, &c. It is given in Wackernagel , iii. p. 16, as quoted above; in Schircks's edition of Luther's Geistliche Lieder , 1854, p. 40, and in the Unverfälscher Liedersegen, 1851, No. 187. A translation in common use:— 3. 0 God, the Father! draw Thou nigh, In full, by Dr. M. Loy, in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal , 1880. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)