The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2)
The great reformer, Martin Luther, is often recognized as one of the most significant and prolific hymn writers to have ever lived. Among his voluminous works, Luther wrote some 36 hymns. Of these hymns, “A Mighty Fortress” is by far the most well-known and frequently sung.
Based on Psalm 46, the hymn is a celebration of the sovereign power of God over all earthly and spiritual forces, and of the hope we have in him through Jesus Christ. After its publication, it gained immense popularity throughout Reformed Europe and was often thought of as the “Battle Hymn of the Reformation.” It was sung in all the churches of Saxony, often against the protest of the priest. It was sung in the streets. It was sung by poor Protestant emigrants on their way into exile, and by martyrs at their death. The hymn became closely associated with Luther himself, as it embodied in its words and melody so much of the character of its author—boldness, confidence, defiance in the face of opposition. This association is symbolized in the monument to Luther at Wittenberg where the first line of the lyrics were engraved on the base.
There are at least seven documented theories on the time and circumstances in which the hymn was written. Many historians conclude that the most likely story is that it was written in October 1527 as the plague was approaching. The evidence for this date is the printing history surrounding it (no copies beforehand, and a growing number of copies afterwards). There is debate about where the tune came from. In times past, it was believed to have been borrowed by Luther, perhaps from an old Gregorian melody. More recently, however, scholars are inclined to believe that Luther wrote it himself.
There have been many attempts to translate the hymn into English. The two most enduring are Thomas Carlyle’s “A Safe Stronghold Our God Is Still” and Frederic Henry Hedge’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” Hedge’s translation being far more popular:
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our shelter He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and pow’r 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 is His name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And tho’ 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 pow’rs — no thanks to them — abideth:
The Spirit and the gifts are ours thro’ 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.