Martin Luther

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Martin Luther (German priest, theologian, author and hymn-writer) was a German priest, theologian, author and hymn-writer.

He is credited with the spark that started the Protestant Reformation.

The Lutheran Church is named for Martin Luther.

When Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, wanted to hide Martin Luther, he had him hid by others in one of his castles (without telling him where) so that he could say that he truthfully say that he did not know where he was. He could find out where Martin Luther was, but he did not actually know where Martin Luther was.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. [kjv]

… εμμανουηλ … μεθ ημων ο θεος [gnt]

… Emmanuhel … Nobiscum Deus [v]

… Emanuel … Gott mit uns… [lu]

… Еммануил… с нами Бог… [rus]

Martin Luther used the German phrase "Gott mit uns" ≈ "God with us" in Matthew 1:23 in his famous German Bible, NT (New Testament) (from Greek) in 1522, OT (Old Testament) (from Hebrew) in 1534.

The German Army used this phrase for many years. The Third Reich (1933 to 1945) used it before and during World War II.

The Russian Army (and others) used a similar phrase (in their language) at various times.

More: Gott mit uns

Matthew 1:23

All

KJV: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Greek: ιδου η παρθενος εν γαστρι εξει και τεξεται υιον και καλεσουσιν το ονομα αυτου εμμανουηλ ο εστιν μεθερμηνευομενον μεθ ημων ο θεος

Luther: Siehe, eine Jungfrau wird schwanger sein und einen Sohn gebären, und sie werden seinen Namen Emanuel heißen, das ist verdolmetschet, Gott mit uns.

With the date change from December 5 to December 24 (Christmas Eve), many Christian leaders of Europe, especially Martin Luther, did not want Saint Nicholas overshadowing Jesus at Christmas. In Germany parents were to use terms like "Christkindl".

The German word "das Kind" ≈ "the child". A "kindergarten" is a "garden for children". The lowercase "L" at the end of "Christkindl" is a form of diminutive.

Going through Dutch, "Kriskind" becomes "Kris Kringle".

[grammatical gender]

More: Diminutives

More: The doctrine of Santa Claus

Martin Luther is credited with the first use of the term "strawman" (in German) for such a line of reasoning. In general terms, he pointed out that the Catholic Church had set up a strawman argument against him and then knocked it down and claimed it had discredited him.

(I could not find a definitive reference for this.)

More: Strawman fallacy

Martin Luther wrote many hymns.

Song: Mighty Fortress is our God

The German Martin Luther is often attributed with the words to the song "Away in the manger". He never wrote the song.

Martin Luther wrote many songs, one of which is "Von Himmel hoch, da komm ich her", which in English is "From highest heaven, I come here".

More: Song: Away in the manger

What did Martin Luther say he would do if Jesus were coming back tomorrow?

plant a tree

During the Reformation, Martin Luther authored many songs and carols and promoted their use in religious settings.

John Wesley and Martin Luther on bar melodies for hymns: "the devil should never have all the good tunes".

More: Song: First Noel

More: Caroling and hymns

As a monk and professor of Theology at his Abby, Martin Luther visited Rome in 1510 when Michelangelo was busy creating magnificent works of art to decorate the palaces and cathedrals of Rome.
Luther's idealistic and Bible-based expectations of what he expected to see conflicted with the corruption and extravagance he saw in Rome.

More: Moses with horns