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A mighty fortress is out 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 pow’r are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, out striving would losing, were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing. Doth 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 tho’ this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear God hath willed His truth to triumph thro’ us. The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him – his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure: one little world 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 kindreds go, this mortal life also- the body they may kill; God’s truth abideth still: His kingdom is forever.

Martin Luther was the first child to be born to Hans and Margarethe Luther, in Eisleben, in the Holy Roman Empire on November 10, 1483. He was baptized the next day. In 1484, his family moved to Mansfield, so his father could work as a leaseholder of copper mines. Hans had great ambitions for him to become a lawyer, but Martin did not intend to be a lawyer. Martin attended Latin School and then Brethren of Common Life, which focused on grammar, logic, and rhetoric. At the age of 17, Martin attended the University of Erfurt which he described at a frat and party house. In 1505, he received a Master’s degree, and enrolled in law school, but promptly dropped out because he believed law to be uncertain. Martin was really interested in theology, and philosophy. He soon gave up on philosophy because it had nothing to do with a loving God, but everything to do with offering assurance. On April 3, 1507, he became an ordained minister.  In 1508, he began teaching theology, and he received 2 more bachelor’s degrees. On October 15, 1512, he earned his doctorate of Theology, 6 days later, he was inducted into the Senate of Theological Faculty at the University of Wittenberg. Three years later, he was appointed as the provincial vicar of 2 provinces. On October 31, 1517, Martin wrote his bishop, protesting the sale of indulgences and punishments of sin (ex. Torture), and enclosed his famous Ninety-Five Theses, which was originally written in Latin. He nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of church of Wittenberg. Luther was given a choice to either recant his statement and be welcomed in the church, or stand by his statement and be excommunicated entirely. He chose to stand by his beliefs and was excommunicated. By 1519, the Theses were translated into German, French, English, and Italian.  On January 3, 1521, Martin Luther was formally excommunicated from the church. On June 13, 1525, Martin asked Katharina VonBora to be his wife, and they were married that same evening, two weeks later, they had a banquet for all their friends and family. Martin was a devout minister throughout his life. He loved reading theological books, and teaching others about Christianity. He wrote many books for new preachers, wrote songs and hymns in German. Martin obtained a Latin copy of the Qur’an and produced several critical books on the effects and the falsities of Islam. Luther suffered many ailments: Meniere’s disease, vertigo, fainting spells, tinnitus, bladder and kidney stones, arthritis, angina, a ruptured ear drum, and a cataract in one eye. The night before he passed, he prayed, “Into Your hand, I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God”. A few hours later, he woke up with chest pains, and later suffered a stroke and died on February 18, 1546.