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A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Also known as: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott

Author: Martin Luther
Composer: Martin Luther
Year: 1529
Style: hymn
Public Domain
★★★★★ Doctrinally Excellent
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Theological Analysis

The battle hymn of the Reformation, based on Psalm 46. Luther's hymn captures the reality of spiritual warfare while affirming complete confidence in Christ's victory.

Theological Strengths

  • Strong Christology ('Lord Sabaoth')
  • Realistic about spiritual warfare
  • Confidence in ultimate victory through Christ
  • Recognition of human inability ('in our own strength... our striving would be losing')
  • Word of God as weapon against evil

Line-by-Line Analysis

"Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing"
★★★★★

Correctly identifies human inability apart from God. We cannot fight spiritual battles in our own power.

Scripture: John 15:52 Corinthians 12:9

AI Theological Check

Chord Chart

  A C mighty Am fortress Dm is our G God, a bulwark never failing;
  Our Am helper F He, C amid G the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
  For C still Am our ancient Dm foe doth G seek to work us woe;
  His Am craft F and power C are G7 great, and, armed with cruel hate,
  On Am earth is Em not Am his equal.
  Did C we Am in Dm our own G strength confide, our striving would be losing;
  Were Am not F the C right G Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing:
  Dost C ask Am who that Dm may be? G Christ Jesus, it is He;
  Lord Am Sabaoth, F His Name, C from G7 age to age the same,
  And Am He must Em win Am the battle.
  And C though Am this Dm world, with G devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
  We Am will F not C fear, G for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
  The C Prince Am of Darkness Dm grim, we G tremble not for him;
  His Am rage F we can C endure, G7 for lo, his doom is sure,
  One Am little word Em shall Am fell him.
  That C word Am above Dm all earthly G powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
  The Am Spirit F and C the G gifts are ours through Him who with us sideth:
  Let C goods Am and kindred Dm go, this G mortal life also;
  The Am body F they may C kill: G7 God's truth abideth still,
  His Am kingdom is Em  Am forever.

Full Lyrics

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.

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