A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Also known as: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
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.
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.
This hymn is in the public domain.