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Luther’s writings

The definitive edition of Luther’s writings is D. Martin Luthers Werke: kritische Gesamtausgabe (1883ff.), known as the Weimar Edition. English-language collections are the Works of Martin Luther, 6 vol., Philadelphia edition (1915–32, reprinted 1982); and Luther’s Works, American edition, ed. by Jaroslav Pelikan and Helmut T. Lehmann, 55 vol. (1955–76), an indispensable tool for English study. A single-volume anthology of theological texts is John Dillenberger (ed.), Martin Luther: Selections from His Writings (1961); useful for biographical sources is E. Gordon Rupp and Benjamin Drewery, Martin Luther (1970). Four volumes in the Library of Christian Classics pertain to Luther: vol. 15, Lectures on Romans, ed. by Wilhelm Pauck (1961); vol. 16, Early Theological Works, ed. by James Atkinson (1962, reprinted 1980); vol. 17, Luther and Erasmus, ed. by E. Gordon Rupp and Philip S. Watson (1969); and vol. 18, Letters of Spiritual Counsel, ed. by Theodore G. Tappert (1955).

Biographical and topical studies

A broad and detailed study of Luther’s social setting is E.G. Schwiebert, Luther and His Times (1950). Luther and his times are also addressed in James Atkinson, Martin Luther and the Birth of Protestantism, rev. ed. (1982); and Lyndal Roper, Martin Luther: Renegade and Prophet (2016). Peter Manns, Martin Luther: An Illustrated Biography, trans. from German (1982), emphasizes the religious context.

Roland H. Bainton, Here I Stand! (1950, reissued 1990), continues to be the most readable biographical study of Luther. A controversial psychoanalytic study is Erik H. Erikson, Young Man Luther: A Study in Psychoanalysis and History (1958, reissued 1993). Robert Herndon Fife, The Revolt of Martin Luther (1957), also portrays the young Luther in great detail but in much less controversial fashion. H.G. Haile, Luther: An Experiment in Biography (1980), concentrates on the years after 1525. A scholarly and readable interpretation of Luther is Eric W. Gritsch, Martin, God’s Court Jester: Luther in Retrospect (1983). James M. Kittelson, Luther the Reformer: The Story of the Man and His Career (1986); and Michael A. Mullett, Martin Luther (2004), make Luther accessible to readers who have little background in the history of the Reformation. Bernhard Lohse, Martin Luther: An Introduction to His Life and Work (1986; originally published in German, 1981), focuses concisely on both the life and the theology of the reformer. Martin Brecht, Martin Luther, 3 vol. (1985–93; originally published in German, 1983–87), is a detailed study that focuses mainly on Luther himself, less on his times. Richard Marius, Luther: The Christian Between God and Death (1999), is a highly provocative biography.

Luther’s political views are appraised in W.D.J. Cargill Thompson, The Political Thought of Martin Luther, ed. by Philip Broadhead (1984). Mark U. Edwards, Jr., Luther’s Last Battles: Politics and Polemics, 1531–46 (1983), explores Luther’s thoughts in his later years.

Gerhard Ebeling, Luther: An Introduction to His Thought (1970; originally published in German, 1964), interprets Luther very much in light of the author’s own theology. The theological development of Luther is discussed in Heiko A. Oberman, Luther: Man Between God and the Devil (1989; originally published in German, 1982). Bernhard Lohse, Luther’s Theology: Its Historical and Systematic Development (1999), is concise and clear. E. Gordon Rupp, The Righteousness of God (1953, reissued 1963), deals with a central theme in Luther’s theology. Ian D. Kingston Siggins, Martin Luther’s Doctrine of Christ (1970), analyzes Luther’s Christological views. Alister E. McGrath, Luther’s Theology of the Cross: Martin Luther’s Theological Breakthrough (1985), focuses on the evolution of Luther’s theology from 1509 to 1519.

The broader context of those years is considered in Leif Grane, Luther in the German Reform Movement, 1518–1521 (1994). Luther’s broader influence on European history is traced in Ernst Walter Zeeden, The Legacy of Luther (1954; originally published in German, 1950). Luther’s legacy is discussed in Robert Kolb, Martin Luther as Prophet, Teacher, Hero: Images of the Reformer, 1520–1620 (1999).

Important studies written in languages other than English include Karl Holl, Gesammelte Aufsätze zur Kirchengeschichte, 3 vol. (1921–28, reissued 1964); Ernst Bizer, Fides ex Auditu, 3rd ed. (1966), which raises the question of the meaning and timing of Luther’s theological conversion; Otto Herman Pesch, Die Theologie der Rechtfertigung bei Martin Luther und Thomas von Aquin (1967, reprinted 1985), which seeks to demonstrate the essential agreement between Luther and Aquinas; Bernhard Lohse, Mönchtum und Reformation (1963); Carl Axel Aurelius, Verborgene Kirche. Luthers Kirchenverständnis in Streitschriften und Exegese (1983); and Harald Goertz, Allgemeines Priestertum und ordiniertes Amt bei Martin Luther (1997).

Nonprint sources

A number of films have been made about Luther, including Rebel Priest (1970), directed by Maurice H. Zouary; Luther (1973), directed by Guy Green and based on the play by John Osborne; Martin Luther, Heretic (1983), directed by Norman Stone; Martin Luther (2002), directed by Cassian Harrison; and Luther (2003), directed by Eric Till.

Latin works

Martini Lutheri theses Tezelio, indulgentiarum institori oppositas (1517; Ninety-five Theses); De votis monasticis (1521; “Concerning Monastic Vows”); De captivitate Babylonica ecclesiae praeludium (1520; “A Prelude Concerning the Babylonian Captivity of the Church”); De servo arbitrio (1525; Bondage of the Will); Rationis Latomianae pro incendiariis Lovaniensis scholae sophistis redditae Lutheriana confutatio (1521; “Luther’s Refutation of Latomus’s Argument for the Incendiary Sophists of Louvain”); Enarrationes epistolarum et evangeliorum, quas postillas vocant (1521; “Church Postil”).

German works

Sermon von den guten Wercken (1520; “Sermon on Good Works”); Von welltlicher Oberkeytt, wie weytt man yhr gehorsam schuldig sey (1523; “Of Earthly Government”); Das diese Wort Christi (Das ist mein Leib etc.) noch fest stehen widder die Schwermgeyster (1527; “That These Words of Christ ‘This Is My Body’ Still Stand Firm Against all Enthusiasts”); Vom Abendmal Christi, Bekenntnis (1528; “Confession of the Lord’s Supper”); Von den Conciliis und Kirchen (1539; “Of Councils and Churches”); An den christlichen Adel deutscher Nation (1520; “Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation”); Widder die hymelischen Propheten von den Bildern und Sacrament (1525; “Against the Heavenly Prophets in the Matter of Images and Sacraments”); An die Radsherrn aller Stedte deutsches Lands: das sie christliche Schulen auffrichten und halten sollen (1524; “To the Councillors of All Cities in German Lands That They Should Establish and Maintain Christian Schools”); Ermanung zum Friden auff die zwelff Artikel der Bawrschafft ynn Schwaben (1525; “Admonition to Peace Concerning the Twelve Articles of the Peasants”); Wider die mordischen und reubischen Rotten der Bawren (1525; “Against the Murderous and Thieving Hordes of the Peasants”); Wider Hans Worst (1541; “Against Hans Worst”); Wider das Bapstum zu Rom vom Teuffel gestifftet (1545; “Against the Papacy in Rome Which Was Founded by the Devil”); Von der Freiheit eines Christenmenschen (1520; “On the Freedom of a Christian”).

Translations and other works

Das Newe Testament Deutzsch (1522; “The New Testament in German”); Biblia, das ist, die gantze Heilige Schrifft Deutsch (1534; “The Bible; The Entire Holy Scripture in German”); Das Magnificat verteuschet und ausgelegt (1521; “The Magnificat Translation and Exegesis”); Deutsche Messe (1526; “German Mass”); Der kleine Catechismus (1559; “Small Catechism”); Deutsch Catechismus (1529; “Large Catechism”).

Luther also wrote several hymns. Among them the most famous is “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” (“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”). He also wrote a Christmas hymn, “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her” (“From Heaven on High I Do Now Come”), though he did not write the carol usually associated with him, “Away in a Manger.”