Commemorating the publication of the German New Testament by Martin Luther in September 1522; the first of the Reformation translations.

Five Hundred Years ago the German Reformation was just five years old. In the time that elapsed between Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the Castle Church door at Wittenberg in 1517 a lot had happened. Suffering excommunication fron the Church he had been summonsed as a heretic to appear before the Holy Roman Emperor Charles 5th. Refusing to stand down and recant his writings Luther would have been burned to death as a heretic were it not for the protection of his prince, Frederick the Wise of Saxony.

In 1522 he found himself under Frederick’s protection in a castle high above his birthplace in Eisenach. With a pseudonym and disguise the now famous Augustinian professor was forced to live ten months as a recluse. His trusted companion tried to take him hunting to pass the time. All Luther received from this activity was a nasty bite after a frightened rabbit climbed up his leg; the hound needless to say caught the rabbit and a piece of Luther’s leg also! Martin reckoned hunting was like the devil’s work, only he hunted souls. His place was in the study!

During ten months in exile Luther wrote twelve books. His most worthwhile publication was his German translation of the New Testament. In three months he completed this work using the Greek text published by Erasmus in 1519. When Luther, tired of his Patmos experience returned to Wittenberg he carried his precious manuscript, which Philip Melanchthon then helped him edit before publication. Not only did the German people now have the Scriptures but the first of the Reformation Bibles had been published. Luther artfully produced a volume which was as easy to be read as it was to hear. This was vital because only ten per cent of the population could read but all could hear it being read.

Today we are so privileged to possess God’s Word. Let us not take the Scriptures for granted. The world that Luther grew up in was bereft of a Bible. This was a society emerging from the Dark Ages. But with the Scriptures came the light. “The entrance of thy words giveth light”. God help us to walk in that light!

Happy Reformation Day!