Martin Luther's Christmas Book - Hardcover

Über die Autorinnen und Autoren

Martin Luther stands as one of the most significant figures in Western history. His distinction as the father of the Protestant Reformation is augmented by his innovative use of new technology (the printing press), his translation of the Christian Bible into the vernacular, and his impact upon European society. Born in 1483 to middle-class parents in Saxony, eastern Germany, he became an Augustinian monk, a priest, a professor of biblical literature, a reformer, a husband and father. He died in 1546 after having witnessed the birth of a renewal movement that would result in a profound shift in faith, politics, and society. He has been both praised and vilified for what he preached and wrote. His thought continues to influence all Christians and to animate the movement that bears his name.

Roland H. Bainton was the Titus Street Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Yale Divinity School, where he taught for forty-two years. His many well-known titles include Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther (1950); The Reformation of the Sixteenth Century (enl. ed. 1985); Martin Luther's Christmas Book (Augsburg Books, 1997) and Easter Book (Augsburg Books, 1997); and the recently reissued volumes Women of the Reformation: In France and England (Fortress Press, 1973) and Women of the Reformation: From Spain to Scandinavia (Fortress Press, 1977).

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This collection contains thirty excerpts from Martin Luther's Christmas sermons. In his unique and powerful voice, Luther portrays the human reality of God's birth on earth - Mary's distress at giving birth with no midwife or water, Joseph's misgivings, the Wise Men's perplexity, Herod's cunning. And throughout these sermon-meditations, Martin Luther reminds us that keeping Christmas is a year-round mission of caring for those in need. Nine illustrations by Luther's contemporaries - including four by noted engraver Albrecht Durer - capture timeless scenes from the Christmas story. And two of Luther's beautiful Christmas carols are included on the final pages of the book.