Quotessence
Home / Authors / Martin Luther
Martin Luther

Martin Luther Quotes

Monk

Filter quotes by topic

AllIfsMenChristChristianShouldDevilSinHeartWorldPeopleReligiousDoeHolyPrayerScriptureGraceHumorMayChristianityGiving

Famous Martin Luther Quotes

“There is talk of a new astrologer [Nicolaus Copernicus] who wants to prove that the earth moves and goes around instead of the sky, the sun, the moon, just as if somebody were moving in a carriage or ship might hold that he was sitting still and at rest while the earth and the trees walked and moved. But that is how things are nowadays: when a man wishes to be clever he must . . . invent something special, and the way he does it must needs be the best! The fool wants to turn the whole art of astronomy upside-down. However, as Holy Scripture tells us, so did Joshua bid the sun to stand still and not the earth. [Martin Luther stating his objection to heliocentrism due to his Scripture's geocentrism]”

ScienceBibleAstronomyScriptureScience And ReligionThe BibleCopernicusHeliocentrismNicolaus CopernicusGeocentrism
Author:Martin Luther
Create image

“A theologian should be thoroughly in possession of the basis and source of faith--that is to say, the Holy Scriptures. Armed with this knowledge it was that I confounded and silenced all my adversaries; for they seek not to fathom and understand the Scriptures; they run them over negligently and drowsily; they speak, they write, they teach, according to the suggestion of their heedless imaginations.”

ShouldWritingRunningSpeakImaginationTeachSourceHolyBasesPossessionScriptureSuggestionsTheologianAdversariesFathomHoly Scriptures
Book:Martin Luther's Table Talk
Create image

“He who wholly renounces himself, and relies not on mere human reason, will make good progress in the Scriptures; but the world comprehends them not, from ignorance of that mortification which is the gift of God's word.”

WorldHumansReasonProgressIgnoranceMereScriptureRelyGift From GodRenounceMortificationHuman Reason
Book:The table talk or familiar discourse of Martin Luther, tr. by W. Hazlitt
Create image

“In a word, the Holy Scripture is the highest and best of books, abounding in comfort under all afflictions and trials. It teaches us to see, to feel, to grasp, and to comprehend faith, hope, and charity, far otherwise than mere human reason can; and while evil oppresses us, it teaches how these virtues throw light upon the darkness, and how, after this poor, miserable existence of ours on earth, there is another and an eternal life.”

FeelsHumansBookReasonLightEarthEvilPoorExistenceTeachDarknessVirtueHolyComfortEternalHighestMereCharityScriptureTrialsMiserableAfflictionEternal LifeHoly ScripturesHuman ReasonFaith HopeFaith Hope And Charity
Book:The Table Talk Or Familiar Discourse of Martin Luther
Create image

“The Holy Scriptures surpass in efficaciousness all the arts and all the sciences of the philosophers and jurists; these, though good and necessary to life here below, are vain and of no effect as to what concerns the life eternal.”

ArtEffectsHolyEternalConcernPhilosopherScriptureVainHoly ScripturesJurists
Book:The table talk or familiar discourse of Martin Luther, tr. by W. Hazlitt
Create image

“On coming to the house, they (the Magi), saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. (Matthew 2:11) [This] adoration, too, was not the same as the worship of God. In my opinion they did not yet recognize him as God, but they acted in keeping with the custom mentioned in Scripture, according to which Kings and important people were worshiped; this did not mean more than falling down before them at their feet and honoring them.”

PeopleMeanChildrenImportantMotherFallHouseOpinionSawsFeetKingsWorshipDown AndScriptureCustomsMaryFalling DownAdorationMatthewMother Mary
Author:Martin Luther
Create image

“Christ is the Master; the Scriptures are only the servant. The true way to test all the Books is to see whether they work the will of Christ or not. No Book which does not preach Christ can be apostolic, though Peter or Paul were its author. And no Book which does preach Christ can fail to be apostolic, although Judas, Ananias, Pilate, or Herod were its author.”

WayDoeBookChristWorkFailingMastersFailureTestsScriptureServantPeterJudasApostolicHerod
Author:Martin Luther
Create image

“The devil and temptations also do give occasion unto us somewhat to learn and understand the Scriptures, by experience and practice. Without trials and temptations we should never understand anything thereof; no, not although we diligently read and heard the same.”

GivingShouldPracticeHeardDevilScriptureTrialsTemptationOccasionsTrials And Temptations
Book:The Familiar Discourses of Dr. Martin Luther ... Translated ... by Captain Henry Bell ... A New Edition, Revised ... by J. Kerby, Etc
Create image

“I am much afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labour in explaining the Holy Scriptures, and engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which means are not unceasingly occupied with the Word of God must be corrupt.”

HeartMeanChildrenSchoolEducationHellLearningYouthHolyProveInstitutionsScriptureLabourGatesWord Of GodReignExplainingAdviseParamountHoly ScripturesGates Of Hell
Author:Martin Luther
Create image

“Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason-I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other-my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”

ReasonHelpingAcceptingChristianitySafeAuthorityConscienceScriptureHelp MeWord Of GodPopeCouncilAmenCaptivesGod HelpGod Help Me
Author:Martin Luther
Create image

“We cannot attain to the understanding of Scripture either by study or by the intellect. Your first duty is to begin by prayer. Entreat the Lord to grant you, of His great mercy, the true understanding of His Word. There is no other interpreter of the Word of God than the Author of this Word, as He Himself has said, "They shall be all taught of God" (John 6:45). Hope for nothing from your own labors, from your own understanding: trust solely in God, and in the influence of His Spirit. Believe this on the word of a man who has experience.”

MenFirstsBelieveSaidSpiritBeliefUnderstandingPrayerLordStudyInfluenceTaughtDutyLaborMercyIntellectScriptureGrantsWord Of GodInterpreterTrue Understanding
Author:Martin Luther
Create image

“I did not learn my theology all at once, but had to search constantly deeper and deeper for it. My temptations did that for me, for no one can understand Holy Scripture without practice and temptations...I t is not by reading, writing, or speculation that one becomes a theologian. Nay, rather, it is living, dying, and being damned that makes one a theologian.”

WritingReadingPracticeDyingHolyDeeperScriptureTheologyTemptationTheologianSpeculationHoly ScripturesReading Writing
Author:Martin Luther
Create image

“The heavenly blessing is to be delivered from the law, sin and death; to be justified and quickened to life: to have peace with God; to have a faithful heart, a joyful conscience, a spiritual consolation; to have the knowledge of Jesus Christ; to have the gift of prophecy, and the revelation of the Scriptures; to have the gift of the Holy Ghost, and to rejoice in God.”

HeartSpiritualLawJesusChristSinHolyBlessingConscienceJesus ChristScriptureGhostFaithfulRevelationsHeavenlyRejoiceJoyfulProphecyConsolationJustifiedHoly GhostPeace With God
Book:A Commentary on Saint Paul's Epistle to the Galatians
Create image