The Luther Bible and the Printing Press

From module 2 of the DVD
Martin Luther and the Reformation

Warnings, passion, zeal - we owe all these to Martin Luther, or to be more exact, we owe these terms to Martin Luther. He invented them for his German translation of the Bible. Today these words are familiar. In the 16th century, they are new. In order to touch people emotionally, Luther used a particularly vivid form of expression. Where it was lacking, he created it. But a new language alone is not enough to reach as many people as possible. He uses something else that is even more novel and ground-breaking: book printing.

In the mid-15th century, Johannes Gutenberg revolutionises the printing process. Thanks to his new printing press, books are considerably less costly. Each copy must no longer be copied by hand. And the first thing Gutenberg prints is, of course, the Bible. And, naturally, a Bible is in Latin, thus penned in the language of scholars. Until then, this was standard throughout Europe. But times are changing. Around 1500, as the Middle Ages moves into the Modern Era, more and more people want, themselves, to read what is in the Bible - even if they don’t have a command of Latin. The first printed German translations of the Bible are published. All are based on the Vulgata version, the Latin translation of late antiquity. But they are hardly “best sellers”. This changes with Luther’s translation. He understands how to combine the new technology of book printing with a new form of expression, thus achieving a mass impact hitherto unknown.

Printer in the time of Luther — The printers initially do good business with reproductions of the Catholic Church’s letters of indulgence. What soon becomes even more profitable is the controversy - supported by many pamphlets - surrounding the ideas of Luther and other reformers.
Illustration from the DVD „Martin Luther and the Reformation“

The reformer is very thorough in his translation work. He falls back on the original languages, on the Greek and Hebrew scriptures. And, unlike his predecessors, he also translates differently, no longer word for word. Luther translates freely, not according to letters. This proves his incredible self-assurance, that he, indeed, considers himself qualified to recognise the true spirit of the Bible and translate it linguistically. His theological convictions naturally flow into his work and he allows himself great creative freedom, which enables him to lend the text a completely new and vivid power. Luther’s bible translation is also very enjoyable to read, and suitable for reading aloud; so that people who cannot read themselves, can, for the first time, discover what is contained.

And to ensure that all the people really understand, Luther takes a pragmatic approach to his choice of words and style, according to the principle, “to look into the mouths of the people”. He orients himself on everyday language. Yet that alone is not enough. Wherever suitable words are missing, he invents them, e.g. “ charity” or “peaceableness”. They must be catchy, so they stick in the mind. The same also applies to the phrases and idioms he makes popular, for instance: A closed book; washing guilt from his hands; a thorn in one’s side; pride goes before a fall; digging one’s own grave; of one mind and one heart; cast pearls before swine; groping in the dark.

The Reformation as Media Event

In 1522, Luther’s translation of the New Testament goes into print. It costs one-and-a-half guilders - as much as a whole calf - nevertheless, the first 3,000 copies are sold in only a few weeks. Twelve years later, in 1534, the first complete edition of the Holy Book, Old and New Testament, hits the market - a phenomenal translation achievement, which makes Luther the vanguard of the modern German language. As the Luther Bible finds vast circulation, it is a major contribution to the standardisation of the written German language. By Luther’s death, 100,000 copies of the complete edition of the Bible alone have been sold. But book printing in general has a unifying effect. Throughout Germany, the same texts are read and discussed.

Pamphlets Courier in the time of the reformation — Pamphlets during the Reformation sell like hotcakes, mainly in large cities like Strasburg, Frankfurt, Nuremberg and Augsburg.
Illustration from the DVD „Martin Luther and the Reformation“

His own eloquence and the revolutionary, technical innovation of the printing press become Luther’s major ally in his fight against the pontifical church. For them, his theses and attitudes are nothing less than heresy. In the worst case, he is faced with death at the stake. So Luther begins writing for his life, seeking publicity. He is provocative. He wants to generate as much attention as possible. And he succeeds. And even more: in many places, widespread dissatisfaction with the papal church transforms into an open commitment to Luther and his demands.

The printing trade profits enormously from all the fuss surrounding Luther. And his writings are just the beginning. For now many other reformers, too, suddenly come to the fore. Clerics and laymen, minds both great and small, theological writings, pamphlets and caricatures are printed, read and discussed, especially in the cities. For the first time since the Reformation, not only knowledge, but opinions, are published. Arguments, comments, polemic, verbal abuse prevail. And in the fight for public opinion, the other side now gets on board - the Catholic Church. The sheer volume of written manuscripts grows enormously.

Propaganda: the Pope as Antichrist - Luther as Heretic

While Luther is forced to remain in hiding at the Wartburg, as the Imperial Diet and Emperor both have “outlawed” him, the first “Picture book of the Reformation” is published: The “Passional Christi et Antichristi”. The life of Jesus and the behaviour of the Pope in harsh antithesis, illustrated by Lukas Cranach, in whose print shop the manuscript is published. Also notably involved in the work is Philipp Melanchthon, a close companion of Luther and himself a renowned reformer.

Propaganda of the reformers: The "Passional Christi et Antichristi" — Christ on foot on a country road, while the pope is being carried in a magnificent sedan chair. The reformers want to be as explicit as possible. Everyone is to understand their message.
Illustration from the DVD „Martin Luther and the Reformation“

The work has a simple message: good on the one page, evil on the other. There are no nuances. Christ is portrayed in humility and poverty. The pope, as counter-image, in wealth and immorality - as the Antichrist. Luther approves the images and counter-images of the Passional, pronouncing it “quite extraordinary”, and “a good book for laymen”. For everyone can understand it, whether or not they can read.

The “Antichrist” is a biblical term. It describes the adversary of Christ, the devil, who, in the final days before Christ brings his kingdom to earth and the Day of Judgement, will visit a time of suffering upon the earth. For Luther, the pope is the antichrist. This is boldly and graphically portrayed in the “Passionale Christi et Antichristi”. The manuscript is enormously successful and shapes the future, graphic agenda of reformatory propaganda. In countless pamphlets and leaflets, the head of Catholic Christendom is demonised and portrayed as a monster.

The Catholic Church retaliates to this provocation by similar means. It, too, demonises the enemy and depicts the seven-headed Luther - a monster with many faces - as “pipes” of the Devil, mouthpiece of evil. A war of pictorial propaganda gathers momentum. Later, the radically opposed positions will lead to bloody conflicts surrounding the true Christian faith.

Educational Film: Martin Luther and the Reformation - The World in the 1500s

This article is based on a film on the DVD „Martin Luther and the Reformation“. In Part ll of our documentary series, “The World in the 1500s”, we focus on Martin Luther and the Reformation. In the main film and six modular films, we offer a comprehensive overview of the dramatic changes triggered by Luther’s rebellion against the Catholic Church. Excitingly and educationally narrated, with interviews from experts and supported by didactic material, this DVD is ideal for schools and those interested in historical events.

Click here for further information on the DVD
„Martin Luther and the Reformation“

The Luther Bible and the Printing Press

The Reformation as Media Event

Propaganda: the Pope as Antichrist - Luther as Heretic

Educational Film: Martin Luther and the Reformation - The World in the 1500s

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