Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther

Whenever I read about Martin Luther's role in the Reformation, I end up feeling disappointed. He began so well and ended so badly. By allying the church with the state he quenched the spirit of popular Christianity in Europe, and I suspect that the Anabaptists whom he persecuted as heretics were doctrinally and practically closer to true Christianity than he was. This was a very sympathetic biography, but I regard Luther as neither a hero or a saint, and my verdict is that as a Reformer he only went halfway.

Bainton's HERE I STAND is the standard for Luther biographies. It's well researched and told from Luther's point of view. I think it a good examination of Luther's psychology. The Kindle edition is adorned with period etchings that portray the social climate of Luther's era. Nicely done.

Read this book and you may fell like you are back in college sitting in one of your most gifted professorial lectures. This historical account is told in an informative and easy tone that only the most eloquent among us can do, I have come away from this reading with a new respect and admiration for this man who bravely stood up for what is true and right. He was so brilliant and he used his powers for common good.Could I hope to be even half as good of a person as he was? Martin Luther. Hmmm. I may have found a new hero.

I've been studying St.Paul's theology through various authors for over two years. Bainton offers another look at St. Paul through the life of Martin Luther, a Sixteenth Century Theologian who literally turned theology in Europe upside down. I was amazed at how Martin Luther influenced religion during his time, and even today. When he changed his philosophy on religion and his belief system, there were people during those times who wanted him burned at the stake. A look at his life will give you some idea how far we have come in religious tolerance, maybe in the US, but around the world Christians are being persecuted for many of the same beliefs Martin Luther had and professed.

Irving L. Brittle

"Here I Stand" is both the keystone of Roland Bainton's series of Reformation studies, including
his life of Sebastian Casellio, "The Travail of Religius Liberty" on Ochino, and the more condensed "Reformation of the Sixteenth Century"; it was in the years of my visits to Germany, the "1950's and 60's", regarded there as the best Luther biobgraphy ever written. All Bainton's books were enlivened by numerous rreproductions of contemporary woodcuts, few of them published anywhere else, and more accessible than even the usually shown, vividly first-hand Cranach portraits, but this biography includes the cream of the crop, whose originals were often set up on the bookshelves of his Yale Divinity School office.
Hugh Barbour, Earlham College & School of Religion emeritus

I used this book to source material for an adult Sunday School class on the Reformation. We covered the whole subject from the early development of the Church to it's decline post Nicea through Wycliff, Huss and on to Luther, Melanchthon, Zwingli, Bucer, Calvin and Knox. This is the definitive modern Luther biography. Very little speculation and long on detail. Read it. Use it.

"Here I Stand" is the classic biography about Martin Luther. I wish I had bought a copy with larger print, but the content of this book is great. The context of the biography is difficult to keep straight, but this is very thorough and still makes it as easy as possible to understand.

Several years ago, I rented the movie "Luther" staring Joseph Fiennes ("Shakespeare in Love"). I throughly enjoyed the movie, and naturally, being a history buff, I wanted to learn more about the real man. After a through search, I settled on Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther" by Roland Bainton (the title take, of course, from Luthur's famous statement of faith).

The book was throughly researched and has terrific detail, though the emphasis is clearly on the faith on Luther and less on the personality of the man himself. I also found the typeset a little difficult to read as well (the book was originally published in 1950 with this reprint from the 1957 edition).

All in all, the book was quite informative. But if you, like me, are more interested in personal nuances of the individual, this may not be the book for you. However, if you're interested in the more theological aspect of Luther and you don't mind the slightly dated typeset, then I think you'd enjoy this book.

Book arrived on time, Good condition.
Clearly, Martin Luther was one of the most contriversial personages in the 16th century and his thoughts and beliefs changed Western civilization. Along with this firm beliefs about man and God came his rabid anti-Semitism, much of which the Nazis used as justification for their Final Solution (Die Endlosung).

I needed this book for a class, but am very disappointed. I received it today and the binding is crooked. The bottom of the cover is a full 1/2" wider than the top. Also, the print on the pages is crooked which is very annoying when having to read a few chapters at once. If I had time to wait for another copy, I would return this item.

I recomend this book to anyone wanting to know more about this tremendous Evamgelical Reformer. The writer takes you deep inside Luther's personal life, his strugles with the established worldly religion become vivid, and the more you read, the more you want to keep reading! Before reading this book, I had great respect for Luther and knew God was with him throughout his terrible ordeal with the great harlot, but now I really praise God for the life of this great man!

Well written with insight into the politics of religion even 1000 years ago. Religion was a money making business in the days of Jesus Christ and the days of Martin Luther. Explains plainly the courage one had to have to buck the system. Good historical read.

First of all, the seller shipped this book to me quickly. It arrived in excellent shape and except for a little "yellowing" of the edges of the pages, it was in perfect condition for something printed in the early 1950's. I was glad to read this book and I figure to do so once a year or so. You see, I owe Dr. Martin Luther a lot. I grew up in a very strict, Baptist home; keeping the rules was of the highest importance and we did so out of obligation. Later I was a student at Bob Jones University and they taught "keeping the rules", "Doing X-Y- and Z" in order to be right with God, but I began to realize from the study of scripture, exactly as did Martin Luther, that saving faith is a gift from God himself and not an achievement you can gain by carefully observing the rules. Sincerity and extra effort don't endear us to God at all. It takes a little while to un-learn what you've been taught for years, but thank the Lord he stayed with me and I can say now, as did Luther then, that the Christian life is simply a life lived in gratitude for what Christ has done for us - not for what we can do for ourselves. He took the penalty of our sins upon himself on the cross and we are declared "not-guilty" before God. That gift is ours by faith, which is relying on Christ's work - the faith that God gives us. What could be more simple yet so complex because it runs entirely counter to the way our human minds tend to work? Much of the work that Dr. Luther did was to preach, write and teach that we're made God's children - believers - by what Christ has done for us, without any help from us. Thank the Lord for his grace, for the life and testimony of Dr. Luther and for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The Lord's richest blessings to you.

As the title says, I enjoy the book, but this particular version (from "Forgotten Books") has a few drawbacks. A few of the pages cut off text on either side of the page, leaving you to fill in the blanks of what the missing word or words had said. The quality of the text on the main portion of the book is okay, but the sections at the end of the book (bibliography, references, sources of illustration, and index) have grainy text which is often pretty difficult to make out. On the back cover of the book I was hoping to see a sneak peak of the contents, or perhaps what people have said about the book, like one would see on most other books, but there's just an advertisement for the company. The same is true for the very first page of the book. It wasn't a huge deal, but for me it kind of takes away from the collectibility of the book.

A truly outstanding book re. depth and extensiveness of research, bibliography (rather than a list of references), summary Chronology, caliber of writing, forcefulness of points made, and illustrations (including numerous beautiful woodblocks). The book deservedly has sold millions of copies since it was first published over 50 years ago. The book's title comes from the concluding words (page 401): "Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen." I am not qualified to discuss and evaluate the principles and dogma of any religion. I am a systems scientist (v.i.) with a lifelong interest in history and historical geography. My emphasis here is upon the personality of Martin Luther and its interaction with the intensification of German nationalism. Luther did not intend to start a revolution, the Reformation. He intended to stimulate a debate, by posting in keeping with his Order's practice, his 95 theses onto the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg in eastern Germany. However, his posting produced unexpected and far-reaching results. In systems theory, his action was a fluctuation operating in an unstable field at a critical threshold, thereby yielding structural change. In other words, Europe was ready to end the patterns that had dominated medieval life. Europe awaited the spark that ignites. I was stimulated to learn more about Martin Luther on hearing again the 4th movement, "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott!", of Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 5 in D Minor. I've commented in several of my other reviews of books and music about my fascination with the interrelationship between political/military history and music. I interpret the Andante con Moto of the Movement as the force of the mighty Spanish Army of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (Carlos I of Spain). The Allegro maestoso that ends the symphony is of course Luther's stirring hymn, "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott." Martin Luther further accelerated the sense of "feeling German" and the spread of German nationalism. The opponent was of course "Romanness." In terms of his personality, Luther was bipolar, characterized by recurrent periods of exaltation and depression--a series of crises followed by relative stability.Luther often suffered from panic and frightful insecurity. Torment, Luther said, was far worse than any physical ailment. Fortunately, nothing impaired his stupendous capacity for work, which often was a cure for depression. Luther suffered from insomnia, and often spent five days in bed until a physician gave him a sedative. Luther's persistent maladies presented a perpetual battle for faith. At times he felt guilty for being alive, while his followers were dying for the faith. He lost faith that God is good. He felt desperate and trembled. But (and I think this is true of all great people) great insights were due to great assaults. Revelation emerged out of excessive sensitivity. People who were predisposed to fall into despondency, followed by a rise into ecstasy, could view reality differently from ordinary folks. Luther felt his depressions were necessary--indeed, his whole life was a fight for faith! To dispel despondency, Luther especially recommended music (v.s.). He often asked himself, was he brave or cowardly. When in a particularly deep depression, he composed "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." In the book section entitled "A Measure of the Man." we learn that Luther called himself the German Prophet, that his influence on the home was great, that he did the work of more than five men, that his influence of the Church was worldwide, and that he believed that God is both All Terrible and All Merciful. Turning now to German Nationalism, Luther was recognized as "the Father of His Country" (p. 109). There were, however, other nationalists, including Ulrich von Hutten and Franz von Sickingen. Hutten did a lot to stimulate the concept of German nationalism, and the concept of the Ideal German, who should repel the enemies of the Fatherland. The first enemy to be repelled eas the Catholic Church. In the "Roman Trinity," he said three things are hateful to Rome: a general council, the reformation of the Church, and the opening of German eyes. For Rome he preyed for pestilence, famine, and war. And three things are sold in Rome: Christ, the priesthood, and women!! Luther resented the treatment of Germany like a cash cow. Luther wished that St. Peter's would lie in ashes rather than that Germany should be despoiled. Hutten's concept of the romantic German could be enriched by Luther's concept of the Mystical depth of a German soul that exceeded that of other people. Birth of "Deutschland ueber Alles"? And Germans should be rated above all those peole who despise the Germans. Hutten's problem: how to implement his program for the emancipation of Germany. The answer: Hutten's own class of knights. This may the birth and growth of the dominance of the aristocratic "von," a very significant feature of the history of Germany--and of Europe--until the end of World War I and even World War II. Sickingen proclaimed himself the protector of the oppressed and helped militarily to further Hutten's program. So as Bainton points out, we see the meeting of past and future--AND THE BEGINNING OF MODERN TIMES.Finally, at his hearing before Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at Worms, Luther referred to the incredible tyranny by which the German nation is being devoured. Luther said he could not escape his duty to his Germans. Martin Luther warned of releasing a deluge of wars!!

I recently purchased this item for a college level History course. It was an easy read that was rather informative and interesting. I would highly recommend others to purchase this book if they are needing to find a text on Martin Luther.

i am happy to be able to learn more of the important contrabutions made by this man. it is si important that thu abuses of the church be exposed, and on record for all thinkers to see and consider. pater mark

I am preparing for a trip to Germany where I will visit many of the sites central to Luther's life and work. This book is an in-depth study of Luther's beliefs- not an easy read but a very good source of information.

I enjoyed reading about church history during the 1500's. I noticed that he called them "the Secular Popes." The story of his marriage and life as a husband and father was interesting. He was an intelligent and well learned man.

This book is more than just a biography of Martin Luther. It describes the political and theological world in which Luther lived, preached, and taught. This demonstrates that the people involved are more than just two-dimensional. This edition is basically a photocopy of the original book but is a well-bound paperback with larger pages than a common paperback used for years. A bit more expensive, but a more pleasant read.

Product was in the condition I expected and arrived very quickly. It has been a thoroughly enjoyable read and incredibly enlightening not only as to Luther's perspective but also as to the background events and motivations of the various personalities involved in what ultimately became the Protestant break with the Roman Catholic Church.

Gladly received this package prior to estimated delivery date! It was a gift for a Marine buddy stationed overseas, so I was happy to see it was in excellent condition and well-packaged for safety. Thank you so much for your service!

I know the book, it is an excellent bio of Martin Luther, and very readable. However I bought this to give to someone travelling with me next year to Germany for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. The book was advertised as new - far from it. Marked up thtoughout and obviously was a library book with tags on it. Not too nice for a gift. But was too late to do anything about it.

This book is more than fifty years old but still accessible and full of insight into Martin Luther’s life and times. Early on, it is evident Bainton admires Luther very much – maybe a bit too much to take an honest and well-rounded approach to Luther, the man, in toto. My first significant exposure to Martin Luther was in Will Durant’s volume, “The Reformation”, (From his magnum opus, “The Story of Civilization”) a comprehensive look into the religious and secular conflicts that occurred during Luther’s time as well as before and after. From about 1376, when John Wycliffe – The so-called ‘Morningstar of the Reformation’ – posited his 18 theses urging the church to renounce temporal dominion: Rigid control of doctrinal issues, as dictated by the Pope and his bishops, over the populace to the point of absurdity. Wycliffe went on to translate the Vulgate Bible into English. All this was happening even as the Roman Catholic Church had two popes; one in Rome and one (antipope) in Avignon (The Western Schism, 1378-1418). As in Luther’s time, Wycliffe’s complaints led to a peasant’s revolt which Wycliffe strongly opposed. This all happened more than 130 years before Luther posted his 95 theses on the castle church door in Wittenberg. Wycliffe died before he could be tried and convicted but the Roman church fathers were not happy with his work; he and his body of work were eventually condemned by the church, post-mortem. While Wycliffe was a scholar, Luther was just a smart and stubborn monk. Beginning about 1402 – nearly 20 years after Wycliffe’s death, John Hus, a Czech clergyman, began to denounce church abuses and hubris. Unlike Wycliffe, Hus was tried, convicted and burned at the stake in 1415. His followers continued the fight by way of the Hussite wars and by the time Martin Luther came onto the scene, more than one hundred years later, up to 90% of the Czech populace were already de facto Protestants. October 31, 1517 is a popular starting point for many protestant Christians as the beginning of the Reformation. Wycliffe was, arguably, the first serious threat to Roman Catholic supremacy in Europe; although the Cathars began to break away from Catholic rule in the 12th century. The Roman Catholic Church annihilated the Cathars. Tens, perhaps hundreds, of thousands of men, women and children were slaughtered by French troops at the direction of the Vatican. The Cathars weren’t really Protestants, per se, they were more of a breakaway church tending to a more Manichean-style dualist sect.
Bainton does a fair job of describing Luther and his trials but he leaves a lot out – or he downplays Luther’s negatives. To be completely honest, Martin Luther hated the Jews. He despised them with such fervor that, in 1543, he wrote a book, “The Jews and Their Lies”, excoriating ALL Jews and strongly suggesting they all be deported from greater Germany and that their homes and properties be burned or otherwise destroyed – not a very forgiving kind of sentiment: “They should be shown no mercy or kindness, afforded no legal protection, and these ‘poisonous envenomed worms’ should be drafted into forced labor or expelled for all time. He also seems to advocate their murder, writing ‘[w]e are at fault in not slaying them’.
A key Renaissance figure, Desiderius Erasmus (a Dutch Humanist), was an on-again, off-again admirer of Luther but the two of them argued – primarily by way of correspondence – incessantly. Their arguments led Luther to come to despise Reason. His diatribes against Reason are shocking to 21st century thinkers: “Whoever wants to be a Christian should tear the eyes out of his reason”. In another statement, Luther is unintentionally ironic: “This fool [Copernicus] wishes to reverse the entire science of astronomy; but sacred scripture tells us that Joshua commanded the sun to stand still, and not the earth”. So, Martin Luther, the great reformer, was also a foremost denier of science – not atypical of churchmen in his time. His blind adherence to literal interpretation of scripture completely clouded his innate ability to cogitate and evaluate secular ideas and theories. He was an unflinchingly hidebound theologian. Only John Calvin, who murdered more than two dozen people during his reign in Geneva, was more brutally rigid.
Most of the bios of Martin Luther (the ones I have read) seem to skip over Luther’s powerful prejudices and adherence to faith to the exclusion of anything and everything else. I think this is intentional; most of these books are written by theologians or Christian authors for Christian audiences. Yes, Luther stuck his neck out – he truly expected he would be killed by the Roman church (they didn’t do the actual killing, they farmed it out to the local authorities). He changed our world, no doubt. Any damage done by his hatred of Jews or science very likely had little impact on his world. Whether his writings impacted Nazi Germany, as Julius Streicher claimed, is arguable. And yet he was what he was. I think it’s only fair that Luther and Calvin be shown for what they are, warts and all. I don’t think it will have a deleterious effect on the faith of the Christian masses or seminarians.
I rated this book 3 of 5 possible stars. The takeaways were: Too much focus on doctrinal issues and arguments and not enough focus on Luther, the man, as a loving husband and father as well as a bigoted and intolerant cleric. I am reminded of a song by “The Who”, “Won’t get fooled again”. The lyric goes like this:
“Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss”

When I purchased this book it said the book was in good condition. When I received it I would not have called it good condition. The pages were falling out, and some were torn. I was not pleased with the condition of the book. When I finish reading it I will throw it away.

I first read this book over forty years ago and a recent return has not changed my original reaction. Luther came to life for me because of this book. It is readable, stimulating, suggestive for further reading in substantial books on theology. I've given talks on Luther and warmly recommended it to many people; they've agreed with my enthusiasm and made me glad that I could share this giant of the church with them. It's authoritative, insightful, and even funny. Bainton knew his stuff and although a master of his subject, managed to share Luther and his times without being stuffy or stiff.

Here is a classic biography reissued in a stunning hardback as part of the Hendrickson Classic Biography series. Though they have been publishing classic biographies for several years, they are in the process of republishing them in volumes worth collecting or displaying in libraries. Fortunately, they have managed to keep them economically priced as well. I’m glad Bainton’s volume on Luther made its way into this series.

This biography made Luther come alive. While Bainton was clearly sympathetic to Luther, he did not smooth off the edges. His background on Reformation history enriched this book in many places.

Luther’s story is amazing. He is heroic in ways hard to comprehend. When he rose up from within the Catholic Church, he traveled an uncharted course and continuously had his life on the line. He never dreamed he would start a Reformation, totally change his country, and shake a continent, but he did. While I do not personally agree with Luther on where he landed on several theological points, I was ever amazed at what he did come to see with no man really guiding him. This volume well handles his theological journey.

This volume tells the story where he finally uttered, perhaps, the most audacious statement any man ever said: ” My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I 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.” Wow!

We get the real Luther here. Mr. Bainton does not sugarcoat, for example his inexcusable treatment of the Anabaptists. As a Baptist myself, I just remember where he came from and I am still impressed. The story of his marriage and relationship to his wife will bring a few smiles, though perhaps not to Mrs. Luther. As you read, you will wonder if he experienced survivor’s guilt as many of his followers were executed while he never was. We even learn here that he became quit the grumpy old man. We also learn the context of his failing health and difficult life. This volume is, without question, a winner!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Protestant Reformation marks its five-hundredth anniversary this coming October 31st. On that date in 1517, Martin Luther posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. The theses called into question the selling of indulgences, which the pope granted to reduce time in Purgatory for either the buyer or the buyer’s intended beneficiaries.

“As soon as the coin in the coffer rings,” preached Johannes Tetzel of these indulgences, “the soul from purgatory springs.” Sales of indulgences were quite lucrative, helping Albert of Brandenburg buy the archbishopric of Mainz and Leo X build St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. The text of the Ninety-five Theses was largely biblical and theological, but the subtext was a German critique of Italian grandiosity.

Luther intended his theses to instigate a “disputation…on the power and efficacy of indulgences,” as the incipit to the printed placard put it. He didn’t intend to divide the Church or rend the unity of medieval Europe. Like many of his contemporaries, he wanted to reform Catholicism and restore the simplicity of the gospel. Dissemination of his theses set in motion a process which did that, though in ways he could not foresee that All Hallows’ Eve. After Luther, Christianity and Christendom would never be the same. We moderns live in his world-historical shadow.

Here I Stand by Roland H. Bainton narrates the events of Luther’s life, focusing on the years between the posting of the Ninety-five Theses in 1517 and the publication of The Augsburg Confession in 1530. Though Luther was born in 1487 and died in 1546, 1517–1530 is the crucial period. Luther’s theology matured: he defined the doctrine of justification by faith, translated the New Testament, revised the liturgy, and wrote catechisms for adults and children alike. It was also during this period that Luther broke decisively with Rome; the Evangelicals divided into Lutheran, Reformed, and Anabaptist camps; and Christian princes intervened in political disputes, protecting the nascent Lutheran movement. In these years, religious radicals took over Müntzer, German peasants revolted and Luther’s theology of both church and state advocated a middle way between extremes.

Bainton’s prose is clear and his narrative forward-moving. Here I Stand is a work of genuine scholarship—with a chronology, bibliography, and index—but it is written for a broad audience. If you’re interested in Luther’s life, or the history of the Reformation, I encourage you to read this biography first.

Here I Stand was first published in 1950, but I read the 2009 reprint in the Hendrickson Classic Biography series. It is available as a reprint from other publishers too.

I was prompted to learn more about the life of Martin Luther because our son was born on the 500th anniversary of Luther nailing his ninety five theses onto the door of the All Saints' Church in Wittenberg (also Halloween).

I knew a little about him before, but Bainton really illuminates his life - strengths as well as frailties. Luther was often a loose cannon, speaking outside his areas of expertise. Yet his life is still so worthy of admiration! For example, Bainton notes that his incredible output in Germany was the equivalence of the work of five Englishmen whose lives spanned across different centuries. With regard to his his German compatriots, one German historian noted that in the course of three hundred years only one German, Johann Sebastian Bach, ever really understood Luther. Also in the words of the author, his later years were by no means to be written off as the sputterings of a dying flame. If at times he was impulsive, savage, and coarse, in the works which constituted the real marrow of his life’s endeavor he grew constantly in maturity and artistic creativity. God really used him. What amazing versatility!

In my understanding, as of 2018 Bainton's 1950 "Here I Stand" is still the best Luther biography out there. Maybe in a few months I'll listen to Lyndal Roper's 2017 Renegade and Prophet. However, I don't think I'll check out Eric Metaxas' recent book as my experience with several of his other biographies has been that they are too candy-coated for today's modern evangelical readership. Anyone care to comment by way of comparison?

While I am not a Lutheran (in fact, my beliefs probably put me in a category of people Luther said should be executed), I greatly admire this man’s stand for his faith and the influence that it has had down through the centuries. Luther pointed people back to the Bible as the final and only perfect authority on Christian faith and practice.

This book provides a solid overview of Luther’s life, theology, and influence. The author interacts with other Luther biographies and occasionally disagrees with them on minor issues, but does not radically reinterpret any of the widely accepted facts of Luther’s life. He is fairly evenhanded in his treatment of Luther’s Roman Catholic opponents in the theological and political controversies that arise from Luther working out the implications of his realization that “The just shall live by faith.” Though the author’s sympathies clearly lie with Luther, he does not stoop to straw man argumentation or presenting the opponents as mustache-twirling villains. Along the way he does not omit Luther’s personal struggles with depression and a vicious temper, but occasionally seems a bit too eager to explain away some of his more caustic, violent, and/or antisemitic rantings as “not really that bad.”

Overall, this is well worth a read if you are interested in Luther and/or the development of Lutheran theology.

Though written over 65 years ago, "Here I Stand" is still widely read and is by many considered the best work on the life of Martin Luther. Though I have not read enough to make any such claim, I can say that this is an excellent biography written with a melodic prose that truly captures weight of Martin Luther.

Luther is a controversial figure. Demonized by his opponents and glorified by his followers, there seems to be little middle ground with the man. After all he was a revolutionary who did not mince words; an unstable maverick who shook the world in in the 1500s; leaving us in the wake of the aftershock today. He went after popes and kings. Monastic institutions and sacraments. But whatever your view on Luther may be, you cannot deny that He lived out of a deeply rooted conviction; a passion for God's Word that He subjected His life to. Luther believed in the primacy of Scripture so much that He translated that Bible into the German common tongue in order that all men and women would be able to subject their lives to its authority.

This book gave me a greater appreciation of how much Luther accomplished. He was not just some divisive church reformer. Luther was a preacher, pastor, counselor, translator, father, husband, composer, and political advisor. "The sum extant of the sermons he preached is 2300!" Bainton writes, “If no Englishman occupies a similar place in history it is because no Englishman had anything like Luther’s range. The Bible translation in England was the work of Tyndale; the prayer book of Cranmer, the catechism of the Westminster divines. The sermonic style stemmed from Latimer; the hymnbook came from Watts. And not all of these lived in one century. Luther did the work of more than five men.” Martin Luther did not just correct a church that had long lost its way, he re discovered a church model that is followed (and heavily borrowed) from to this day. He was not a sower of discord that many see him as, but a great planter of something true.

Perhaps Bainton's greatest insight was into Luther's "Anfechtungen" or his epic, internal struggles. When reading biographies it can be easy to get an idealistic picture of the individual being studied. This account however was free to go into the depths of Luther’s intense battles and depressions that perpetuated throughout his life. Instead of crushing him, these internal torments formed him, enabling him to reach great heights. Luther himself said, “He does not know the meaning of hope who was never subject to temptations.” Through the darkness the light can be seen brighter.

Though a good and concise biography I wish that Bainton expanded on certain aspects. I found myself frequently getting lost in the politics of the middle ages: this rival did this, this heretic said that; this duke sided with Luther, this one did not. As an uninformed reader, I needed a little more careful background to bring me to terms with the scenes of the turbulent middle ages. Also while Bainton did not shy away from Luther’s failures—he heaped praise after praise on the man. Part of me wishes “Here I stand” was a little more neutral in this, speaking more frequently about the consequences of Luther’s brashness.

All in all, great biography. 4/5 stars.

I am reviewing the 1950, Mentor Books Fifteenth Printing.
This book is well laid out. Much of the material is in lecture form. There are twenty-two content headings, 12 page Bibliography, References, Source of Illustrations, and comprehensive Index. The illustrations are just that monochrome sketches.

Roland H. Bainton received an A.B. degree from Whitman College, and B.D. and Ph.D. degrees form Yale University and form Oberlin College, Dr. Theological Seminary and from Oberlin College. He is a Specialist in Reformation history.

There are many biography and reference books on Martin Luther, each with its own strength s and weaknesses. This one by Roland H. Bainton is pretty comprehensive and goes into more depth than most. Do not get out your highlighter or you will highlight every page.

This is the story of a religious leader who is well known for leading the Protestant Reformation. "I cannot...I will not...Recant! Here I Stand."

Martin Luther may have been immortalised by the "Here I stand..." quote, but there is so much more to his life than that simple quote.

First, I must say, this is a full biography. Sometimes biographies can be so short that they merely fill you with the life of the person. These kind of biographies then do not give you to context of what everything is happening. This biography by Roland Bainton however does not have any of these weakness. At at whopping 400 pages, Bainton presents Luther in his context, society and culture.

Bainton allows the reader to go away with a deep understanding of the what was Luther was going through before, during and after the Reformation. At times, Bainton also injects his own evaluation on how Luther handled the various situations in Luther's life. Within the book, there are also many picture of wood carvings displayed appropriately which really helps the readers to "go back in time".

Bainton does not only fills the readers with the life of Luther, he fills the readers with knowledge of the cultural and religious context of Luther in his life. These were very well explain and even as a novice in such matters, I do not find myself confused about it. Bainton not only talks about why Luther called for the Reformation, he also talks about how the Reformation slowly happened, and what followed up from it.

What I gathered from reading the life of Luther is his focus on the importance of the Word. Which was a great reminder for myself as someone who lives after the Reformation, it is easy to take the Word of God for granted and then to neglect it. Next, I see how fearless Luther was to stand for what he thinks is right. That too was a timely reminder for me as a christian, that I should be firm to stand for what I know from the Word of God, is right.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a substantial biography to Luther, but for readers who wants a lighter introduction, I think The Heroic Boldness of Martin Luther by Steven Lawson would be a better choice.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

I am a novice historian and theologian, but I have often wondered about this guy Martin Luther who lived a long, long time ago in a land far, far away. Why is he famous, what did he do (married a nun was all I knew), and why is it important for us today? Part of my interest is my current study of the history of Christianity and Islam. There is a current idea roaming around the popular press that Islam is going through its own Re-formation, and that if we Westerners can just be patient, the Islamic people will arrive at modernity as Christianity did after the Reformation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Luther was a truly heroic figure, who lived his entire life under threats from both the corrupted Catholic leadership of his day, and many of the Kings and Princes who not only disagreed with his interpretation of scripture, but also of the fear that undisciplined religious life could have on the ordered structure of society.

The author puts everything in its proper perspective. The book shows the earnest Luther being devoted to the Lord, and his church, becoming a Monk, studying all the languages of the day, writing and analyzing Christian history, and the writing of the most ancient Christian philosophers, those that were closest to the time of Christ. Luther was sent to the Vatican and saw how the government and leadership of the Church had been corrupted by the desire for luxurious, and carnal living by the leadership, and how they used the people from throughout Europe to fund their degenerate lifestyles, through tithes, and even worse, through the system of "Indulgences" where one could literally "buy their way to Paradise". Luther condemned this entire system as the corruption it was and demanded that Christians return to the scripture. Solo scriptura! He argued that only the grace of faith in Christ can save one, and no amount of donations to the Pope and his household can buy one, or one's relatives, a place in Paradise. Along with faith, Luther emphasized the works of the faithful for each other, and God's creation.

What struck me is the fact that during a period of almost absolute power by monarchs, and event the Catholic church to imprison and murder its foes, Luther lived, and prospered as a Priest, Professor, confessor, writer, speaker, and ultimately as a father and husband. He was never murdered. Religious wars raged about him as nationalist Germans forces sought to over through the reach of the Pope and his supporters, but Luther was not only allowed to live, he continued to teach, write, and support the idea that the Papacy was corrupt, and that everyone needs a personal relationship with God. That Luther lived and thrived in this age is itself a miracle. That so many of his writings have survived and become a part of our secular and religious way of live is also a miracle. He was a man of honor, ethics, and integrity, almost holy! I suppose that is why he was not cut down, he was fulfilling a divine purpose of bringing hope, faith, and Christ to the faithful in a way the Church had lost. Great book, I recommend it to anyone with an interest in history, western culture, and theology. The audio version was especially nice.

Martin Luther was one of the titans of the Protestant Reformation. It was Luther, along with John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli, who gave the Reformation its defining and enduring shape, influencing it in ways that continue today. This biography by Bainton is perhaps not exhaustive, but it is comprehensive, as it considers Luther's life and times. We look into his life and see how Luther's overriding passion, i.e. the love of God above all else and the consequent desire to reform the church, according to God's self-revelation in the Bible played out on the stage of 16th century Europe.

Luther didn't plan to reform the church. Following his father's wishes he was studying to become a lawyer. But he had an experience that set him on a different path, one which began benignly as he fulfilled a vow to become a monk. And to use a modern phrase, one thing led to another, and Christianity has never been the same.

Bainton honestly explores the different phases of Luther's life, pointing out both the highs and the lows. I was a little familiar with both aspects of Luther's life previous to reading this book and found that there was much more to learn about Luther and the way he intersected with his time and its culture. An example would be from some of the polemical material of Luther's late career, where Bainton highlights the nuances that we don't easily appreciate 500 years later.

Bainton has painted a rich portrait of a complex man, a man who above all served a sovereign, gracious and holy God. It is a biography written over 60 years ago but which has held up well for good reason. I highly commend it.

I am reviewing the 1950, Mentor Books Fifteenth Printing.
This book is well laid out. Much of the material is in lecture form. There are twenty-two content headings, 12 page Bibliography, References, Source of Illustrations, and comprehensive Index. The illustrations are just that monochrome sketches.

Roland H. Bainton received an A.B. degree from Whitman College, and B.D. and Ph.D. degrees form Yale University and form Oberlin College, Dr. Theological Seminary and from Oberlin College. He is a Specialist in Reformation history.

There are many biography and reference books on Martin Luther, each with its own strength s and weaknesses. This one by Roland H. Bainton is pretty comprehensive and goes into more depth than most. Do not get out your highlighter or you will highlight every page.

This is the story of a religious leader who is well known for leading the Protestant Reformation. "I cannot...I will not...Recant! Here I Stand."

I am reviewing the 1950, Mentor Books Fifteenth Printing.
This book is well laid out. Much of the material is in lecture form. There are twenty-two content headings, 12 page Bibliography, References, Source of Illustrations, and comprehensive Index. The illustrations are just that monochrome sketches.

Roland H. Bainton received an A.B. degree from Whitman College, and B.D. and Ph.D. degrees form Yale University and form Oberlin College, Dr. Theological Seminary and from Oberlin College. He is a Specialist in Reformation history.

There are many biography and reference books on Martin Luther, each with its own strength s and weaknesses. This one by Roland H. Bainton is pretty comprehensive and goes into more depth than most. Do not get out your highlighter or you will highlight every page.

This is the story of a religious leader who is well known for leading the Protestant Reformation. "I cannot...I will not...Recant! Here I Stand."

Here I Stand embraced Roland Bainton's powerful thesis that "because he took his stand, Martin Luther shattered the structure of medieval Catholicism and initiated Protestantism" (2). Bainton painted the picture of a monk who was loyal to the Catholic Church, the pope, and his monastic vows, but in the end, this same monk renounced his monastic vows, embraced Protestantism, and branded the pope as Antichrist. Bainton defended his thesis by examining Luther's work, experience, contributions, and writings. Here I Stand accurately portrayed Luther's position in the sixteenth century while keeping alive his message for today.

Bainton developed his thesis all throughout the story of Martin Luther's life. The book opened with Luther's vow to become a monk after being protected during a thunderstorm by St. Anne. Because Luther believed that being a monk was the best way to insure heaven, he followed the monastic code in every tiny detail. His enlightening journey to Rome showed his growing dissatisfaction with the church for the hypocrisy he witnessed. Luther sought to make peace with God, but it was not until his tower experience when he realized justification was by faith alone that he gained everlasting peace with God. Martin Luther began to slowly shake the Catholic structure by preaching against indulgences. Careful study of the Scriptures led him to post his famous Ninety-five Theses, a challenge to debate questionable church practices. Bainton demonstrated how Luther's debates and arguments with other theologians continued to break apart the power of the Catholic Church until the final crisis at the Diet of Worms when the Church confronted Luther and demanded he recant his beliefs. Luther shattered the Catholic Church by saying "Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise." Thus Protestantism was born. Bainton continued Luther's story by detailing Luther's beliefs about doctrine, society, and government.

Bainton concluded his book by taking the measure of Luther according to three points: Luther's influence on Germany, Europe, and religion. German nationalism, an infant movement, grew in power because of Luther's support and political treatises. Lutheranism spread throughout Europe and was wholly integrated in Scandinavia. Luther's impact on religion and the Catholic Church was his greatest legacy, because he adapted scholastic humanism to a new faith that would rival the power of Rome.

Bainton excelled at supporting his thesis. His evidence was clearly stated and appropriately expressed. Ten chapters dealt with Luther's struggle with the Catholic Church prior to the Diet of Worms while the remaining thirteen chapters examined his doctrinal beliefs, social innovations, and political ideals. Extensive passages from primary sources were carefully placed throughout the book, lending support and truth to Bainton's claims about Martin Luther. Bainton remained fair-minded about Luther's character and controversial writings. He provided an impartial assessment of Europe during the time of Luther and the complex religious circumstances of the sixteenth-century.

The research for Here I Stand was thorough and extensive. Although Bainton primarily used the Yale University library for his research, he included some three hundred and eleven sources in his bibliography. His information and quotations resulted from the entire sixteenth-century collection of German writings. Bainton's education and experience also lent uniqueness to this particular biography of Martin Luther. Although numerous other works could be found in the global market, Here I Stand is perhaps the best compilation of information and biography of Martin Luther. Bainton's other articles and books on church history, as well as his experience as a Latin and German translator, granted him a place of prominence in his chosen field of Reformation history. As a liberal theologian Bainton accurately understood Luther's religious teachings but never embraced them for himself, which was a great tragedy.

Here I Stand was extremely logical and helpful since it included a detailed chronology of Luther's life. The timeline provided a mental coatrack on which to hang all of the events which influenced the life of Martin Luther. The book also contained approximately ninety-one woodcuts and engravings from the sixteenth-century which included pages from Luther's Bible, caricatures of political and religious leaders, and some of Durer's famous sketches. Most of the unusual illustrations came from Bainton's private collection of Reformation art. The inclusion of these works in the book added to its interest and authenticity.

Bainton wrote in a plain literary style which can be easily understood by anyone. The details of the book were recorded in a vivid, entertaining manner. Here I Stand should prove to be an easy read for the average individual. However, the book should also hold great interest for the historical scholar who may wish to personally analyze and consider Luther's beliefs. The extensive quotations from Luther's personal writings created an opportunity for further analysis and reflection. Luther's doctrinal arguments, which could have been rendered complex, were well stated and relatively clear. Here I Stand is appropriate for both high school and collegiate reading.

As an Adult Anglican Sunday School teacher in Georgia I have the responsibility to teach the history of our Protestant faith with a approach based on true events corroborated by several credible sources. This history on Martin Luther (1483-1546) by Roland Bainton and published in 1950 is one of them. In order to present a history based on facts I use several good sources to corroborate these facts. This approach provides me a good method to separate fact from opinion so that I am teaching as close to the truth as possible. In the case of Martin Luther you have the Protestant viewpoint and the Catholic viewpoint. The Protestants see Luther as a German prophet and the Catholics see him as a heretic. the two views do not reconcile. Since I am a strong Protestant I admit I am very pro-Luther but I also want to see the view from the Catholic side and this side is obtained from Will Durant's The Reformation. From Will Durant's book I went to this book by Roland Bainton who presents the Protestant viewpoint. Another excellent source I recommend is to use the 2003 movie "Luther" which is an excellent to show visually the breaking away of the Protestants in the 16th centuary in Germany. It is a very complex and moving story how the Protestants emerged from 1200 years (from 313 A.D.) of the Catholic faith and very bloody too. The transition came at a great cost in lives lost but time has shown that it has been worth it and we have a very protestant strong faith based on Scripture to guide us in this life, bring us salvation and to prepare our souls for the afterlife.

In his early life, Martin Luther left law school against his father's wishes and became a Catholic monk. Later his mentor in the monastery suggested he read the New Testament in Greek and he was so taken by Scripture he became a Doctor of Theology in Wittenberg. He wanted to teach what he had learned and he taught and published extremely well. He was a prolific speaker as well as writer and thanks to the recently invented printing press his books were widely distributed. Similar to the Apostle Paul he became a God-inspired writer and he wrote many treatise based on his interpretation of Scripture and on issues such as indulgences, relics and purgatory. He questioned whether these catholic devices were based on Scripture or were just over-the-top methods to exhort money from poor Germans to build an edifice in Rome which was a poor choice of funding priority. When indulgence salesman John Tetzel came to the area with blatantly selling the claim of springing souls from purgatory it was an affront to every sensible catholic. Luther's response was to post the 95 thesis in 1517 on the cathedral door. This act which not in itself was not illegal by Catholic standards eventually got the attention and ire of Pope Leo X and from there events escalated to the Diet of Worms in 1521 a trial where Luther was given a choice to recant or not. There he stood and he became a heretic. He was then protected by Prince Frederick III the Elector of Saxony and went into seclusion. While in seclusion he translated the Latin version of the New Testament in venacular German and had this published. From this point there was no turning back.

Rome could not abide criticism even from an insignificant monk. Luther's published books gained a large readership in Germany and were clearly embarressing to Pope Leo X who needed a large amount of funding to rebuild St. Peter's Basilica. And Luther's work were reducing the sale of indulgences to finance this huge work in Rome. The Pope needed to solve the problem of this heresy so Luther was to be extradited to Rome to stand trial in Rome but everyone knew the inquisition was an invitation to a death sentence so Luther's allies such as Frederick the Wise made arrangements for the trial to held in Germany where he would obtain a fair trial. Here as most of you already know he looked at the evidence of what he had wrote and saw they were based on Holy Scripture and could not renouce his God. He did not recant and hence is the title of the book - Here I Stand. From here the situation escalated and Luther was hidden by soldiers on the authority of Prince Frederick III from the Papal authorities. While he was in seclusion and protection he obtained Greek and Latin dictionaries and translated the New Testament for Germany and the world. A remarkable story of courage and insight which millions of people today follow in the Lutheran faith. As an Anglican I can appreciate this great man's contributions to Western Civiliation and bringing many to a better understanding of the New and Old Testament. The book is somewhat dry but if you like history and the study of the origin of the Protestant Faith this will be a excellent book for you to read. Also there are a lot of woodcuts which were used to illustrate books back in the 16th Centuary in Bainton's book which provide a sense of illustration art for books in the 16th centuary. A great book; highest recommendation for you to read.

Roland Herbert Bainton (1894-1984) was a British born American Protestant church historian, who has also written books such as Erasmus of Christendom,Christendom: a Short History of Christianity and It's Impact on Western Civilization: Volume 1: From the Birth of Christ to the Reformation,Christendom a Short History of Christianity Volume 2, etc. This book was first published in 1950.

He notes that during a trip to Rome, "Disillusionments of various sorts set in at once... On making his general confession he was dismayed by the incompetence of the confessor. The abysmal ignorance, frivolity, and levity of the Italian priests stupefied him. They could rattle through six or seven masses while he was saying one... Some of the Italian clergy, however, were flippantly unbelieving and would address the sacrament saying, 'Bread art thou and bread thou wilt remain...'" (Pg. 37)

Of Luther's famous climbing of Pilate's stairs, he records, "The stairs were climbed, the Pater Nosters were repeated, the steps were kissed. At the top Luther raised himself and exclaimed, not as legend would have it, 'The just shall live by faith!'---he was not yet that far advanced. What he said was, 'Who knows whether it is so?' That was the truly disconcerting doubt." (Pg. 38) Bainton observes, "Luther endeavored unremittingly to avail himself of this signal mercy [of confession]. Without confession, he testified, the Devil would have devoured him long ago. He confessed frequently, often daily, and for as long as six hours on a single occasion." (Pg. 41)

Luther said during his 1519 debate with Johann Maier von Eck, "I am a Christian theologian; and I am bound, not only to assert, but to defend the truth with my blood and death. I want to believe freely and be a slave to the authority of no one, whether council, university, or pope. I will confidently confess what appears to me to be true, whether it has been asserted by a Catholic or a heretic, whether it has been approved or reproved by a council." (Pg. 92) He records Luther's response to the Emperor, "'Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reasoning---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 I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.' The earliest printed version added the words, 'Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise.' The words, though not recorded on the spot, may nevertheless be genuine, because the listeners at the moment may have been too moved to write." (Pg. 144)

Of Luther's marriage, "He summed up by giving three reasons for his marriage: to please his father, to spite the pope and the devil, and to seal his witness before martyrdom." (Pg. 225) Bainton observes, "The German Bible is Luther's noblest achievement, unfortunately untranslatable because every nation has its own direct version. For the Germans, Luther's rendition was incomparable... [no earlier translations] had the majesty of diction, the sweep of vocabulary, the native earthiness, and the religious profundity of Luther." (Pg. 255)

Bainton's biography has been a "standard" for more than 60 years, and justifiably so. It is "essential reading" for anyone who wants to study Luther's life and work.

Roland Herbert Bainton (1894-1984) was a British born American Protestant church historian, who has also written books such as Erasmus of Christendom,Christendom: a Short History of Christianity and It's Impact on Western Civilization: Volume 1: From the Birth of Christ to the Reformation,Christendom a Short History of Christianity Volume 2, etc. This book was first published in 1950.

He notes that during a trip to Rome, "Disillusionments of various sorts set in at once... On making his general confession he was dismayed by the incompetence of the confessor. The abysmal ignorance, frivolity, and levity of the Italian priests stupefied him. They could rattle through six or seven masses while he was saying one... Some of the Italian clergy, however, were flippantly unbelieving and would address the sacrament saying, 'Bread art thou and bread thou wilt remain...'" (Pg. 37)

Of Luther's famous climbing of Pilate's stairs, he records, "The stairs were climbed, the Pater Nosters were repeated, the steps were kissed. At the top Luther raised himself and exclaimed, not as legend would have it, 'The just shall live by faith!'---he was not yet that far advanced. What he said was, 'Who knows whether it is so?' That was the truly disconcerting doubt." (Pg. 38) Bainton observes, "Luther endeavored unremittingly to avail himself of this signal mercy [of confession]. Without confession, he testified, the Devil would have devoured him long ago. He confessed frequently, often daily, and for as long as six hours on a single occasion." (Pg. 41)

Luther said during his 1519 debate with Johann Maier von Eck, "I am a Christian theologian; and I am bound, not only to assert, but to defend the truth with my blood and death. I want to believe freely and be a slave to the authority of no one, whether council, university, or pope. I will confidently confess what appears to me to be true, whether it has been asserted by a Catholic or a heretic, whether it has been approved or reproved by a council." (Pg. 92) He records Luther's response to the Emperor, "'Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reasoning---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 I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.' The earliest printed version added the words, 'Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise.' The words, though not recorded on the spot, may nevertheless be genuine, because the listeners at the moment may have been too moved to write." (Pg. 144)

Of Luther's marriage, "He summed up by giving three reasons for his marriage: to please his father, to spite the pope and the devil, and to seal his witness before martyrdom." (Pg. 225) Bainton observes, "The German Bible is Luther's noblest achievement, unfortunately untranslatable because every nation has its own direct version. For the Germans, Luther's rendition was incomparable... [no earlier translations] had the majesty of diction, the sweep of vocabulary, the native earthiness, and the religious profundity of Luther." (Pg. 255)

Bainton's biography has been a "standard" for more than 60 years, and justifiably so. It is "essential reading" for anyone who wants to study Luther's life and work.

Roland Herbert Bainton (1894-1984) was a British born American Protestant church historian, who has also written books such as Erasmus of Christendom,Christendom: a Short History of Christianity and It's Impact on Western Civilization: Volume 1: From the Birth of Christ to the Reformation,Christendom a Short History of Christianity Volume 2, etc. This book was first published in 1950.

He notes that during a trip to Rome, "Disillusionments of various sorts set in at once... On making his general confession he was dismayed by the incompetence of the confessor. The abysmal ignorance, frivolity, and levity of the Italian priests stupefied him. They could rattle through six or seven masses while he was saying one... Some of the Italian clergy, however, were flippantly unbelieving and would address the sacrament saying, 'Bread art thou and bread thou wilt remain...'" (Pg. 37)

Of Luther's famous climbing of Pilate's stairs, he records, "The stairs were climbed, the Pater Nosters were repeated, the steps were kissed. At the top Luther raised himself and exclaimed, not as legend would have it, 'The just shall live by faith!'---he was not yet that far advanced. What he said was, 'Who knows whether it is so?' That was the truly disconcerting doubt." (Pg. 38) Bainton observes, "Luther endeavored unremittingly to avail himself of this signal mercy [of confession]. Without confession, he testified, the Devil would have devoured him long ago. He confessed frequently, often daily, and for as long as six hours on a single occasion." (Pg. 41)

Luther said during his 1519 debate with Johann Maier von Eck, "I am a Christian theologian; and I am bound, not only to assert, but to defend the truth with my blood and death. I want to believe freely and be a slave to the authority of no one, whether council, university, or pope. I will confidently confess what appears to me to be true, whether it has been asserted by a Catholic or a heretic, whether it has been approved or reproved by a council." (Pg. 92) He records Luther's response to the Emperor, "'Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reasoning---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 I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.' The earliest printed version added the words, 'Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise.' The words, though not recorded on the spot, may nevertheless be genuine, because the listeners at the moment may have been too moved to write." (Pg. 144)

Of Luther's marriage, "He summed up by giving three reasons for his marriage: to please his father, to spite the pope and the devil, and to seal his witness before martyrdom." (Pg. 225) Bainton observes, "The German Bible is Luther's noblest achievement, unfortunately untranslatable because every nation has its own direct version. For the Germans, Luther's rendition was incomparable... [no earlier translations] had the majesty of diction, the sweep of vocabulary, the native earthiness, and the religious profundity of Luther." (Pg. 255)

Bainton's biography has been a "standard" for more than 60 years, and justifiably so. It is "essential reading" for anyone who wants to study Luther's life and work.

Roland Herbert Bainton (1894-1984) was a British born American Protestant church historian, who has also written books such as Erasmus of Christendom,Christendom: a Short History of Christianity and It's Impact on Western Civilization: Volume 1: From the Birth of Christ to the Reformation,Christendom a Short History of Christianity Volume 2, etc. This book was first published in 1950.

He notes that during a trip to Rome, "Disillusionments of various sorts set in at once... On making his general confession he was dismayed by the incompetence of the confessor. The abysmal ignorance, frivolity, and levity of the Italian priests stupefied him. They could rattle through six or seven masses while he was saying one... Some of the Italian clergy, however, were flippantly unbelieving and would address the sacrament saying, 'Bread art thou and bread thou wilt remain...'" (Pg. 37)

Of Luther's famous climbing of Pilate's stairs, he records, "The stairs were climbed, the Pater Nosters were repeated, the steps were kissed. At the top Luther raised himself and exclaimed, not as legend would have it, 'The just shall live by faith!'---he was not yet that far advanced. What he said was, 'Who knows whether it is so?' That was the truly disconcerting doubt." (Pg. 38) Bainton observes, "Luther endeavored unremittingly to avail himself of this signal mercy [of confession]. Without confession, he testified, the Devil would have devoured him long ago. He confessed frequently, often daily, and for as long as six hours on a single occasion." (Pg. 41)

Luther said during his 1519 debate with Johann Maier von Eck, "I am a Christian theologian; and I am bound, not only to assert, but to defend the truth with my blood and death. I want to believe freely and be a slave to the authority of no one, whether council, university, or pope. I will confidently confess what appears to me to be true, whether it has been asserted by a Catholic or a heretic, whether it has been approved or reproved by a council." (Pg. 92) He records Luther's response to the Emperor, "'Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reasoning---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 I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.' The earliest printed version added the words, 'Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise.' The words, though not recorded on the spot, may nevertheless be genuine, because the listeners at the moment may have been too moved to write." (Pg. 144)

Of Luther's marriage, "He summed up by giving three reasons for his marriage: to please his father, to spite the pope and the devil, and to seal his witness before martyrdom." (Pg. 225) Bainton observes, "The German Bible is Luther's noblest achievement, unfortunately untranslatable because every nation has its own direct version. For the Germans, Luther's rendition was incomparable... [no earlier translations] had the majesty of diction, the sweep of vocabulary, the native earthiness, and the religious profundity of Luther." (Pg. 255)

Bainton's biography has been a "standard" for more than 60 years, and justifiably so. It is "essential reading" for anyone who wants to study Luther's life and work.

I'm working my way through some classic Christian biographies, and grabbed this copy of Bainton's "Here I Stand" after reading his The Reformation of the Sixteenth Century. I'm not Lutheran, in fact my family left Lutheranism for a more Bible based church. Nevertheless I found this biography to be outstanding, and caused me to have a greater appreciation for a man with whom I don't entirely agree. This is a thorough biography, and details Luther's entire life, how he became a monk, then a professor, how he was finally truly converted, and then the controversy around his famous 95 Theses. The book is full of names and facts, and details all of the political and ecclesiastical maneuverings as the Pope and his followers jockeyed with the various dukes and electors of the Holy Roman Empire. The interplay at the various diets is fascinating, and all of the negotiating, appeals, public speeches, burning of books, and publishing of tracts make for an exciting time. At one point, Luther had the offer of a knight and his fellow soldiers to protect him. Luther went into exile instead.

Luther's theology is explored, particularly how it impacted the society around him. Nuns and monks were abandoning the monasteries and getting married. The mass was being recited in German. The communicants were now drinking the wine as well as eating the wafer! Revolutionary!

Particularly delightful was the chapter on Luther's own marriage to Katie. It painted such a real portrait of Luther the man, in the midst of his family, eating dinner and delivering his "table talks." I started to really like the guy. Bainton doesn't avoid Luther's dark side either, though. The last chapter tells about his policy toward executing anabaptists, his view of the Jews, and his endorsement of bigamy for Philip of Hesse. Throughout the entire book, Bainton gives a fair and even handed account.

The biography is made so enjoyable because of Bainton's writing. As has been said, he infuses his writing with wit and humor, and somehow finds a way to make the the proceedings of a Diet seem interesting and enjoyable to read. I've thoroughly enjoyed his writing so far, and am tempted to grab Erasmus of Christendom as much to read Bainton's treatment of him, as for interest in the Humanist of Rotterdam himself.

I am reviewing the 1950, Mentor Books Fifteenth Printing.
This book is well laid out. Much of the material is in lecture form. There are twenty-two content headings, 12 page Bibliography, References, Source of Illustrations, and comprehensive Index. The illustrations are just that monochrome sketches.
Roland H. Bainton received an A.B. degree from Whitman College, and B.D. and Ph.D. degrees form Yale University and form Oberlin College, Dr. Theological Seminary and from Oberlin College. He is a Specialist in Reformation history.

There are many biography and reference books on Martin Luther, each with its own strength s and weaknesses. This one by Roland H. Bainton is pretty comprehensive and goes into more depth than most. Do not get out your highlighter or you will highlight every page.

This is the story of a religious leader who is well known for leading the Protestant Reformation. "I cannot...I will not...Recant! Here I Stand."

Having now read many of Roland Bainton's histories, I believe this to be his best work. With broad brush strokes and intimate examples, and with reproductions of printed work from that era and interesting illustrations, this work makes the story of Martin Luther come alive. Bainton sets it well in history with boarding school stories, accounts of peasants and kings, and with explanations of the renaissance and other cultural influences that are quite clear. Such clarity indicates that we are in the presence of a master: Bainton's historical understanding is impressive.

We learn about the Church getting rich by selling forgiveness of sins, with the use of sales pitches like "When the coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs". Such atrocities spurred Luther to action. Bainton tells us about Luther's spiritual angst and awakening, his great faith, and his warts and loves and personal tastes, so at the end of the day you know this man and understand what moved him. You will have a good overview of the times, the tremendous, oppressive power of the Church, the deepest issues of salvation and redemption, and how much Luther enjoyed having his sheets washed after he married a nun who left a convent.

Bainton was a fair and peaceable man; that comes across in his writing. And he avoids the bias that often mars the writing of those who write religious histories. Joined with a formidable intelligence, it means he has been gifted to understand and honestly explain the views and beliefs of other men, even if he himself disagrees. His presentation of Luther's theology is just about the best I have ever read, and very moving, although Bainton does not hold to it himself.

I agree with the commentator who complained about the lack of footnotes. For such a thorough work, it was disappointing. That aside, "Here I Stand" is a highly recommended read for everyone. No wonder it is still so popular. It is both scholarly and personable.

Having read Luther's "Bondage of the Will" I was interested in the Reformer's life and how God transformed him. In Roland H. Bainton's book you feel the man and his convictions. Bainton includes many lengthy quotes by Luther himself, so the reader begins to "feel" the man and his faith. The book also has many B & W wood-cut illustrations from that time, so you get to sense their history.

Bainton focuses on how Luther became a monk and from a monk to a world changing reformer. Luther's struggle with God's righteousness was so pivotal in his early days in the monastery, he was led to study of the Holy Scriptures by order of his senior. And it ultimately led to re-discovery of the Gospel -- that man is justified (declared righteous) by faith alone in what Christ has done for us. This revolutionized Luther's theology and his own life. Luther's emphasis, "by faith alone" is the heart of the gospel. He does not dismiss the importance of good works, but emphasized that good works cannot save and only faith saves. This was important distinction to him. And this book captures this fact about Luther well.

Moreover, the book pictures Luther as translator of the Bible into German language from original Hebrew and Greek. It is incredible feat by one man. He also wrote many hymns (including that famous "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God") to be sung at the church.

The book was fun to read as well. I couldn't stop reading. You will KNOW Luther in this book. Highly recommended.

Roland Bainton gives an incredible look at the life of Martin Luther in his book Here I Stand. I am always curious about the events leading up to great lines. From “frankly my dear…” to “we’ll always have Paris”, I wonder to myself “what makes lines like these so great?”. The answer is the context in which they’re found. “Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.” will for me be one of the most powerful lines ever delivered. At the beginning of the Reformation, staring some of the world’s most powerful men in the eyes with death looming over him, Luther gives one of the strongest speeches ever recorded, and Bainton captures that moment perfectly. Luther was a man of stern conviction, but a man nonetheless, and the author takes us through the ups and downs of a life of fervent faith. This is a must read for anyone with a desire to understand more about the Reformation and its most prominent leader, Martin Luther.

This biography is the most accurate and unprejudiced ever written on Luther (and I have read dozens of them). Bainton provides very lucid and vivid historical settings, events, people, and such surrounding the life of Luther. What is more, Bainton is quite fair-minded with regard to Luther's personal traits; I get tired of reading other biographers who try to psychoanalyze Luther and draw conclusions about his thinking based on pure speculations. Bainton renders a fair assessment of perhaps why, based on historical settings and events which were occurring during Luther's day, as to why he perhaps did and said some of the things he did.
Bainton really draws his reader into the life of Luther by carefully unfolding historical events which led up to the reformation and events that helped to shape Luther's thinking during and following the Reformation. The book is also nicely lavished with engravings and illustrations which helps the reader get a better understanding of what Bainton is trying to communicate. Moreover, the book contains a very exhaustive bibliography to help the reader branch out into further research and reading.
This book is written in a chronological format from Luther's birth to his death, and every major event which occurred between. This text is certainly a must for anyone who wants a better understanding of Martin Luther. Moreover, it is also a crucial text for anyone wanting a better understanding of the Reformation. I cannot begin to describe the depth and breadth of this work. I highly recommend this text!!!!

This is a classic biography of Martin Luther. Bainton deals with the not just the historical data, but the religious medieval mindset of the day. He skilfully covers the life of Luther, but keeps the book thematically together. The numerous woodcuts throughout are a treat. Unlike most modern books, the author's writing style is superb, but not difficult to read.

The name Martin Luther shines out brightly in history's annuls, for he was one of those rare individuals who has a legitimate claim to having by the force of his own actions, shifted the flow of history, and changed the world. The scholarly religious debate he sought when he nailed his 95 Theses to the Wittenberg church door became the genesis of a movement that not only tore apart the ancient unity of Latin Christianity, but reshaped the social, political, and (eventually) economic destiny of the Western World. There can be no understanding of how the modern world emerged and grew from the medieval one without a basic understanding of the man Martin Luther. Roland Bainton's book `Here I Stand' is an excellent place to begin to gain that understanding.

Bainton points out that in many ways Luther was an unlikely world-changer. This man who shook the world was a son of peasants rather than a high born aristocrat, in an age where the high born had a firm grip on the reigns of power. He suffered from extreme bouts of depression and elation that some today are tempted to identify as manic depressive disorder. And this man whose ideas helped to shape the modern world had a mind set firmly in medieval traditions. Yet he changed Western Christianity forever, helped to bring about major political realignments that eventually made possible the nation state, sowed the seeds for a Capitalist economic system, and produced a prodigious body of work of such erudition and power that he is widely seen as the father of the modern German language.

`Here I Stand' is a sympathetic interpretation of Luther's life. Though it does touch on some of his less savory aspects, it generally rationalizes and downplays them. Indeed, many of his most questionable activities are only touched on in the most cursory and dismissive fashion in the last, short chapter of the book. Though biased in Luther's favor, it is thorough, informative, and wonderfully well written. Even when delving deeply into fine points of arcane theology, Bainton manages to hold the reader's interest with flowing prose that is clear and concise. This is the book's greatest virtue, and the chief reason to make `Here I Stand' the logical starting point for an examination of the life and ideas of Martin Luther. I recommend it highly.

Theo Logos

"Here I Stand" is a fine biography of the 16th Century Reformer Martin Luther. It encapsulates the full range of his emotions and struggles as he led the Reformation, and it also summarizes his key teachings. Bainton has a nice way of showing the progression of Martin Luther's thought, as in the earlier chapters the reader witnesses the struggle Luther underwent to free himself of the medieval Roman Catholic church's accretions to the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We see Luther's profound awakening to the Gospel, as he began to see in Christ the merciful and righteous God who grants salvation freely through faith. Then eventually we see the mature Luther, who has been freed of the false teachings and traditions of the medieval church. Bainton shows us Luther's boldness and courage as a reformer, and also his deep humility and his failings. This book shows us a picture of a man who was used by God to restore the church to the Word of God alone, to faith alone in Christ alone by grace alone.
The places where Bainton is weakest in this book is in his descriptions of how Luther understood the sacraments (baptism and communion) and how he understood the two realms of church and government. He doesn't quite explain these correctly in the Lutheran sense. But otherwise he has a helpful balance of the factors that influenced Luther and the reformation: social, political, historical, and most importantly theological factors. And the story is supplemented with personal stories showing his love for his wife and family, and his desire for a peaceful reform of the church. Above all Luther acted on the sure confidence in the Word of God as revealed in the Scriptures.

Roland Bainton (1894-1984), a distinguished professor of church history at Yale University was a fine literary stylist who wore his learning lightly. Here I Stand has been in print since its publication more than fifty years ago, and it has sold over a million copies.

Bainton was already a thorough student of the Protestant Reformation when he began writing this biography in the 1940s, and his maturity encouraged a sensitive, though not uncritical, interpretation of the great reformer. Especially impressive is Bainton's ability to explain Luther's doctrinal beliefs clearly and sympathetically even though Bainton himself was neither a Lutheran nor an evangelical.

In my opinion, Here I Stand is one of the finest biographies written in the early twentieth century. I read the book first in 1972, and on coming back to it thirty-four years later was even more impressed with its literary and historical worth. It is the epitome of the word "classic."

In passing, the original Abingdon hardback edition is significantly more pleasant to read than modern paperback versions, with their tiny type squeezed right to the margins.

Who hasn't heard about Dr. Martin Luther, the courageous monk who dared to cry out against the abuses of the medieval Catholic church. Anyone looking to learn more about this controversial man will find this book to be a truly enjoyable and illuminating read.

It's an unfortunate but established fact that the medieval church had a dark history marked with political and economical abuses, bloodshed, some dubious and highly controversial popes, and most importantly practices that contradicted the teaching of the scriptures such as the selling of indulgences and the claim to release spirits from purgatory in exchange for money, the obsession with relic veneration, the crusades, the accumulation of heavy wealth by church leaders etc... Luther, an Augustinian Catholic monk trained in theology and a very God-fearing man (if not God-''terrified''), opposed these practices by posting his famous 95 theses. Little did he know that this would mark the beginning of a turning point in history, the birth of the Reformation, a powerful movement that reshaped Europe and the world as well as the whole Church.

The most positive point in this book is the style of writing. As I progressed through the pages, I felt as if I was reading a thriller and not a plain biography. The author did an excellent job describing the facts and thoughts with much detail without getting boring and he managed to keep the tension of the ''story'' high. I felt as if the author ''dissected'' Luther, exposing every aspect of his person: he touched on his personality, character, logic, intellect, faith, fears, joys, struggles, motives, strength, weaknesses, victories, failures, friends, foes, family...He didn't leave a point hanging in the air without giving it its deserved space. Although I am not an expert in church history and Luther's life, I felt the author stated the facts as they were without much bias, showing Luther in his ups and downs, an important point when dealing with biographies.

The author also uses a lot of citations from Luther's letters, works and debates as well as from his opponents; this was an amazing addition. A lot of illustrations drawn in the time of Luther are also included which only made me more in touch with the emotions and events of that period. The only downside of the book is that the author was quite brief when he dealt with Luther's controversial stand against the Anabaptists and the Jews, and also was quite brief when he dealt with Luther's end of life period. I think this section deserved to be expanded a litte bit more.

After finishing, you'll feel you walked hand in hand with Luther. Yes this is how much engaging the reading is. A must read without a doubt.

["I ask you Martin, answer candidly and without horns, do you or do you not repudiate your books and the errors which they contain?''. Luther replied ''Since then your Majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. 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 I 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." - Luther replying to the Church accusations at his hearing -]

I quote the advertising review: "Here is an outstanding modern contribution to religious literature - a vivid portrait of the man who, because of his unshakable faith in his God, helped to bring about the Protestant Reformation."
And not that I think that the Protestant Reformation was the be all, end all - by any stretch, or that Luther was right. However his strength and commitment (and those who chose to stand with him) broke the power of the catholic church over the western world and paved the way for people to be christians as the bible alone teaches. Without him, who knows where the world would be now.
A superb work on an amazing and inspiring man.
(A little hard going at first as it is written by an academic - but you get into the swing of it after a couple of chapters.) It's worth the perseverance IMO.

Near the top of my top ten christian books list.

Here I Stand was a required reading in my college course in Church History, and so my first meeting with it over a decade ago was not entirely of my own free will. But I enjoyed it then, and I enjoyed it even more when I recently dusted it off and read it again. Bainton's book powerfully reminds us that there is no way to appreciate and understand the history of Christian religion if one bypasses the enormous contribution of Martin Luther. If not for Luther's depth of brutal honesty in his own struggle to know God we may all still be living in times when the Word of God was chained to the pulpit. As Luther ineffectually fought his way toward God through "works" he once stated "I was myself more than once driven to the very abyss of despair so that I wished I had never been created. Love God? I hated him!" Bainton recounts how that during 1516-17, Luther's study of the book of Galatians resulted in his revelation of "the just shall live by his faith," a concept which reconciled for him, once and for all, the issue of the "justice" of God with the "justification" of God. This revelation unleashed the greatest REFORMATION in Christian thinking that could have been imagined at the time. Luther composed his Ninety-Five Theses and was quick to gain his reputation (in the religious world) as "the son of iniquity". Bainton chases this increasingly interesting story with novel-like tempo, and follows Luther through all of his personal crises, his hidings, false identities, public trials and public triumphs. Friends and foes emerge with all the hilarity and villainy of a great medieval romance... and as the world's greatest non-conformist theologian, Luther barges onto the scene in a very beer-spattering Robin Hood-like way. I found one of the papal bulls referring to the havoc that Luther was wreaking at the time to be particularly hilarious: "Arise O Lord, and judge thy cause. A wild boar has invaded thy vineyard." A wild boar indeed! It is great fun to watch Martin Luther trample. As I close the book now for the second time, I am no less amazed and breathless at how RADICAL a "stand" Luther took. For me he is a hero to the end. The quintessential INDIVIDUAL.
An entertaining, beautifully illustrated, and most of all IMPORTANT book. Of this opinion, I cannot... I will not... recant!

If you want to learn about Martin Luther, this is the book to read. Though, you may have to keep a dictionary handy as the author (a Yale Divinity School professor from the 1950s) attempts to use every vocabulary word he knows. The author, Bainton, gives you insight into not just Luther's work and the thinking behind it, he gives you insight into what was going on in Europe during that time period. For the many historical and doctrinal aspects that are connected with Luther's life, Bainton does a very good job organizing his writing.

This is a philosophical biography of Martin Luther. Although it provides some details about Luther's personal life, early upbringing and later family life, the focus of the book is on Luther's struggle to reform the Catholic church. The book is dense with summaries of Luther's writings, and it appears in a relatively small font, so it is not a quick or light read. It assumes a familiarity with Christian ideals and scripture; nevertheless, you don't need to be a Bible scholar to appreciate its discussion.
This book is filled with passages that made me stop, think and reflect, and then dog-ear the page for return visits. Bainton quotes Luther: "Faith is a living, restless thing. It cannot be inoperative. We are not saved by works; but if there be no works, there must be something amiss with faith." Later, "Music is to be praised as second only to the Word of God because by her all the emotions swayed...The Holy Spirit himself pays tribute to music when he records that the evil spirit of Saul was exorcised as David played upon his harp....This precious gift has been bestowed on men alone to remind them that they are created to praise and magnify the Lord." Through reading this book, I became much more aware of the tremendous influence that Luther had on shaping numerous aspects of modern Western society. Anyone with any interest in any form of Christianity should become acquainted with the ideas of Martin Luther, and reading this book would be a good start.

This is clearly the book to read on Martin Luther. I'd highly recommend it to any person wanting to know more about the reformation. It's aged in style but clearly still amazingly relevant and fair. A particularly relevant book as we celebrate to 500 anniversary of the 95 thesis this October 2017.

Time magazine labeled this book "the most readable Luther biography in English." This description isn't exactly flattering, but nonetheless, I did find this biography of Martin Luther "readable." In fact, I very much enjoyed this book.
Martin Luther is truly an amazing man. For those that know little or nothing about Luther, I would highly recommend this book. The book traces the life of Luther, from his 95 theses criticizing the Catholic church and the papacy to the Leipzig debate to the Diet of Worms. Along the way, Bainton outlines in detail the players and ideas of the Reformation. All angles of the movement are considered, including the different sects that break off from Luther's movement and also the ideas of Erasmus.
The parts of the biography that I most enjoyed were about Luther's personal life. Luther had a wonderful family and home that he led, and it was very interesting to read about his relationship with his wife and children. The chapter about Luther's struggle for faith and his bouts with depression was also very intriguing. The theme and title of the book is "Here I Stand," and by reading this book one becomes fully aware of how hard it was for Luther to stand up for what he believed, but also that what he stood up for is truly amazing and unbreakable.

Bainton's work on Martin Luther is very easy and enjoyable to read. He does a good job of placing Luther's life and thought in its historical context. The many characters are presented in a balanced manner so one does not come away feeling like the author had any particular theological axe to grind. The numerous prints and engravings from the period are also a nice touch. My one major crtiticism of this book is the lack of documentation. Bainton quotes frequently from Luther's works, but there is not one reference to the source in either an endnote or footnote. Also, the Bibliography will only be of use to someone who reads German. The reader should understand that this book never goes much beyond a general survey of what can be very complex subject matter and issues of debate among scholars. Thus a graduate student doing indepth research into Luther will probably be dissapointed. Anyone, however, looking for an informative survey will find Bainton's work very satisfying.

I first read Bainton's biography of Luther in seminary. I then reread it for some book clubs I lead.

Bainton is still the biography of choice for many, though there are other solid works available (Marty, Trueman, et al.). Bainton may assume a bit too much background for the novice, but for those who have connected some historical dots this is a terrific piece of work.

Roland Bainton does a marvelous job of introducing us to Martin Luther. The work is scholarly and yet manages to be interesting and readable for the average lay person.

This is a classic. Bainton as historian is able to use a lot of history but he makes it readable and understandable at the same time. He does not stint on the scholarly by trying to short cut or downplay the historical aspect.

An excellent read for anyone who is interested in Protestantism, Martin Luther, or theology.

J. Robert Ewbank author of "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

Martin Luther is a monumental figure who lived during complex, tumultuous times, but Bainton delivers a biography that portrays his subject in a clear and concise manner.
The first part of this book deals with Luther's days as a monk, his crisis of faith, and the development of his theology that ultimately led to his break from Rome, spearheading the Reformation. The central portion of the book deals with the conflict with Rome, appropriate emphasis being given to the Diet of Worms. The greatest strength of this book is that the events of Luther's life, his words, and his work are always presented within their greater context. Not only is the Lutheran movement followed, but also much attention is given to the state of the Catholic Church during Luther's lifetime. Also given their proper attention are competing Protestant movements, humanism (particularly as pertaining to Erasmus), Anabaptism, the Peasant Revolt, and German nationalism.
Much of the book is of course spent discussing the theological issues that were at stake. As I read these passages a mental picture of a triangle emerged, with the three points being God, Man, and Church. Bainton does a good job of explaining how Luther, Rome, and other parties differed in their views as to the nature of each of these three entities, and more importantly how they differed in their views as to how these points of the triangle properly related to one another - God to Man, Man to Church, and Church to God (the three sides of the triangle if you will). My one complaint is that occasionally when discussing the finer theological points, Bainton will inject his opinion in such a way that it is difficult to tell if that opinion is shared by Luther. In those sections the book reads more like the transcript of a sermon than a biography.
The latter stages of the book get away from the conflict with Rome, and explore the contributions Luther made to the building of the new Protestant traditions. I enjoyed this section thoroughly because, after all, simply tearing down the old is no big trick; it's the creation of something new, something better that is the real test. Luther's contributions in translating the Bible to German, his writings, his musical compositions and other endeavors are all well covered by Bainton.
One note about Abingdon Classics: these are small paperbacks with very fine print. So if you have difficulty with small print, get the other paperback version or the hardback.
One final note: The bit about the triangle is purely my own invention; Bainton's discussion is not nearly so hackneyed. It's just how I got a handle on the issues, and how I could best discuss the theological passages of the book.

Whether or not one considers Martin Luther a great man of faith, one cannot deny his importance in the history of not only Christianity but the world. Bainton's biography is both informative and scholarly, while remaining within the grasp of all. It cast a light over Luther's life from his early spiritual trials until the end that illuminated the actions of the Reformer and allows the reader to get inside the mind of Luther and gain a depth of insight to the Reformation that the standard textbook does not supply. Excellent reading for anyone interested in the history of Christianity

Whether or not one considers Martin Luther a great man of faith, one cannot deny his importance in the history of not only Christianity but the world. Bainton's biography is both informative and scholarly, while remaining within the grasp of all. It cast a light over Luther's life from his early spiritual trials until the end that illuminated the actions of the Reformer and allows the reader to get inside the mind of Luther and gain a depth of insight to the Reformation that the standard textbook does not supply. Excellent reading for anyone interested in the history of Christianity

This book review is on the work, Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther, by Roland H. Bainton. The author covers Luther's life from the beginning, and the point is made that in Luther's early years, nothing set him apart from others his age. There was no indication from his early life that he would later rebel against much of medieval religion. Bainton begins the book with Luther's vow to become a monk during a thunderstorm in 1505. Luther became a monk in order to save his soul, but he soon concluded more was needed. Bainton stresses that Luther felt the need to become perfect in order to obtain justification with God, and this quest defined Luther for the better part of his life. This quest for salvation eventually led Luther against Christian Orthodoxy, thus beginning the Protestant Reformation. Detail is given from the time Luther posted the 95 theses in October 1517 through the Diet of Worms in 1522. During these years, Luther proved to the world that he was a man who stood up for his convictions. During these years, a strong significance is placed on the fact that Luther always believed he would die for his cause. The years from 1522-1530 are also well covered, particularly in covering Luther's theology. However, only one chapter deals with the final 16 years of Luther's life. The climax of the work occurs in chapter 10, entitled Here I Stand, and it is clear that Bainton's thesis is wrapped up neatly in the title of the book. The author stressed throughout the work that Luther was a man of principle who stood up courageously for what he believed in.
Since this was the first biography on Martin Luther that I have read, there is minimal room for comparing this work with any of the other works done about this complicated figure. Here I Stand proves very interesting and enlightening. Although the work is a serious scholarly piece, it is written in a way that encourages further reading. The prose is very fluid and narrative in nature, and any reasonable person with an interest in Luther can comfortably read it. Even though it is a delight to read, close attention is given to the history and theology of the man. Having a general historical knowledge of 16th century Germany is important in better understanding the work; however, that aspect is not a pre-requisite for enjoying the book. This book definitely heightened my interest in Martin Luther, his times, and the Catholic Church. For the reasons mentioned above, my criticism for the book is favorable. Bainton's writing style is very appealing, and he succeeded in giving the reader something to take pleasure in. Often, space in the narrative is given to extended quotes made by Luther and his contemporaries, and these quotes are used in such a way to add positively to the quality of Bainton's writing. There is a strong emphasis early in the work showing the different ways in which Luther tried to earn his salvation. He clearly believed that he had achieved salvation by entering monastic life, but becoming a monk did not settle Luther's feelings about being saved. Luther tried to live a perfect life under the religious system, yet he still doubted his salvation. The selling of indulgences also troubled Luther deeply. These issues eventually drove him to the realization that salvation was unattainable by works, and that the pope was not a supreme being. For Bainton, Luther achieved greatness when he finally believed he was right. Only then was Luther ready to accept the severest penalties for his beliefs.
In the first 12 chapters of Here I Stand, the text is sequential in nature, but after chapter 12 until the end of the book, it becomes topical in character. Some topics about Luther include: theology, economics, politics, domesticity, music, depression, preaching, and prayer. Bainton did not internally cite his sources, but he included an extensive bibliography located in the back of the book. Sources include works by Franz Hildebrand and Robert Friedmann. Many primary sources are used that consist primarily of written works of Luther and his contemporaries. Also, there are over 80 pieces of art depicted in the book itself, which added to the depth of the work. It is clear that the author achieved his purpose of the book. Bainton proved that Luther was no ordinary man, and that M.L. achieved as much as he did because of his Faith. The author gives the reader more than just a stale work on a distant historical figure. Bainton shows the reader emotions that the man actually faced. Bainton wrote the book with real emotion, thereby giving the reader an added reason to be moved by it. However, the author might be criticized for not spending enough time on the contradictions in Luther's belief system. For example, Bainton quoted Luther as saying, "Let everyone believe what he likes. If he is wrong, he will have punishment enough in hell fire." Yet Bainton also made the point that Luther believed that sedition should be cause for death. Luther showed seditious behavior when standing against the Church, but he still felt that others should be put to death if they were standing up against orthodoxy. Bainton merely glazed over this contradiction as well as others.
In conclusion, Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther is a classic work on the life of Martin Luther, and it can be very useful for anybody wanting to learn more about this great historical figure. Portions of the book have been given at several theological seminaries around the world, and by considering the spirit of the book; it appears the volume is written more specifically for a protestant audience. It can be concluded that the author felt deeply about his subject, and that Roland H. Bainton succeeded in his work on Martin Luther.

Probably the most overlooked, yet the predominant force in religion and politics up to our time. This is a good introduction to the genius and the faith of Martin Luther. The issues we struggle with today were all there in the 16th century. It is amazing. You'll enjoy the bold theologian and parish minister!

I read this biography several years ago, and still remember it vividly. I am not generally a fan of biography, and read it to get a picture of this man who has made such a radical difference in world history. I was not disappointed. It held my attention throughout. Interesting, well documented, the story moved at a pace worthy of a good novel, while still providing abundant information and detail. The education about the man and the period gained from reading this book has stayed with me like few books I have ever read, and I cannot recommend it too highly.

If you are going to read one biography of Luther make it Bainton's. Roland Bainton is a gifted writer, historian, and theologian and tells the story of Luther so well - that when you finish reading this book you will want more. I have read several biographies on Luther but this is the only one that I would consider a classic - a book I will read again and again to remind me of what one man can do when he truly understands and lives out the depths of justification by faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Bainton presents a vivid portait of Martin Luther, his motivations, and his serendiptious strategies which achieved a goal he didn't even know he had. Bainton's portrayal delves past the spiritual Luther and shows us a glimpse of his very strong personal opinions.... It becomes a bit confusing at times, but Bainton has provided a time line in the beginning of the book which helps a lot.

This is the greatest biography written of one of Christendom's most intriguing and controversial figures. It will make you laugh, think, rejoice, and even cry. Luther's unique personality is brought to life by bainton, who portrays luther with warts and all. Great book for children, teens, adults, and seniors. Written in warmth with fasicinating wood-cut art, this book is greatly nourishing as luther's stuggles, says bainton, are really are own.

I purchased the book after watching the movie Luther with Joseph Fiennes (sp?). I usually do that in reverse order but not this time. The book very logically and clearly (and with great clarity and attention to detail) portrays the inner life and events going on at that time in Luther's life. It is a great review of history, the Catholic Church and the mind of Martin Luther.
The only downside is that you often need to read it with a dictionary present due to some of the words and context in which it is written that are not readily used in daily discussions. Great way to learn them though.
This is a wonderful read and one that I could not put down once I started. He is a very influential and fascinating historical figure.

I have tried to read about Luther from various authors and they seem to come up short. Their is something very enriching about this particular bio. The author does not superimpose his own viewpoint onto the revolutionary church reformer. Here I Stand is a classic piece of literature and is easy for the non-theologian, even the unchurched person to read.

This is an exceptional book for objective historical and theological perspectives of the life of Martin Luther. I have read the book as part of seminary studies, though the book is written with an undertone for lay understanding. The major pluses of the book are the honest depiction of the character of Martin Luther and how his personal theology developed over his pastoral years with highlights of how his insights helped cause major reforms of theological throughout the world as well as bringing the book of the bible in a readable and understandable format to his beloved German people.

Very few religous books dare to climb into the mind of it's subject. This book not only portrays a vital time in history, it delves into the psyche of one the greatest theologians since Augustine. This book deals with the monk Luther struggling to appease an angry God. Luther's struggle is our struggle, as he searches for a loving God. Luther overcomes anxiety, doubt and the papacy, stating "Here I stand. I can do no other." This story is as relevant now as it was during the reformation. We can follow in Luther's steps

Several typos and the reference to Karl Barth aside, this appears from many accounts to be THE biography of Luther. It states all the important particulars without deviating to the extreme positions many others do. Doesn't give you the full picture of the man that a thorough reading of his works does. Luther's complete sermons tell more about him and his relation to the Lord Jesus Christ.

A bit flimsy paperback, this (cover separation within the first 100 pages read), with the grayish paper, but what else at such a price?

A revelation for the unchurched. I wanted a good book on Martin Luther and choose this one based on all the five star reviews on the store.com. It was a wise choice. My general impression is that this is a balanced view of Dr. Luther presented by an expert.

I have read this book twice, and each time have learned so much about Martin Luther, the leader of the Protestant Reformation and man of great faith. Luther tells the story of the Ninety-Five Theses and Luther's appearance before the Diet of Worms more like it is a novel and not a biography. The biography is filled with the great words of this great man. "I cannot...I will not recant...Here I Stand. I can do no more. God save me!"

Martin Luther is one of the historical protagonists who has had the greatest amout of biographies written. This is a biography which displays not only the Reformer, but also the man Martin Luther. Luther's phrase, chosen as title, reveals the essence of the man: "Here I stay, I could not do differently. So help me God".

I was satisfied with the promptness of the delivery.

Will be doing business with you again in the future.

I especially like the availability of used books with
attendant lower prices; of books that were published
years earlier.

I was frankly a little disappointed in this book. I was interested in gaining some more knowledge of Luther and his time, and I saw this work was generally well regarded. However the context of the period, and the unfolding struggle between reformation and the counter-reformation take a distant second place to the detailed evolution of Luther's theology. While I can certainly appreciate that theology was a huge part of Luther's life and legacy, it would be nice to see how it all played out in this era.

I used this book as one of my references when I taught a Lutheran Sunday School class of high school aged students. It examines the humanity of this very important historical figure and adds a great deal of perspective to a complex time. It's a enjoyable and very readable book and is in my personal library.

This book I felt was extremely boring, because Bainton was wordy. It did not seem to follow a logical pattern sometimes, and was not objective. However I had to read it for a class. And the test coming up is extremely hard, so I am going to reread the book and maybe I will enjoy it more.

This edition of an otherwise wonderful book is terrible! The margins between the lines are so tight and the print so small and dense that one practically needs a magnifying glass to read it! We bought this as a Christmas gift for my husband's grandfather and were unable to give it to him because of its physical unreadability.

To be fair, I could not bring myself to finish this book. As a student of history and recently investigating the atrocities’ committed by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust, I wanted to look deeper into some of the thinking that was a precursor to Nazi-thought. Naturally, my search led me to Martin Luther as he was a proponent of anti-Semitism (read “The Jews & Their Lies” Martin Luther, 1543) and such a major influence on world history. Unfortunately, this book was written for Christians (as Christians tend to turn a blind eye to things they don’t believe in, even though belief has no impact on whether something did or did not occur) and not written with a true scientific approach to understanding history. Generally I read scholarly works, so I can not say that I am surprised to find such bias in light reading. Sadly, I must say that this book is too biased by the authors own personal and religious beliefs to have any relevance in an academic discussion of the life of Martin Luther.

A sad book....a haunted, depressed man who's faith was determined and shaped by his anger. Much hatred and anger was caused by his depression to be sure. He triggered the reformation, which triggered wars and hatred toward anyone who disagreed with him.

Martin Luther was a heretic who fractured the Catholic Church and who has caused inestimable harm to souls. There is no telling how many souls are in hell because of the evil works of this man. He renounced the true Church of Christ (the Holy Roman Catholic Church) to start his own man-centered church claiming people didn't need the Church and that they could believe what they want and interpret Scriptures however they want. Look how it has ended up ... tens of thousands of Protestant denominations all believing different things, all worshiping as they please. Where is the unity Christ said would be a mark of His true Church? ... only in the Catholic Church.

It is incredible that at this stage of history we still refer to the contesting lunacies and absurdities of medieval sects as "theological debate." If you understand that there existed an entirely fraudulent mafia which went by the name of the Catholic Church, and that in reaction to it some demented clerics mustered an even more unpleasant body of hypocrisies known as the Reformation, you know all you need to know about these midgets. In the annals of "live and let live" which are the true annals of greatness, Luther is a nasty mite. Really, all the fathers of the Protestant faith, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Cromwell and their ilk are among the most unpleasant humans, and the most unworthy of discussion who ever strode this planet.

Why not read about some actual human beings instead, who suffered less from mental illness and murderous propensities ?

Michel de Montaigne?

Rabelais?

Erasmus?

Don't be conned into thinking of this a "contoversial" subject. It is merely a branch of pathology. The first reviewer is right to say we should not psychoanalyze Luther. We should not psychanalyze him. We should just stick him in the bughouse.