| MARTIN LUTHER'S SEAL |
While a professor at Wittenberg, Martin Luther devised
this seal which he declared was meant to be "expressive of
his theology." This explanation is the gist of a letter
written to his friend, Herr Spengler, town clerk of
Nuremberg.
this seal which he declared was meant to be "expressive of
his theology." This explanation is the gist of a letter
written to his friend, Herr Spengler, town clerk of
Nuremberg.
The first thing expressed in my seal is a cross, black,
within the heart, to put me in mind that faith in Christ
crucified saves us. "For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness."
within the heart, to put me in mind that faith in Christ
crucified saves us. "For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness."
Now, although the cross is black, mortified, and intended to
cause pain, yet it does not change the color of the heart,
does not destroy nature - i.e., does not kill, but keeps alive.
"For the just shall live by faith," - by faith in the Savior.
But this heart is fixed upon the center of a white rose, to
show that faith causes joy, consolation and peace. The rose
is white, not red, because white is the ideal color of all
angels and blessed spirits.
This rose, moreover, is fixed in a sky-colored ground, to
denote that such joy of faith in the spirit is but an earnest
and beginning of heavenly joy to come, as anticipated and
held by hope, though not yet revealed.
And around this ground base is a golden ring, to signify
that such bliss in heaven is endless, and more precious than
all joys and treasures, since gold is the best and most
precious metal. Christ, our dear Lord, He will give grace
unto eternal life. Amen. // Martin Luther
cause pain, yet it does not change the color of the heart,
does not destroy nature - i.e., does not kill, but keeps alive.
"For the just shall live by faith," - by faith in the Savior.
But this heart is fixed upon the center of a white rose, to
show that faith causes joy, consolation and peace. The rose
is white, not red, because white is the ideal color of all
angels and blessed spirits.
This rose, moreover, is fixed in a sky-colored ground, to
denote that such joy of faith in the spirit is but an earnest
and beginning of heavenly joy to come, as anticipated and
held by hope, though not yet revealed.
And around this ground base is a golden ring, to signify
that such bliss in heaven is endless, and more precious than
all joys and treasures, since gold is the best and most
precious metal. Christ, our dear Lord, He will give grace
unto eternal life. Amen. // Martin Luther
| Martin Luther 1483 - 1547 |