Martin Luther’s Primary Love Language

Martin Luther, the great Reformer, continually sought God, spoke to God, and served God. As a young monk, Luther sought to find peace with God by living a life of strictest simplicity. Sitting alone in his room, deeply concerned about his relationship with God, Luther opened his Bible and began to read Paul’s letter to the Romans. When he came to Romans chapter 1, verse 17, he read, “The just shall live by faith” (KJV). He paused. He pondered. Then joy unspeakable flooded his heart.

He had tried hard to please God by following a life of discipline. Now his eyes were opened—he understood salvation was by faith, not works. This word from God was to him the “gate to Paradise.” From that moment, Martin Luther’s life focused on listening to the words of God. For him, the Bible was the Word of God. His newfound devotion inspired him to stand against the established church of his day, which placed more emphasis on tradition and religious efforts than on the Scriptures. His desire was that people would return to the Word of God.

“Martin Luther used powerful words in numerous ways to express his devotion to God.”

Martin Luther’s primary love language seems to have been words of affirmation, based on accounts of his life and his personal letters. In correspondence to his beautiful wife, Katharine, he began, “To my dearly beloved wife Katharine Luther; for her own hands. God greet thee in Christ, my dearly loved Katie! I hope . . . that I can come [home] tomorrow, or the day after. Pray God that he bring me home safe and sound.” To Hans, his six-year-old son, he wrote, “Grace and peace in Christ, my dear little son. I hear with great pleasure that you are learning your lessons so well and praying so diligently. Continue to do so, my son, and cease not.”[1] In the realm of the spiritual, Martin Luther used powerful words in numerous ways to express his devotion to God. His words were both convicting and affirming as he wrote hymns and Bible commentaries, developed a catechism, translated the Bible from Latin to German, and delivered thousands of sermons. While other monks meditated, Luther was speaking and writing.

His best-known hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” focuses on the power of the Word of God. Take a look at Luther’s words in verse 3:

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us:
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

Luther is also remembered for his ninety-five theses, carefully thought out, written down, and nailed to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther’s list of fundamental beliefs would light the fires of the Reformation.

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[1] Library of the World’s Best Literature, Charles Dudley Warner, ed., vol. 23, (New York: J. A. Hill & Co., 1896), 9334, 9340.