Today I visited a couple of towns in Germany with ties to the Reformation—Speyer, followed by Worms. In Speyer the term protest-ant first entered our religious lexicon. In Worms, Luther made his defense against charges of heresy from Rome.

Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason…I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen (Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms, 1521).

These now beautiful, picturesque cities mask the turmoil they endured several hundred years ago. Luther stood at the risk of his life, barely escaping under the protection of his benefactor, who hid him for several years. During this time of isolation Luther completed his German translation of the Bible.

As a student of the Scriptures, one particular comment by Luther draws me—my conscience is captive to the Word of God—and reminds me of Paul’s words to the young pastor, Timothy:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Outside the solid teaching of the Scriptures, upon what do I stand? Everything else shifts, everything else fades, everything else cracks. As Luther reminded us, it is neither safe, nor right, to go another way.

2 Timothy 3 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2021

Speyer Cathedral pictured above