Luther was a divisive figure 500 years ago and he remains a divisive figure today. Sadly, most of the people who hate Luther today do so out of ignorance. Bainton’s remarkable biography should help dispel some of that ignorance for those who truly seek to understand the man and his times. Luther was far from perfect and he would be the first one to admit that.

About 2/3 of this book is spent dealing with the history and times of Luther. It’s helpful but there’s always the tendency to get a little lost in the names. The remainder of the book is where it shines. When Bainton pulls together Luther’s conception of the church, his reformation of worship, and reformation of family... I personally found that most helpful. And the chapter on Luther’s anfechthung (spelling?) was encouraging to my own struggling heart.

Luther’s life and legacy may well be summed up in his last words, a mixture of the German he loved and the Latin he studied: Wir Sind bettler, hoc est verum. “We are beggars, this is true.”

This biography focuses mainly on the development of Luther's theology, which is what I wanted to read about in the first place. It was cool to see how God used his personality to effect change. At first, Luther was just looking for an argument--he hated the rampant selling of indulgences, and Rome had little to say. If Rome had said it was okay, Luther might have stayed quiet. As time progressed and his understanding increased, Luther became more and more emphatic for truth. I laughed and cringed when I read some statements that Rome had made, such as: Luther's appealing to Scripture, as all heretics do; and do you think you're right and the Church has been wrong for 1000 years? Of course, Luther wasn't the only one arguing for change. Bainton writes extensively on the dialog between Luther and Rome and the other reformers. This got a little dense, but overall the book's a good read even if you skim some sections.

Bainton masterfully weaves together gigantic life of Luther.

"If a German is asked whether a passage of Luther's Bible is not remarkable, he may answer that this is precisely the way in which any German would speak. But the reason is simply that every German has been reared on Luther's version. The influence of the man on is people was deepest in the home. In fact the home was the only sphere of life which the Reformation profoundly affected. Economics went the way of capitalism and politics the way of absolutism. But the home took on that quality of affectionate and godly patriarchalism which Luther had sent as the pattern in his own household. The most profound impact of Luther on his people was in their religion. His sermons were read to the congregations, his liturgy was sung, his catechism was rehearsed by the father with the household, his Bible cheered the fainthearted and consoled the dying. If no Englishman occupies a similar place in the religious life of his people, 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. And for sheer richness and exuberance of vocabulary and mastery of style he is to be compared only with Shakespeare."

The greatness of a book is in large part due to its writing. This book was a very well written biography of a very well lived man. Enjoyable to read, Here I Stand is an accessible and enjoyable read on someone that we, as Christians, owe much to.

There's a reason this has been considered the standard biography of Martin Luther over the past 60 years. Bainton's biography is powerfully written, making it easy for the reader to get swept up in Luther's story of going from a would-be lawyer terrified by a thunderstorm to a triumphant reformer who changed the world. Bainton isn't content to simply relay the events, however; he ensures the reader understands (as best we can) the mind of Luther himself, taking great care to trace the development of Luther's worldview over the course of his life. Much of the book is spent unpacking Luther's theology as well as his views on the church, politics, economics, music, the family, and much more. I found these sections to be particularly enjoyable and edifying; when reading them, I no longer felt that I was reading a book about Luther but rather hearing and learning from the teachings of the Great Reformer himself. Bainton also doesn't shy away from exposing Luther's faults and highlighting his inconsistencies, both of which were many (as Luther himself would be the first to affirm). The reader is given an extensive look at Luther's personal struggles, his disappointments and severe depressions that he wrestled with throughout his life. The book does hit a few slow points where it takes the time to describe the historical, political, and ideological contexts in which the events of Luther's life took place; but even these sections prove important to understanding the impact of Luther on his world, as well as his world's impact on him. Finally, one of the book's greatest strengths lies in the care it takes to explain the impact that Luther's ideas and actions would have on subsequent human history (not to mention church history). Much of what Christians today take for granted - the gospel of justification by faith, Bibles in their native languages, participation in the Lord’s Supper by all believers, congregational singing during worship, etc. - were largely established by Luther as norms for the church during a time when such things were unheard of. Christians of all denominations owe a great debt to this German monk and the God who used him to bring about the greatest revival in the history of the church since the time of the apostles. For those who want to learn more about the life, teachings, and impact of Martin Luther, I can recommend no better place to begin than Bainton's classic biography.

Really wonderful. Obviously, a biography on such a man as Luther has good source material to work with, and Bainton masterfully tells the story of Luther's life and all the many twists and turns which that story has. Bainton concisely describes much of the theological, political, and cultural climate in which Luther's reforming work took place.

Luther was indeed a great man, and the drama of his story is gripping to read. This is really a worthwhile biography, full of the marrow of the Gospel which Luther discovered and proclaimed. His happy recovery of justification by faith alone carried all sorts of implications and was ordained and used by God to bring about one of the most notable revivals in history. We stand on his shoulders and would do well to learn from Luther, and endeavor to be such men in the hour God has placed us. This is really an enjoyably written book, full of scholastic insight, devotional encouragement, and inspiring stories of God's grace unto and through Luther. Highly recommended!

Simply wonderful. This missing fifth star is an indictment of me, not of Bainton or Luther. The chapters on politics and economics were just brutally dull to my dull mind, and my interest was lost for months on end. As for the rest, I love Luther and I love this recounting of his life and influence. I wish I had better reading habits, especially that of keeping a pen handy to mark and underline, because this volume was replete with gems. We owe so much to Brother Martin, and I was grateful for the reminder to be grateful. I will read this again, skipping certain chapters, if need be, to get this story deeper into my bones.

Oh, one more thing: if I do read this again, I want to find another edition. The illustrations were printed so small and blurry that it was nigh unto impossible to make them out.

12/1/2024 * 4 stars

A very readable biography that's gives a broad view of the life & ministry of Martin Luther. It's a fun read that's fast-moving and keeps you interested until the end. I would love another biography that provides more depth regarding his teaching, battle with the Roman Church, and inward struggle amidst the Reformation.

In Mrs. Trevino’s second-grade class, we read a book called "How to Eat Fried Worms," and let me just say, it had a far more interesting take on the Diet of Worms!

"Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther" by Roland Bainton is a classic biography that has shaped the American view of Martin Luther since the 1960s. Written in postwar America, when anti-German sentiment was high, Bainton’s portrayal of Luther seems almost American, with a rugged pioneer spirit and anti-authoritarian bent. Bainton’s Luther could almost be imagined as an American patriot, standing boldly on the right side of WWII. However, this framing gives the biography a “hero’s edit,” focusing on Luther’s courage and conviction while giving only a page and a half to his infamous antisemitism, which is treated as an unfortunate footnote rather than a serious flaw.

Bainton is a skilled storyteller, presenting Luther’s life without getting bogged down in doctrine, facts, or figures. This approach makes Luther’s story an engaging tale that feels real and relatable. The book reads like a narrative despite being a biography, and the writing flows incredibly well. There’s also a fascinating section on Luther’s political theology, which often gets overshadowed by his doctrinal work. My study of political theology tends to skip from Augustine to Calvin, so it’s refreshing to see Luther’s views here and how they contrasted with Rome’s.

Bainton’s "Here I Stand" remains both interesting and informative, conveying the central beliefs of Protestantism without technical jargon. While it filters Luther’s life through a particular cultural lens, the book is a valuable read for anyone interested in the Reformation, Christian history, or the story of the man who, in many ways, ended the Medieval period. Overall, it’s a good book that deserves its reputation, but should be approached with a critical eye, recognizing it as both a product of its time and a foundational perspective on Luther’s enduring legacy.

The Reformation may be over, but it is by no means complete. Till Christ returns or calls me home, I say with Luther: “Here I stand, I can do no other.”

Although this is an old book it's an interesting overview - I found the illustrations (of which there are many) particularly helpful - we can gain so much insight into people's thoughts and interpretations of events from contemporary woodcuts - I'm extremely glad that this was a bought copy and not a library one - I can highlight it and mark pages.

Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther, by Roland Bainton (1950, audiobook ~11 1/4 hrs). This is a biography from 1950, and it appears to have received relatively high marks over the years. It may be related to that era, but Luther’s reported anti-semitism is largely overlooked, something what would be a major omission in any newer bio. Given my non-existent background in religious studies, I am in no position to judge this account of Martin Luther’s life, teachings, and role in the Reformation, other than to say - wow - quite a story. Rather, my key takeaway is that while he took aim at what he perceived as major flaws in the Catholic Church, his breakaway theology also seemed to suffer from unnecessary man-made overlays that got in between true believers and Christ. As one writer has noted, Luther was “obstinate, intolerant, abusive, and rude,” which if accurate does not invalidate any of his criticisms of Catholicism, but may have led him astray in devising non-Catholic theology. That said, this is quite the story about an extraordinarily bright, insightful, and flawed religious rebel.