Paul Speratus

Paul Speratus (13 December 148412 August 1551) was a Swabian Catholic priest who became a Lutheran preacher, reformer and hymn-writer. In 1523, he helped Martin Luther to create the First Lutheran hymnal, published in 1524 and called Achtliederbuch.

Early life

Paul Speratus was born in Rötlen (a village now part of present-day Ellwangen) in Swabia, on or about 13 December 1484, probably to a wealthy family. His original surname, Latinized to "Speratus", may have been "Spreter", "Hoffer", or "Offer". In later years would write his name as "von Rötlen" (of Rötlen) or "von Ellwangen, Priester der Diöcese Augsburg" (of Ellwangen, Priest of the Diocese of Augsburg). In 1506, he was ordained a Roman Catholic priest. All its songs were published the same year in the Erfurt Enchiridion, a collection of 26 hymns.

Es ist das Heil uns kommen her

The words of this hymn were written during the time Speratus was imprisoned; the melody is taken from a 15th-century chorale. According to Catherine Winkworth, "Luther himself is said to have given his last coin to a Prussian beggar from whom he heard it for the first time."

The 14 stanzas of Speratus's text expound Luther's teaching concerning salvation by faith rather than by doing good works. According to Scott Hendrix, "It not only emphasizes justification by faith alone but it also underlines the vitality of that faith manifested in service to others".

In Gott gelaub ich, daß er hat

Miles Coverdale published his English translation of this song as "In God I trust for so I must".

Hilf Gott, wie ist der Menschen Not

This hymn is recommended in the Missal of Matthäus Ludecus (1589) for several different feasts of the liturgical year including Septuagesima.

Later career

On Luther's recommendation, Speratus became court chaplain of Albert, Duke of Prussia, a post he held from 1524 to 1529. In 1530, he became the Lutheran bishop of Pomesania, a post he held until his death in 1551. He died in Marienwerder on 12 August 1551.