Mortal ills prevailing...
Robert Lipton
In article <63ebfo$fgt$2...@news.utdallas.edu>, db...@utdallas.edu wrote:
>In the hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," Martin Luther writes, "our
>helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing." When he says
>"mortal ills" is he saying "deadly ills" like "ills so bad they can
>kill you?" Or does he mean "the ills that mortals experience?"
>
>Furthermore, if our God is a mighty fortress, and a bulwark never
>failing, then why does Luther write that the flood of mortal ills is
>prevailing? I usually think of prevailing as winning, but that doesn't
>seem to make sense here. Could he mean "prevailing" as in "usually
>experienced?" Something like, "The prevailing weather is cool and sunny
>in October?"
>
>I don't claim to be Luther-literate, but I heard this hymn at least 17
>times over the past weekend (Promise Keepers in Dallas), and this
>linguistic question is sticking in my craw, a burr under my saddle, etc.
>etc. Please help!
Perhaps it would make more sense in German, as that is the language that
Luther wrote in. Perhaps some of the problems arise from mediocre
translations that must both scan and rhyme. However, I read this, with
scansion and rhyming removed as
He is our helper, prevailng amidst the flood of mortal ills.
Bob
O&W
(original post below}
First, as explained in another post, it is God who is prevailing. I have
always assumed that the ills mentioned were deadly, not just 'the usual
stuff.' Either works. I suppose, but the German version might clear it up.
db...@utdallas.edu wrote in article <63ebfo$fgt$2...@news.utdallas.edu>...
Markus Laker
db...@utdallas.edu ():
> In the hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," Martin Luther writes, "our
> helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing." When he says
> "mortal ills" is he saying "deadly ills" like "ills so bad they can
> kill you?" Or does he mean "the ills that mortals experience?"
My guess is that he means the latter, but he could mean the former -- or
even both. Why not? And who can be sure *what* Luther meant at this
distance?
> Furthermore ... why does Luther write that the flood of mortal ills is
> prevailing?
I read it differently. I think it's God who prevails, not the mortal
ills, and the verb was moved to the end of the sentence in the cause of
scansion -- that is, to make the words fit nicely.
> I don't claim to be Luther-literate, but I heard this hymn at least 17
> times over the past weekend (Promise Keepers in Dallas), and this
> linguistic question is sticking in my craw, a burr under my saddle, etc.
> etc. Please help!
The Promise Keepers have had national airtime even in Britain. You're
getting quite a reputation, lads.
Markus Laker.
--
My real address doesn't include a Christian name.
Emailed copies of responses are very much appreciated.
Padraig Breathnach
db...@utdallas.edu wrote:
> In the hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," Martin Luther writes, "our
> helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing." When he says
> "mortal ills" is he saying "deadly ills" like "ills so bad they can
> kill you?" Or does he mean "the ills that mortals experience?"
>
> prevailing?
>
Sententious correction first: You can be pretty sure that Martin Luther did
not write this hymn in English.
My reading is that 'mortal ills' are the ills that mortals may experience.
I also read 'prevailing' as qualifying 'our mighty helper' rather than
'mortal ills'. Does that make sense to you?
PB
joseph....@ocsbstudent.ca
But I can't do that, instead I'll do this...
Mortal: Short, human, life; ill: deadly, sick, impure; prevailing: winning, ahead, above,usually
what mortal impureness is prevailing now... we know we live in an impure life and state which all can agree sin, death, mortal life is prevailing against God, otherwise if God was prevailing here on earth what would be the point of his return?
I believe those who have been born spiritually prevail in God, whilst at the same time this earth prevails, many love this mortal ill life compared to God's everlasting Glory!
Mortal ill, I think could mean this sick life we live every day, this sick human life.
Let's face it, this life on earth sucks, but the life God has prepared; eternal life, immortal wellness prevailing more!
This mortal ills prevails indeed, i.e this mortal sick life prevails indeed because many love it (though it is sick), and few understand and find the immortal wellness that God has already prepared, his kingdom, his word, his life, he is the way, the truth and the immortal well life.
Anways just my thoughts, I could be deadly illy wrong.
--
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