Luther's Seal - Pastor's Column Oct. 2022
Luther’s Seal
In the month of October, I like to switch the drawing of the church building in the newsletter header for what is known as Luther’s Seal. It is sometimes also called the Luther Rose. I do this as a nod to the Reformation began by Martin Luther with the posting of his 95 Theses on October 31, 1517.
Martin Luther had designed his seal by 1520 and a black and white version of that was in use on the covers of his published works. In the 1530s it began to appear in color as printers began to include hand-painted color illustrations in printed works. Since the Reformation, Luther’s Seal has become a symbol of the Lutheran Church and appears frequently in publications, art, and decor. Here at St. Paul’s the seal can be seen on our St. Paul’s church banner that hangs in the sanctuary, in the stained glass window in the historical room, and on our church sign near the road.
As with everything Luther wrote, his seal was also a proclamation of the gospel. Luther intended that the seal, with all it’s parts, expressed the basic principles of the Christian faith. We have Luther’s own description and explanation of the seal in a letter to Lazarus Spengler dated July 8, 1530. Luther writes:
Grace and peace from the Lord. As you desire to know whether my painted seal, which you sent to me, has hit the mark, I shall answer most amiably and tell you my original thoughts and reason about why my seal is a symbol of my theology.
The first should be a black cross in a heart, which retains its natural color, so that I myself would be reminded that faith in the Crucified saves us. "For one who believes from the heart will be justified" (Romans 10:10). Although it is indeed a black cross, which mortifies and which should also cause pain, it leaves the heart in its natural color. It does not corrupt nature, that is, it does not kill but keeps alive. "The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17) but by faith in the crucified.
Such a heart should stand in the middle of a white rose, to show that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace. In other words, it places the believer into a white, joyous rose, for this faith does not give peace and joy like the world gives (John 14:27). That is why the rose should be white and not red, for white is the color of the spirits and the angels (cf. Matthew 28:3; John 20:12).
Such a rose should stand in a sky-blue field, symbolizing that such joy in spirit and faith is a beginning of the heavenly future joy, which begins already, but is grasped in hope, not yet revealed.
And around this field is a golden ring, symbolizing that such blessedness in Heaven lasts forever and has no end. Such blessedness is exquisite, beyond all joy and goods, just as gold is the most valuable, most precious and best metal. This is my summary of theology. I have wanted to show it to you in good friendship, hoping for your appreciation. May Christ, our beloved Lord, be with your spirit until the life hereafter. Amen.
A further piece of Luther’s Seal that appears on a stone-carved representation is the Latin word, “Vivit,” which means “He lives.” One letter each of the Latin word was applied to the five leaves of the rose. This version can be seen on our St. Paul’s church banner.