Martin Franzmann

Martin H. Franzmann (1907-1976) was a theologian, professor, poet, and composer of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in the United States.

Career

Franzmann graduated from Northwestern College before entering Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. He had also studied at, but did not graduate from, the University of Chicago and studied in Greece as a Daniel L. Shorey Traveling Fellow. In 1936, he became a professor at Northwestern College where he taught English and Greek (Westerhaus, Martin O). In 1936 Franzmann was called and accepted the position to serve as a professor of Greek at Northwestern until the Summer of 1946. In 1946, he was called to teach at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1957, he became the Chairman of Exegetical Theology at Concordia. He was notable for his traditional stance on Biblical inerrancy and inspiration against historical criticism well before the walkout that led to the Seminex crisis. However, his role in that crisis often overshadows his other scholarly works, such as a commentary on Romans. Among his other position was time as chair of the Synodical Conference, a member of the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations, and the 1962 LCMS representative to the Lutheran World Federation. He left the faculty of Concordia Seminary in 1969 to become tutor at Westfield House, the theological college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England (ELCE), in Cambridge, England. In 1972 he retired from Westfield House and moved to Wells, England, where he died in 1976. He was succeeded as tutor by his son John Franzmann.

Hymns

Original

• In Adam We Have All Been One

• Lutheran Book of Worship (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1985), 372.
• Lutheran Service Book (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006), 569.

• O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth

• Lutheran Book of Worship (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1985), 396.
• Lutheran Service Book (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006), 834.

• O Kingly Love

• Lutheran Worship (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House), 346.

• O Thou, Who Hast of Thy Pure Grace

• Lutheran Book of Worship (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1985), 442.

• Our Paschal Lamb That Sets Us Free

• Lutheran Service Book (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006), 473.

• Preach You the Word

• Lutheran Service Book (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006), 586.

• Thy Strong Word

• Lutheran Book of Worship (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1985), 233.
• Lutheran Service Book (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006), 578.

Translations

• With High Delight Let Us Unite; original text: Georg Vetter

• Lutheran Book of Worship (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1985), 140.
• Lutheran Service Book (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006), 483.

• Isaiah, Mighty Seer; original text: Martin Luther

• Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2006).
• Lutheran Book of Worship (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1985), 528.
• The Lutheran Hymnal (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941), 249.

• Rise Again, Ye Lion-Hearted; original text: unknown

• The Lutheran Hymnal (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941), 470.

Books

• "Follow Me: Discipleship According to Matthew"; Concordia Publishing House, 1961. ISBN 0-7586-1826-3.
• "Concordia Commentary: Romans"; Concordia Publishing House, 1968. ISBN 0-570-04431-6.
• "Ha! Ha! Among the Trumpets"; Concordia Publishing House, 1994. ISBN 0-570-04641-6.
• "The Revelation to John: A Commentary"; Concordia Publishing House, 1986. ISBN 0-570-04430-8.
• "The Word of the Lord Grows"; Concordia Publishing House, 1972. ISBN 0-570-03222-9.
• "Pray For Joy"; Concordia Publishing House, 1970. ISBN 0-570-03801-4.

Further reading

• Richard N. Brinkley, "Thy Strong Word: The Enduring Legacy of Martin Franzmann"; Concordia Publishing House, 1993. ISBN 0-570-01347-X.

• Robin A. Leaver, "Come to the Feast: The Original and Translated Hymns of Martin H. Franzmann"; MorningStar, 1994. ISBN 0-944529-05-4