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This week in Christian history: Martin Rinkart dies; bounty placed on Menno Simons

By Michael Gryboski, Editor Twitter

Martin Rinkart dies – Dec. 8, 1649

Martin Rinkart (1586-1649), a German pastor who lived during the Thirty Years' War and wrote the famous hymn
Martin Rinkart (1586-1649), a German pastor who lived during the Thirty Years' War and wrote the famous hymn "Now Thank We All Our God." | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when Martin Rinkart, a German pastor best known for writing the hymn "Now Thank We All Our God," died at the age of 63.

A native of Eilenburg, Saxony, Rinkart would become the sole pastor of the city during the Thirty Years' War, which raged from 1618 to 1648, centered on what is now Germany.

The war, which was influenced by longstanding conflicts between Catholics and Protestants, had a major impact on Eilenburg, which suffered from deprivation and plague amid the violence.

Nevertheless, during the brutal war, Rinkart penned the hymn "Now Thank We All Our God," which is a popular hymn for churches to sing during the Thanksgiving season.

"Think about this hymn in the context of Rinkart's life," wrote Glenn Sunshine of Breakpoint, a publication of The Colson Center for Christian Worldview, in November 2020.

"If in the midst of horrendously devastating war, plague, famine, and death, Rinkart could find the faith to sing his thanks to God, how much more should we, who are living in much better circumstances rejoice in the goodness of God that has blessed us so abundantly."

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