The study aims to analyse the impact of Luthers theology on his thoughts about music. It limits itself to an analysis of the topic by focusing on the three most important statements of Luther about music in his unfinished treatise [On Music]. The first statement is that music is a gift of God and not of man [Dei donum hominum est], second, music creates joyful soul [facit letos animos], and third, music drives away the devil [fugat diabolum]. The relation between these three statements to each other and to Luthers theology in general can be understood in connection with his personal experiences and commitments to music, which were undergirded by his theology. Luther, as a man of medieval times, took for granted the existence of the devil, and many of his writings contained frequent references to the personal attacks of the devil, where it influenced his thoughts about music.

Yakub Kartawidjaja holds a Diploma in Interior Architecture at NAFA, Singapore, completed his MEd in Music at NTU, Singapore and studied theology at STTRII, Jakarta, Indonesia. 2019 he received his PhD at the Theological University of Apeldoorn, Netherlands. He is vicar at GRII, and also a fulltime lecturer at STT Reformed Injili Internasional, Jakarta, Indonesia.

This study aims to analyse the impact of Luthers theology on his thoughts about music. It limits itself to an analysis of the topic by focusing on the three most important statements of Luther about music in his unfinished treatise [On Music].