Nikolaus Selnecker’s Psalterbuch, 1563–1623

Among the books of the Bible, the Psalms have always been seen as especially close to the Christian heart. This study shows how Nikolaus Selnecker’s Psalterbuch (1563–1623) engages that potential for intimacy in diverse ways, using different genres to address shifting devotional aims. Examining seven editions across six decades, it traces how this major work of Lutheran psalm interpretation was continually reshaped through developments in form, typography, and paratext, and in dialogue with other works of devotional literature. In the Psalterbuch, Selnecker interprets the Psalms in homilies, hymns, poems, and prayers. Each edition presents distinct devotional emphases, created by additions and omissions in content and changes in typography and layout, and invite readers to engage with the Psalterbuch in new ways – some more individual, others more communal.