A06492:1006
Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians
A commentary of M. Doctor Martin Luther upon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Galatians first collected and gathered word by word out of his preaching, and now out of Latin faithfully translated into English for the unlearned. Wherein is set forth most excellently the glorious riches of Gods grace ...A commentarie of M. Doctor Martin Luther vpon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Galathians first collected and gathered vvord by vvord out of his preaching, and novv out of Latine faithfully translated into English for the vnlearned. Wherein is set forth most excellently the glorious riches of Gods grace ...
London: printed by Thomas Vautroullier dwelling wihtin sic, 1575London: printed by Thomas Vautroullier dvvelling vvihtin sic, 1575
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Mark here diligently how Paul defineth Christ.1 Christ (saith he) is the son of God and of a woman, which for us sinners was made under the law, to redeem us that were under the law. In these words he comprehendeth both the person of Christ and the office of Christ. His person consisteth of his divine and humane nature. This he showeth plainly when he saith: God sent his own son borne of a woman. Christ therefore is very God and very man. His office he setteth out in these words: Being made under the law to redeem them that were under the law &c.
Marke here diligently how Paule defineth Christe.1 Christe (sayth he) is the sonne of God and of a woman, which for vs sinners was made vnder ye law, to redeme vs that were vnder the law. In these wordes he comprehendeth both the person of Christe and the office of Christe. His person consisteth of his diuine and humane nature. This he sheweth plainly when he sayth: God sent his ovvne sonne borne of a vvoman. Christe therefore is very God and very man. His office he setteth out in these wordes: Being made vnder the lavve to redeame them that vvere vnder the lavve &c.
- 1The person & office of Christ.
And it seemeth that Paul here, as it were in reproach, calleth the virgin Mary but only a woman: which thing was not well taken even of some of the ancient Doctors, who would that he should rather have called her a virgin, then a woman.1 But Paul entreateth in this Epistle of the most high & principal matter of all, to wit, of the Gospel, of Faith, of Christian righteousness: Also, what the person of Christ is, what is his office, what he hath taken upon him & done for our cause, & what benefits he hath brought to us wretched sinners. Wherefore the excellency of so high & so wonderful a matter was the cause that he had no regard to her virginity. It was enough for him to set forth & preach the inestimable mercy of God, which would that his son should be borne of that sex. Therefore he maketh no mention of the dignity of the sex, but only of the sex. And in that he nameth the sex, he signifieth that Christ was made true and very man of womankind. As if he said: He was borne, not of man and woman, but only of womankind. Therefore when he nameth but only the womankind, saying: made of a woman,