A06492:1275
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.
Verse. 3. For I testify again unto every man which is circumcised, that he is bound to keep the whole law.
Verse. 3. For I testifie againe vnto euery man vvhich is circumcised, that he is bound to kepe the vvhole lavve.
The first inconvenience is in deed very great, where Paul saith that Christ profiteth them nothing which are circumcised: and this that followeth is nothing less, where he faith that they which are circumcised, are bound to keep the whole law. He speaketh these words with such earnestness, that he confirmeth them with an oath. I testify, that is to say, I swear by the living God. But these words may be expounded two ways, negatively and affirmatively. Negatively after this manner. I testify unto every man which is circumcised that he is bound to keep the whole law,1 that is to say, that he performeth no piece of the law: yea that in the very work of circumcision he is not circumcised, and even in the fulfilling of the law he fulfilleth it not, but transgresseth it. And this seemeth to me to be the simple and true meaning of Paul in this place.2 Afterwards in the .6. Chapter he expoundeth him self, saying: They themselves which are circumcised, keep not the law. So he saith also before in the third Chapter.3 Whosoever are of the ⟨p. 227⟩works of the law are under the curse. As if he said: Although ye be circumcised, yet are ye not righteous and free from the law, but by this deed ye are rather debtors and bondservants of the law: And the more ye go about to satisfy the law, and to be set free from it, the more ye entangle and snare your selves in the yoke thereof, so that it hath more power to accuse and condemn you. This is to go backward like the crab, and to wash away filth with filth.