1That is to say, Faith which is not feigned nor hypocritical, but true and lively. This is that faith which exerciseth & requireth good works through love. It is as much to say as: He that will be a true Christian in deed, or one of Christs kingdom, must be a true believer. Now, he believeth not truly if works of charity follow not his Faith. So on both hands,2 as well on the right hand as on the left, he shutteth hypocrites out of Christs kingdom. On the left hand he shutteth out the Jews, and all such as will work their own salvation, saying: In Christ neither circumcision, that is to say: no works, no service, no worshipping, no kind of life in the world, but faith without any trust in works or merits availeth before God. On the right hand he shutteth out all slothful and idle persons, which say: if faith justify without works, then let us work nothing, but let us only believe and do what we list. Not so ye enemies of grace. Paul sayeth otherwise. And although it be true that only faith justifieth, yet he speaketh here of Faith in an other respect, that is to say, that after it hath justified, it is not idle, but occupied and exercised in working through love.3 Paul therefore in this place setteth forth the whole life of a Christian man, namely, that inwardly ⟨p. 234⟩it consisteth in faith towards God, and outwardly in charity and good works towards our neighbour. So that a man is a perfect Christ an inwardly through faith before God, who hath no need of our works, and outwardly before men, to whom our Faith profiteth nothing, but our charity or our works. Therefore when we have heard or understand of this form of Christian life: to wit, that it is faith and charity (as I have said), it is not yet declared what Faith or what charity is: for this is an other question. For as touching faith or the inward nature, force, and use of Faith, he hath spoken before. Where he showed that it is our righteousness, or rather our justification before God. Here he joineth it with charity and works, that is to say, he speaketh of the external office thereof, which is to stir us up to do good works, and to bring forth in us the fruits of charity to the profit of our neighbour.
1That is to say, Faith which is not fained nor hypocritical, but true and liuely. This is that faith which exerciseth & requireth good works through loue. It is as much to say as: He that will be a true Christian in deede, or one of Christes kingdom, must be a true beleuer. Now, he beleueth not truely if workes of charitie folow not his Faith. So on both hands,2 as well on ye right hand as on ye left, he shutteth hypocrites out of Christes kingdom. On the left hand he shutteth out the Iewes, and all such as will worke their owne saluation, saying: In Christ neither circumcision, that is to say: no works, no seruice, no worshipping, no kinde of life in the world, but faith wtout any trust in works or merites auaileth before God. On the right hand he shutteth out all slouthfull and idle persons, which say: if faith iustifie without works, then let vs worke nothing, but let vs onely beleue and doe what we list. Not so ye enemies of grace. Paule sayeth otherwise. And although it be true that onely faith iustifieth, yet he speaketh here of Faith in an other respect, that is to say, that after it hath iustified, it is not idle, but occupied and exercised in working through loue.3 Paule therfore in this place setteth forth the whole life of a Christian man, namely, that inwardly ⟨p. 234⟩it consisteth in faith towards God, and outwardly in charitie and good works towardes our neighbour. So that a man is a perfect Christ an inwardly through faith before God, who hath no neede of our workes, and outwardly before men, to whom our Faith profiteth nothing, but our charitie or our works. Therfore when we haue heard or vnderstād of this forme of Christian life: to witte, that it is faith and charitie (as I haue sayd), it is not yet declared what Faith or what charitie is: for this is an other question. For as touching faith or the inward nature, force, and vse of Faith, he hath spoken before. Where he shewed that it is our righteousnes, or rather our iustification before God. Here he ioyneth it with charitie and workes, that is to say, he speaketh of the externall office thereof, which is to stirre vs vp to doe good workes, and to bring forth in vs the frutes of charitie to the profite of our neighbour.
- 1A true and a lively Faith.A true and a liuely Faith.
- 2Paul shutteth all hypocrites out of the church of God both on the right hand & on the left.
- 3The whole life of a Christian.The vvhole life of a Christian.
