A06492:1578
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. 13. For they them selves that are circumcised do not keep the law: but they would have you circumcised, that they might glory in your flesh.
Verse. 13. For they them selues that are circumcised doe not keepe the lavv: but they vvould haue you circumcised, that they might glory in your flesh.
Is not Paul here worthy to be called an heretic? For he saith, that not only the false apostles, but all the nation of the Jews which were circumcised keep not the law, but rather that they which were circumcised, in fulfilling the law fulfil it not. This is against Moses, who sayeth that,1 to be circumcised is to keep the law: and not to be circumcised is to make the covenant void. Gen. 17. And the Jews were circumcised for none other cause but to keep the law,2 which commanded that every male child should be circumcised the eight day. Hereof we have before entreated at large, and therefore we need not now to repeat the same again. Now, these things serve to the condemning of the false apostles, that the Galatians may be feared from hearing of them. As if he should say: Behold, I set before your eyes what manner of teachers ye have. First they are vainglorious men, which seek nothing but their own profit,3 and care for nothing but their own belly. Secondly they fly the cross: and finally they teach no truth or certainty, but all their sayings and doings are counterfeit and full of hypocrisy. Wherefore although they keep the law outwardly: yet in keeping it they keep it not. For without the holy ghost, the law can not be kept. But the holy Ghost can not be received without christ: and where the holy ghost dwelleth not, there dwelleth an unclean spirit,