A06492:1600
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.
This is a wonderful kind of speech which Paul here useth when he saith: neither circumcision nor uncircumcision prevaileth any thing. It may seem that he should rather have said: either circumcision or uncircumcision availeth somewhat, seeing these are two contrary things. But now he denieth that either the one or the other do any thing avail. As if he should have said: Ye must mount up higher: for circumcision and uncircumcision are things of no such importance that they are able to obtain righteousness before God. True it is that they are contrary the one to the other:1 but this is nothing as touching christian righteousness, which is not earthly but heavenly, & therefore it consisteth not in corporal things. Therefore, whether thou be circumcised or uncircumcised, it is all one thing: for in Christ Jesus neither the one nor the other availeth any thing at all.
This is a wonderfull kinde of speech which Paule here vseth when he sayth: neither circūcision nor vncircūcision preuaileth any thing. It may seeme that he should rather haue sayd: either circumcision or vncircumcision auaileth somwhat, seeing these are two contrary things. But now he denieth that either the one or ye other do any thing auaile. As if he shuld haue said: Ye must mount vp higher: for circūcision and vncircūcision are things of no such importāce that they are able to obtaine righteousnes before God. True it is yt they are cōtrary ye one to ye other:1 but this is nothing as touching christian righteousnes, which is not earthly but heauēly, & therfore it cōsisteth not in corporal thīgs. Therfore, whether thou be circūcised or vncircūcised, it is al one thīg: for in Christ Iesu neither ye one nor the other auaileth any thing at all.
- 1Christian righteousness.Christiā righteousnes.
The Jews were greatly offended when they heard that circumcision