A06492:230
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.
Vers. 15.16.17. But when it had pleased God (which had separated me from my mothers womb, and called me by his grace) to reveal his son in me, that I should preach him among the Gentiles, immediately I communicated not with flesh and blood. Neither came I again to Jerusalem to them which were Apostles before me, but I went into Arabia, and turned again unto Damascus.
Ʋers. 15.16.17. But vvhen it had pleased God (vvhich had separated me from my mothers vvombe, and called me by his grace) to reueale his sonne in me, that I should preach him among the Gentiles, immediately I communicated not vvith flesh and bloud. Neither came I againe to Ierusalem to them vvhich vvere Apostles before me, but I vvent into Arabia, and turned againe vnto Damascus.
This is the first journey of Paul. And here he witnesseth,1 that straight way, after he was called by the grace of God to preach Christ among the Gentiles, he went into Arabia without the advise of any man, to that work whereunto he was called. And this place witnesseth by whom he was taught, & by what means he came to the knowledge of the Gospel and to his Apostleship. When it pleased God (saith he.) ⟨image 43⟩As if he would say: I have not deserved it, because I was zealous for the law of God without judgement, nay rather this foolish and wicked zeal stirred me up, that God so permitting, I fell headlong into more abominable and outrageous sins. I persecuted the church of God, I was an enemy of Christ, I blasphemed his Gospel, and to conclude,2 I was the author of shedding much innocent blood. This was my desert. In the middest of this cruel rage I was called to so great & inestimable grace. What? was it because of this outrageous cruelty? No forsooth. But the abundant grace of God who calleth and showeth mercy to whom he will, pardoned and forgave me all these blasphemies: and for these my horrible sins (which then I thought to be perfect righteousness, & an acceptable service unto God) he gave unto me his grace,