A06492:374
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. 15. We which are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles.
Verse. 15. VVe vvhich are Ievves by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles.
That is to say: we are borne unto the righteousness of the law, to Moses, and to circumcision, and even in our birth we bring the law with us. We have the righteousness of the law by nature, as Paul before saith of him self in the first chapter:1 Being zealous of the traditions of the fathers. Wherefore if we be compared to the Gentiles, we are no sinners: we are not without the law & without works as the Gentiles:2 but we are Jews borne, we are borne righteous & brought up in righteousness. Our righteousness beginneth even with our birth, for the Jewish religion is natural unto us.3 For God commanded Abraham to circumcise every man child the eight day. This law of circumcision received from the fathers, Moses afterward confirmed. It is a great matter therefore that we are Jews by nature. Notwithstanding, although we have this prerogative, that we are righteous by nature, borne to the law and the works thereof, and are not sinners as the Gentiles, yet are we not therefore righteous before God.
That is to say: we are borne vnto the righteousnes of the lawe, to Moses, and to circumcision, and euē in our birth we bring the law with vs. We haue the righteousnes of the law by nature, as Paule before sayth of him selfe in the first chapter:1 Being zelous of the traditions of the fathers. Wherefore if we be compared to the Gentiles, we are no sinners: we are not without the law & without works as the Gentiles:2