A06492:433
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.
If this be true (saith he) that we are justified by Christ, then is it unpossible that we should be sinners, or should be justified by the law. On the contrary, if this be not true,1 but that we must be justified by the law and the works of the law, it is then unpossible that we should be justified by Christ. One of these two must needs be false. Either we are not justified by Christ, or we are not justified by the law. But the truth is, that we are justified by Christ: therefore we are not justified by the law. He reasoneth therefore after this manner: If then while we seek to be made. &c. That is: If we seek to be justified by Christ, and so being justified we are yet found sinners, having need of the law to justify us being sinners: If we have need ⟨image 74⟩(I say) of the observation of the law to justify us, so that they which are righteous in Christ are not righteous, but have yet need of the law to justify them: Or if he that is justified by Christ must yet further be justified by the law, then is Christ nothing else but a lawgiver and a minister of sin. Therefore he that is justified and holy in Christ, is not justified or holy, but hath yet need of the righteousness and holiness of the law.
If this be true (sayth he) that we are iustified by Christ, then is it vnpossible that we should be sinners, or should be iustified by the lawe. On the contrary, if this be not true,1 but that we must be iustified by the lawe and the workes of the lawe, it is then vnpossible that we should be iustified by Christ. One of these two must needes be false. Either we are not iustified by Christ, or we are not iustified by the lawe. But the truth is, that we are iustified by Christ: therefore we are not iustified by the lawe. He reasoneth therefore after this maner: If then vvhile vve seeke to be made. &c. That is: If we seeke to be iustified by Christ, and so being iustified we are yet foūd sinners, hauing neede of the lawe to iustifie vs being sinners: If we haue neede ⟨image 74⟩(I say) of the obseruation of the lawe to iustifie vs, so that they which are righteous in Christ are not righteous, but haue yet neede of the lawe to iustifie them: Or if he that is iustified by Christ must yet further be iustified by the lawe, then is Christ nothing else but a lawgeuer and a minister of sinne. Therfore he that is iustified and holy in Christ, is not iustified or holy, but hath yet neede of the righteousnes and holines of the lawe.