A06492:434
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.
But we are in deed justified and made righteous in Christ: For the truth of the Gospel teacheth us that a man is not justified in the law, but in Christ. Now, if they which are justified in Christ are yet found sinners, that is, do yet still belong to the law, and are under the law (as the false Apostles teach) then are they not yet justified. For the law accuseth them, and showeth them to be yet sinners: It requireth of them the works of the law as necessary to their justification, and so it followeth that Christ is not a justifier, but a minister of the law.
But we are in deede iustified and made righteous in Christ: For the truth of the Gospell teacheth vs that a man is not iustified in the lawe, but in Christ. Nowe, if they which are iustified in Christ are yet found sinners, that is, doe yet still belong to the lawe, and are vnder the lawe (as the false Apostles teach) then are they not yet iustified. For the lawe accuseth them, and sheweth them to be yet sinners: It requireth of them the workes of the lawe as necessary to their iustification, and so it foloweth that Christ is not a iustifier, but a minister of the lawe.
With these words he vehemently chargeth the false Apostles and all Merit-mongers,1 that they pervert altogether: for they make of the law grace and of grace the law, of Moses Christ and of Christ Moses. For they teach that besides Christ and all the righteousness of Christ, the observation of the law is necessary to justification. And thus we see that by their intolerable perverseness they make the law Christ: for by this means they attribute that to the law, which properly belongeth unto Christ. If thou do the works of the law (say they) thou shalt be saved: but if thou do them not, thou shalt not be justified although thou do believe in Christ never so much. Now, if it be so that Christ justifieth not, but is the minister of sin (as it must needs follow by their doctrine) then is Christ the law: for we have nothing else of him, seeing he teacheth that we are sinners, then that we have by the law. So Christ being the minister of sin, sendeth us to the law and to Moses, as to our justifier.