A06492:483
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.
Thus have we always most certain and sure arguments, which necessarily conclude that justification cometh by faith alone.1 For how should the law and works avail to justification, seeing that Paul is so earnest both against the law and works, and sayeth plainly that we must be dead to the law, if we will live to God. But if we be dead to the law, and the law be dead to us, then hath it nothing to do with us. How then should it avail any thing at all to our justification? Wherefore we must needs say, that we be justified by grace alone, or by faith alone in Christ, without the law and works.
Thus haue we alwayes most certaine and sure arguments, which necessarily conclude that iustification cometh by faith alone.1 For how should the lawe and workes auaile to iustification, seeing that Paule is so earnest both against the lawe and workes, and sayeth plainely that we must be dead to the lawe, if we will liue to God. But if we be dead to the lawe, and the lawe be dead to vs, then hath it nothing to doe with vs. How then should it auaile any thing at all to our iustification? Wherefore we must needes say, that we be iustified by grace alone, or by faith alone in Christ, without the lawe and workes.
- 1The law maketh us not righteous, but faith only.The lavve maketh vs not righteous, but faith onely.
This the blind Sophisters do not understand, and therefore they dream that Faith justifieth not except it do the works of charity. By this means Faith which believeth in Christ becometh unprofitable and of none effect: for the virtue of justifying is taken from it except it be furnished with charity. But let us now set apart the law and charity until an other time, & let us rest only upon the point of this present matter: which is this,1