A06492:509
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.
Paul hath his peculiar phrase or kind of speech,1 which is not after the manner of men, but divine and heavenly: nor used of the Evangelists or of the rest of the Apostles, saving only of John, who also is wont sometimes so to speak. And if Paul had not first used this phrase and set forth the same unto us in plain words, the very Saints themselves durst not have used it. For it seemeth a very strange and a monstrous manner of speaking thus to say: I live, I live not: I am dead, I am not dead: I am a sinner, I am not a sinner: I have the law, I have not the law. Which phrase is sweet and comfortable to all those that believe in Christ. For in that they behold themselves,2 they have both the law and sin: but in that they look unto Christ, they are dead to the law and have no sin. If then in the matter of justification thou separate the person of Christ from thy person, then art thou in the law, thou abidest in the law, thou livest in the law and not in Christ, and so thou art condemned of the law and dead before God.3 For thou hast that faith which (as the Sophisters dream) is furnished with charity. Thus I speak for examples sake. For there was never any one found that was saved by this faith. And therefore what things soever the Sophisters have written touching this faith, are nothing else but vain toys and mere deceits of Satan. But let us grant that such there be as have this faith: yet are they not therefore justified. For they have but an historical Faith concerning Christ, which the Devil also and all the wicked have.
Paule hath his peculiar phrase or kind of speach,1 which is not after the maner of men, but diuine and heauenly: nor vsed of the Euangelistes or of the rest of the Apostles, sauing only of Iohn, who also is wont sometimes so to speake. And if Paule had not first vsed this phrase and set forth the same vnto vs in plaine words, the very Saincts thēselues durst not haue vsed it. For it seemeth a very straunge and a monstrous maner of speaking thus to say: I liue, I liue not: I am dead, I am not dead: I am a sinner, I am not a sinner: I haue the law, I haue not the law. Which phrase is sweete and comfortable to all those that beleue in Christ. For in that they behold themselues,