A06492:556
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.
1He rebuketh the Galatians very sharply (as it seemeth) when he calleth them fools, bewitched, and disobedient to the truth. Now, whether he did this of zeal or compassion, I will not here contend: both may be true. A carnal man would interpret this to be a reviling rather then a godly reprehension. Did Paul then give an evil example, or was he spiteful against the churches of Galatia because he called them foolish and bewitched? No, not so. For with a Christian zeal it is lawful for an Apostle, pastor, or preacher sharply to reprove the people committed to his charge:2 and such reprovings are both fatherly & godly. So parents, of a fatherly and motherly affection, do sharply reprove and rebuke their children: which they would not bear if an other should do it. The Schoolmaster sometimes is angry with his scholar: he rebuketh him and beateth him with rods: all which he taketh in good part and would not bear it at the hands of his equal. The magistrate likewise is angry: he reproveth and punisheth such as are under his charge. And this discipline is not only good, but also very necessary:3 without the which nothing can be well done. Wherefore unless the magistrate, the minister, the father and mother be angry and use to reprove or rebuke when case requireth, he is unprofitable, and never shall discharge his office rightly.
1He rebuketh the Galathians very sharply (as it seemeth) when he calleth them fooles, bewitched, and disobedient to the truth. Now, whether he did this of zeale or compassion, I will not here contend: both may be true. A carnall man would interprete this to be a reuiling rather then a godly reprehension. Did Paule then geue an euill example, or was he spitefull against the churches of Galatia because he called them foolish and bewitched? No, not so. For with a Christian zeale it is lawfull for an Apostle, pastour, or preacher sharply to reproue the people committed to his charge:2 and such reprouings are both fatherly & godly. So parents, of a fatherly and motherly affection, do sharply reproue and rebuke their children: which they would not beare if an other should doe it. The Scholemaster sometimes is angry with his scholler: he rebuketh him and beateth him with roddes: all which he taketh in good parte and would not beare it at the handes of his equall. The magistrate likewise is angry: he reproueth and punisheth such as are vnder his charge. And this discipline is not onely good, but also very necessary: