A06492:677
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.
So then Paul reasoneth against the Jews which stood so proudly upon this opinion, that they were the children of Abraham, saying: We are the seed of Abraham. Well, what then?1 Abraham was circumcised & kept the law: we do the same. All this I grant. What? will ye therefore look to be justified and saved? No not so. But let us come to the Patriarch Abraham himself, and let us see by what means he was justified and saved. Doubtless,2 not for his excellent virtues and holy works: not because he forsook his country, kindred, and fathers house: not because he was circumcised, and observed the law: not because he was about to offer up in sacrifice at the commandment of God, his son Isaac in whom he had the promise of posterity: but because he believed. Therefore he was not justified by any ⟨image 117⟩other means then by faith alone. If ye then will be justified by the law, much more ought Abraham your father to be justified by the law. But Abraham could not otherwise be justified, nor receive forgiveness of sins and the holy Ghost then by faith alone. Since this is true by the testimony of the scripture, why stand ye so much upon circumcision and the law, contending that ye have righteousness and salvation thereby, when as your father Abraham him self, even your headspring, of whom ye do so much glory, was justified and saved without these by faith alone? What can be brought against this argument?
So then Paule reasoneth against the Iewes which stoode so proudly vpon this opinion, that they were the children of Abraham, saying: VVe are the seede of Abraham. Well, what then?1 Abraham was circumcised & kept the lawe: we doe the same. All this I graunt. What? will ye therefore looke to be iustified and saued? No not so. But let vs come to the Patriarke Abraham himselfe, and let vs see by what meanes he was iustified and saued. Doutles,2 not for his excellent vertues and holy workes: not because he forsooke his countrey, kinred, and fathers house: not because he was circumcised, and obserued the lawe: not because he was about to offer vp in sacrifice at the commaundement of God, his sonne Isacke in whom he had the promise of posteritie: but because he beleued. Therfore he was not iustified by any