A06492:694
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.
The Jews do not only lightly pass over, but also do deride and with their wicked glosses do corrupt these excellent and notable sentences: Abraham believed God &c. 1I have appointed thee a father &c, and such like, which highly commend faith & contain promises of spiritual things. For they are blind & hard hearted, and therefore they see not that these places do entreat of faith towards God, and of righteousness before God. With like malice also they dally out this notable place of the spiritual blessing:2 In thee all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. For (say they) to bless signifieth nothing else ⟨image 120⟩but to praise,3 to pray for prosperity, and to be glorious in the sight of the world. After this manner they say, that the Jew which is borne of the seed of Abraham, is blessed: and the proselyte or stranger which worshipeth the God of the Jews and joineth himself unto them, is also blessed. Therefore they think that Blessing is nothing else but praise and glory in this world, that is to say, that a man may glory and vaunt that he is of the stock and family of Abraham. But this is to corrupt and pervert the sentences of the scriptures, and not to expound them. By these words: Abraham believed, Paul defineth and setteth before our eyes a spiritual Abraham, faithful, righteous, and having the promise of God: an Abraham (I say) which is not in error, and in the old flesh: which is not borne of Adam, but of the holy Ghost. And of this Abraham renewed by faith and regenerate by the holy Ghost, speaketh the scripture, and pronounceth of him, that he should be a father of many nations: Also, that all the Gentiles should be given unto him for an inheritance, when it saith: In thee shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.