A06492:749
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.
1Wherefore in reading of the Scriptures we must learn to put a difference between the true and the hypocritical, the moral and the spiritual Doing of the law. So shall we be able to declare the true meaning of all those places which seem to maintain the righteousness of works. Now, the true Doing of the law is a faithful and a spiritual Doing, which he hath not that seeketh righteousness by works. Therefore every Doer of the law and every holy moral worker is accursed. For he walketh in the presumption of his own righteousness against God, whiles he will be justified by mans free will & reason, & so in doing of the law he doth it not. And this, according to Paul, is to be under the works of the law, that is to say, that hypocrites do the law, and yet in doing it,2 they do it not: for they understand this word Doing according to the literal sense of the law, which in true Christian divinity is nothing worth. In deed they work many things, but in the presumption of their own righteousness, and without the knowledge of God and faith, as the Pharisee did Luke. 18. and as Paul did before his conversion: therefore they are blind and miserably err, and so remain under the Curse.
1Wherfore in reading of the Scriptures we must learn to put a difference betwene the true and the hypocriticall, the morall and the spiritual Doing of the law. So shall we be able to declare the true meaning of all those places which seeme to maintaine the righteousnes of works. Now, the true Doing of the law is a faithfull and a spirituall Doing, which he hath not that seeketh righteousnes by works. Therfore euery Doer of the law and euery holy morall worker is accursed. For he walketh in the presumption of his owne righteousnes against God, whiles he wil be iustified by mans free wil & reason, & so in doing of the law he doth it not. And this, according to Paule, is to be vnder ye workes of the law, that is to say, that hypocrites do the law, and yet in doing it,2 they do it not: for they vnderstād this word Doing according to the literal sense of ye law, which in true Christian diuinitie is nothing worth. In deede they worke many things, but in ye presumptiō of their owne righteousnes, and without the knowledge of God and faith, as ye Pharise did