Luther s Works: The American Edition, published by Concordia and Fortress Press between 1955 and 1986, comprises fifty-five volumes. These are a selection representing only about a third of Luther s works in the Latin and German of the standard Weimar Edition, not including the German Bible. Just as St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians has been called the Magna Carta of Christian freedom, so the Lectures on Galatians delivered by Martin Luther in 1531 and published for the first time in 1535 have been hailed as the great Reformer's Magna Carta of Christian liberty. In Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners John Bunyan (1628-88), who was languishing in jail, told how a long time before this "the God, in whose hands are all days and ways, did cast into my hand, one day, a book of Martin Luther; it was his comment on the Galatians...this, methinks, I must let fall before all men, I do prefer this book of Martin Luther upon the Galatians, excepting the Holy Bible, before all books that ever I have seen, as most fit for a wounded conscience." Luther treasured St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians. Luther's Lectures on the Galatians, like Paul's letters, contain many distinctively autobiographical statements. In more than one respect these two men of God were kindred spirits. Both inveighed sharply and vigorously against their adversaries, but they also never lost sight of the Christian love that permeates the words of those who bring God's message of salvation to their fellow men.
Luther's Works, Vol. 26
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
You will find few clearer presentations of Luther's "salvation by grace through faith" than this commentary on the Apostle Paul's epistle to the churches in Galatia. This, in my opinion, is one of the greatest things written by Martin Luther -- scholar, pastor and reformer of the faith. First given as Lectures in 1535, Luther's exploration of Galatians rings as true and powerful today, 470 years later. Faith (trust in God's promise) is for Paul and Luther, the way in which we receive God's righteousness ("passive righteousness" which is a gift, according to Luther, as opposed to "active righteousness" which we strive to achieve, but never accomplish. pg. 4).
The struggle to trust in God's promise alone is as fresh today as it was in Luther's day, or even Paul's day, for that matter. In our rational, scientific, and material age, trusting in the "free lunch" of the gospel seems suspect. To rational people, it seems too easy. But for Luther, this was precisely the point, "By my reason I cannot understand or declare for certain that I am accepted into grace for the sake of Christ, but I hear this announced through the Gospel and take hold of it by faith." (pg. 239)
Luther does not always read well in our modern era. He is a bit verbose and can ramble a bit (although in these lectures I feel he is much more to the point than in other of his writings). Be that as it may, it is well worth the read. You will find gems on these pages that are worth the little digging it takes to find them. This is a Christian classic, which I highly recommend.
The struggle to trust in God's promise alone is as fresh today as it was in Luther's day, or even Paul's day, for that matter. In our rational, scientific, and material age, trusting in the "free lunch" of the gospel seems suspect. To rational people, it seems too easy. But for Luther, this was precisely the point, "By my reason I cannot understand or declare for certain that I am accepted into grace for the sake of Christ, but I hear this announced through the Gospel and take hold of it by faith." (pg. 239)
Luther does not always read well in our modern era. He is a bit verbose and can ramble a bit (although in these lectures I feel he is much more to the point than in other of his writings). Be that as it may, it is well worth the read. You will find gems on these pages that are worth the little digging it takes to find them. This is a Christian classic, which I highly recommend.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is, in my estimation, the greatest non-canonical book ever written.
Luther expounds Paul's epistle to the Galatians with an insight, power and depth of emotion which is sorely lacking in modern commentaries. He is not concerned with the various potential interpretations of "problematic passages" that fill the pages of other commentaries. From the very first page Luther cuts to the heart of the epistle-the doctrine of justification-in the way that only he can. His bold words and plain-sense interpretations result in a work filled with much of the same force and passion that characterized the epistle itself. The grace of God and the love of Jesus Christ cling to every word like the scent of a precious perfume. I cannot recommend this work highly enough.
This is the very essence of the gospel as understood by the one who "rediscovered" the doctrines of faith and grace as he teaches us from the words of the one to whom God first revealed those doctrines. If you are looking for an up-to-date critical commentary or a greek-focused exegetical work then you will not find it here, but if you would hear a plain declaration of the power and wisdom of God then you will not find a better treatise apart from the Bible.
This volume contains Luther's full commentary on the first four chapters of the epistle (most single-volume works are abridged). Chapters five and six, unfortunately, are found in a seperate volume and the bulk of that volume is taken up with an earlier commentary on the same epistle which, honestly, is barely worth the paper it's printed on. At best it can show you how radically different the twice-born, Spirit-led exegete is from the once-born, reason-led scholar.
Luther expounds Paul's epistle to the Galatians with an insight, power and depth of emotion which is sorely lacking in modern commentaries. He is not concerned with the various potential interpretations of "problematic passages" that fill the pages of other commentaries. From the very first page Luther cuts to the heart of the epistle-the doctrine of justification-in the way that only he can. His bold words and plain-sense interpretations result in a work filled with much of the same force and passion that characterized the epistle itself. The grace of God and the love of Jesus Christ cling to every word like the scent of a precious perfume. I cannot recommend this work highly enough.
This is the very essence of the gospel as understood by the one who "rediscovered" the doctrines of faith and grace as he teaches us from the words of the one to whom God first revealed those doctrines. If you are looking for an up-to-date critical commentary or a greek-focused exegetical work then you will not find it here, but if you would hear a plain declaration of the power and wisdom of God then you will not find a better treatise apart from the Bible.
This volume contains Luther's full commentary on the first four chapters of the epistle (most single-volume works are abridged). Chapters five and six, unfortunately, are found in a seperate volume and the bulk of that volume is taken up with an earlier commentary on the same epistle which, honestly, is barely worth the paper it's printed on. At best it can show you how radically different the twice-born, Spirit-led exegete is from the once-born, reason-led scholar.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you can only buy one commentary on Galatians then buy Luther. I know that T. George may have a more up to date commentary in terms of academic trends (and that is a great commentary), yet when it comes to getting to the spirit of Paul's letter to the Galatian Churches or indeed to the depth of the Gospel Luther is without equal. Buy this book you will not regret it.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Aunt Jenny
Format:Hardcover
The heart of Christian doctrine, justification by grace, is expounded in Galatians and Luther is at his best. The book has much underlining and many comments in the margins which was disappointing.
