Luther’s Works, Volume 18
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Luther’s lectures on the minor prophets are hardly minor. In fact, they are so prolific as to require three volumes. The first, Hosea-Malachi, is compiled from the so-called Altenburg manuscript, and complemented with a Zwicjau manuscript and a Wittenburg manuscript. These pieces put together present a complete set of commentaries on these minor prophets. These lectures occupied Luther’s lecture time at the university for about two years, March 1524 to early spring 1526. At this time Luther was decried the source of all problems concerning the Reformation movement. But as responsibilities, anxieties, enmities, and threats increased, Luther’s confidence in the message of Scripture also rose to meet every test. These lectures reflect the crucible in Luther’s life during their deliverance. Just as these lectures give insight into these minor prophets, so do they reveal the life of this lecturer at this defining moment in the Reformation movement.
Top Highlights
“So also here: ‘The Lord has taken away the judgments against you.’ That is, ‘He does not want you to rebuke yourself anymore. He does not want you to hate yourself anymore. Rather He loves you like a beloved daughter. You now have a God who is a very gentle Father and no longer a Judge who wants to terrify your conscience with the Law.’ This is what the prophet calls ‘judgments,’ that is, the wrath of God threatened through the Law. That, he says, the Lord has taken away.” (Volume 18, Page 359)
“This, however, is the custom of God Almighty, that He takes His faithful to hell before He brings them back. Finally, however, after condemning and terrifying them, He brings them back and comforts them.” (Volume 18, Page 98)
“Christ is not merely the Purifier but also the purifying Agent. He is not only the Blacksmith but also the Fire; not only the Cleaner but also the Soap. He does not sit indolently at the right hand of His Father. Rather He is always working among us vitally, effectively, and uninterruptedly as He is spread abroad over His mystical body, as fire is applied to metal. So He is elsewhere called Salvation, and not just Savior. That is, He is Salvation itself and the Laboratory of salvation. This is what Christians sense. They have less affection for wealth; they are less afraid of death; they disregard everything secular. The power to do this is the ‘fire’ and the ‘soap.’” (Volume 18, Pages 410–411)
“For thus it happens for the righteous that He allows them to be attacked, to be molested in various ways, and to be troubled by many evils, so that they be conformed to their King. Yet He adds that feeling of joy, that security of heart, so that all things may become sweeter, so that nothing can separate them from the love of God, Rom. 8:39.” (Volume 18, Page 361)
- Title: Luther’s Works, Volume 18
- Authors: Helmut T. Lehmann, Martin Luther, Hilton C. Oswald, Jaroslav Pelikan
- Series: Luther’s Works
- Publisher: Concordia Publishing House
- Print Publication Date: 1975
- Logos Release Date: 2001
- Era: era:reformation
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible › Criticism, interpretation, etc.--History; Bible. O.T. Amos › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Habakkuk › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Haggai › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Hosea › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Joel › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Jonah › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Malachi › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Micah › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Nahum › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Obadiah › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Zechariah › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Zephaniah › Commentaries; Lutheran Church; Theology › Early works to 1800
- Resource ID: LLS:42.110.118
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-10-07T22:15:59Z