Luther’s Works, Volume 25
Overview
When Luther was prevailed upon to write a preface to the projected complete edition of his Latin writings in 1545, about a year before his death, he took the opportunity to review the high points of his career—to show that he really never had the time and talent to produce literature worth preserving, that in publishing these works he was now merely yielding to his friends’ argument that his works would be published in any case, if not with his cooperation, then possibly by men who had no real understanding of them. That was one thing. But in that preface Luther also implored the reader of his Latin writings “for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself to read those things judiciously, yes, with great commiseration”. With Luther’s lectures on the Epistle to the Romans he had a splendid opportunity to share with his students the great find of his life, “that place in Paul which was for me truly the gate of Paradise.”
Top Highlights
“God does not want to redeem us through our own, but through external, righteousness and wisdom; not through one that comes from us and grows in us, but through one that comes to us from the outside; not through one that originates here on earth, but through one that comes from heaven. Therefore, we must be taught a righteousness that comes completely from the outside and is foreign. And therefore our own righteousness that is born in us must first be plucked up.” (Volume 25, Page 136)
“This life, then, is a life of being healed from sin, it is not a life of sinlessness, with the cure completed and perfect health attained. The church is the inn and the infirmary for those who are sick and in need of being made well. But heaven is the palace of the healthy and the righteous.” (Volume 25, Pages 262–263)
“The chief purpose of this letter is to break down, to pluck up, and to destroy all wisdom and righteousness of the flesh. This includes all the works which in the eyes of people or even in our own eyes may be great works. No matter whether these works are done with a sincere heart and mind, this letter is to affirm and state and magnify1 sin, no matter how much someone insists that it does not exist, or that it was believed not to exist.” (Volume 25, Page 135)
“Therefore I am at the same time a sinner and a righteous man, for I do evil and I hate the evil which I do.” (Volume 25, Page 63)
“for he dies to sin who determines that he will never again for all eternity desire to sin.” (Volume 25, Page 50)
- Title: Luther’s Works, Volume 25
- Authors: Martin Luther, Jaroslav Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald, Helmut T. Lehmann
- Series: Luther’s Works
- Publisher: Concordia Publishing House
- Print Publication Date: 1972
- Logos Release Date: 2001
- Era: era:reformation
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Theology › Early works to 1800; Lutheran Church; Bible › Criticism, interpretation, etc.--History; Bible. N.T. Romans › Commentaries
- Resource ID: LLS:42.110.125
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-03-06T18:09:50Z