Luther’s Works, Volume 43
Overview
These are not devotional writings in the sense of being edifying discourses or daily meditations for the cultivation of general spiritual sensitivity. Rather they are concrete expressions of evangelical faith and piety written by Luther the Pastor to deal with specific and burning life situations. In a very real sense they are “letters of spiritual counsel.” The contents of this volume cover the years between 1522 (the year after the Diet of Worms) and 1545 (the year before Luther’s death).
Top Highlights
“From what has been said we derive this guidance: We must pray against every form of evil and guard against it to the best of our ability in order not to act contrary to God, as was previously explained. If it be God’s will that evil come upon us and destroy us, none of our precautions will help us.” (Volume 43, Page 125)
“Those who are engaged in a spiritual ministry such as preachers and pastors must likewise remain steadfast before the peril of death.4 We have a plain command from Christ, ‘A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep but the hireling sees the wolf coming and flees’ [John 10:11]. For when people are dying, they most need a spiritual ministry which strengthens and comforts their consciences by word and sacrament and in faith overcomes death. However, where enough preachers are available in one locality and they agree to encourage the other clergy to leave in order not to expose themselves needlessly to danger, I do not consider such conduct sinful because spiritual services are provided for and because they would have been ready and willing to stay if it had been necessary.” (Volume 43, Page 121)
“In this open letter to Hess, Luther declares that the Christian pastor, like a good shepherd and not a hireling, is commanded by Christ to stay despite danger of death because he is needed by his flock for comfort and strength in the hour of death. Similarly, city officials and all who are bound by responsibilities to their neighbors are not free to flee.” (Volume 43, Pages 116–117)
“Thus the commandments teach man to recognize his sickness, enabling him to perceive what he must do or refrain from doing, consent to or refuse, and so he will recognize himself to be a sinful and wicked person. The Creed will teach and show him where to find the medicine—grace—which will help him to become devout and keep the commandments. The Creed points him to God and his mercy, given and made plain to him in Christ. Finally, the Lord’s Prayer teaches all this, namely, through the fulfilment of God’s commandments everything will be given him. In these three are the essentials of the entire Bible.” (Volume 43, Page 14)
- Title: Luther’s Works, Volume 43
- Authors: Martin Luther, Jaroslav Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald, Helmut T. Lehmann
- Series: Luther’s Works
- Publisher: Fortress Press
- Print Publication Date: 1968
- Logos Release Date: 2001
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible › Criticism, interpretation, etc.--History; Lutheran Church; Theology › Early works to 1800
- Resource ID: LLS:42.110.143
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-02-11T15:35:14Z
Reviews
1 rating
Glenn Crouch
10/26/2020
This is the second volume that collects Luther’s devotional writings, this time from 1522 to 1545. The highlight for me, in this time of pandemic was his “Whether One May Flee from a Deadly Plague”. I also enjoyed re-reading “A Simple Way to Pray”, and was surprised (and pleased) to see included a short piece that Luther had written for “Women who have had a Miscarriage”. There is quite a variety in this collection - including items like his Prayer Book, which give insight into the development of his Small Catechism. Well worth the read! Now onto Volume 44!