Lectures on Genesis: Chapters 31-37

Luther's Works #6

by Martin Luther

Thoroughly researched and faithfully translated, the Luther's Works series consists of Martin Luther's Bible commentaries, sermons, prefaces, postils, disputations, letters, theology, and polemics, translated and published in English for the first time. In Luther's Works, Volume 6 (Lectures on Genesis Chapters 31-37), the subject is the mature child of God in the school of adversity.

Genres: Religion, Reference

438 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1969

About the author

Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a German monk, theologian, university professor and church reformer whose ideas inspired the Protestant Reformation and changed the course of Western civilization.

Luther's theology challenged the authority of the papacy by holding that the Bible is the only infallible source of religious authority and that all baptized Christians under Jesus are a spiritual priesthood. According to Luther, salvation was a free gift of God, received only by true repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, a faith given by God and unmediated by the church.

Luther's confrontation with Charles V at the Diet of Worms over freedom of conscience in 1521 and his refusal to submit to the authority of the Emperor resulted in his being declared an outlaw of the state as he had been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. Because of the perceived unity of the medieval Church with the secular rulers of western Europe, the widespread acceptance of Luther's doctrines and popular vindication of his thinking on individual liberties were both phenomenal and unprecedented.

His translation of the Bible into the vernacular, making it more accessible to ordinary people, had a tremendous political impact on the church and on German culture. It furthered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the translation of the English King James Bible. His hymns inspired the development of congregational singing within Christianity. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage within Protestantism.

Much scholarly debate has concentrated on Luther's writings about the Jews. His statements that Jews' homes should be destroyed, their synagogues burned, money confiscated and liberty curtailed were revived and used in propaganda by the Nazis in 1933–45. As a result of this and his revolutionary theological views, his legacy remains controversial.

Reviews

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read, as I continue my journey through Luther's Works :)

Whilst in the previous volume, I noted that I found Luther had a tendency to be too generous towards the Patriarchs. I realise that some of this was in reaction to what others had said about them. Whilst this tendency does continue somewhat with Jacob and with Joseph, it certainly is not present when it comes to dealing with the Fathers of the other Tribes - especially Simeon and Levi! So far Judah has been treated, in my opinion, quite justly by Luther - and I thought that maybe as an Ancestor of Jesus, that maybe he would argue more in his defence. I look forward to Luther's take on Judah and Tamar in the next volume.

Also, as Luther continues to argue against an Allegorical approach he stills see Church Life (or at least Temple Practices) taking place in the lives of the Patriarchs - and I think he borders on getting allegorical himself - well at least that it is how it comes over 500 years later ;-) Luther is not attempting to be allegorical, rather he sees this (I think) as an insight he has discovered about the Patriarchs. That they really did enact the roles of Priest and Preacher. Who knows as we have very little info...

Anyway, I am still impressed how inspiring I can find his words and I know some of the credit goes to the good English translation!

Now onto Volume 7 :)