Reformed Dogmatika Classics | Martin Luther
Preface to Galatians
Luther’s compact guide to Paul’s defense of justification by faith and the works of love that follow
This short preface isn’t Luther’s massive commentary on Galatians. It is a map of the epistle itself: in a few paragraphs Luther identifies Paul’s opponents, the divine source of the apostolic gospel, justification apart from works, and the life of love that follows faith.
Historical Background
Luther lectured on Galatians again and again, and his printed commentaries on the epistle carried the doctrine of justification across Europe. Philip Schaff records how close this letter stood to him:
Luther always had a special preference for this anti-Judaic Epistle and called it his sweetheart or his wife.
Philip SchaffHistory of the Christian Church, volume 7, §27
Confessional Orientation
The Reformed confessions preserve this order carefully. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 60 through 64 exclude every work from our righteousness before God while denying that true faith can remain fruitless. The Westminster Confession of Faith (11.1) likewise rests justification on Christ alone received by faith, while WCF 16.2 calls good works the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith.
Signature passages, the lines readers know this work by, are set in a pale wash.
Luther’s Preface to Galatians
The Galatians had been brought by St. Paul from the law to the true Christian faith and the Gospel; but after his departure, false apostles came, who were disciples of the true apostles, and turned the Galatians about again, so that they believed that they had to be saved by the works of the Law and that they committed sin if they did not keep the Law, as even some high persons in Jerusalem pretended (Acts 15:1).
To refute them, St. Paul magnifies his office and will not have himself considered less than another apostle and glories in the fact that his doctrine and office are from God alone. He does this to stop the boasting of the false apostles, who supported themselves with the works and names of the true apostles. He says, it is not true, even though an angel, or even he himself were to preach it, to say nothing of disciples of apostles, or of apostles themselves.
This he does in chapters 1 and 2, and concludes that everyone must be justified without merit, without works, without law, but only through Christ.
In chapters 3 and 4, he defends all this with passages of Scripture and illustrations and parables, and shows that the law brings sin and a curse, rather than righteousness, which is promised by God out of pure grace, and is fulfilled through Christ without the law, and given to us.
In chapters 5 and 6, he teaches the works of love that ought to follow faith.
Text and Editorial Note
Martin Luther, “Preface to the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Galatians,” translated by Charles M. Jacobs in Works of Martin Luther, with Introductions and Notes, volume 6 (Philadelphia: A. J. Holman Company and the Castle Press, 1932). The volume’s 1932 copyright was not renewed, and the translation is in the public domain in the United States. Jacobs prints the preface in its 1522 form.
Luther’s words are reproduced as a historical primary source and have been verified against page scans of the 1932 printing. Reformed Dogmatika’s introductions, headings, confessional orientation, and design are editorial additions. In the 1932 printing Luther’s Scripture references stand in the text as Roman numeral chapter references, with precise chapter and verse references in the page margins; this edition prints those references inline in Arabic numerals with the marginal precision. Nothing else has been modernized. The historical assessments quoted from Philip Schaff are verbatim from his History of the Christian Church, volume 7 (1888), which is in the public domain.
Continue Reading
- Martin Luther: A Reformed Reader’s GuideThe complete RD guide to Luther’s life, writings, and legacy.
- The Heidelberg DisputationLuther’s 1518 case for the theology of the cross.
- The Ninety-Five ThesesThe 1517 theses that set the Reformation in motion.
