An Open Letter on Translating

Martin Luther · 1530-09-15 primary

passage 8 of 13 · (8/8)

in brief

Luther argues sola must stand in Romans 3 because Paul teaches justification by faith alone without works, supports the doctrine with Abraham’s example, and adds that saints’ intercession under the papacy is unscriptural and idolatrous.

German quite closely, does not show much reverence for Christ due to the Jews who shared in the translation. Aside from that it shows plenty of skill and craftsmanship there.

So much for translating and the nature of language. However, I was not depending upon or following the nature of language when I inserted the word "solum" (alone) in Rom. 3 as the text itself, and St. Paul's meaning, urgently necessitated and demanded it. He is dealing with the main point of Christian doctrine in this passage--namely that we are justified by faith in Christ without any works of the Law. In fact, he rejects all works so completely as to say that the works of the Law, though it is God's law and word, do not aid us in justification. Using Abraham as an example, he argues that Abraham was so justified without works that even the highest work, which had been commanded by God, over and above all others, namely circumcision, did not aid him in justification. Instead, Abraham was justified without circumcision and without any works, but by faith, as he says in

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topics: counsel and advisers to rulers · justice as a virtue · rights and liberties · sin, guilt, and repentance

An Open Letter on Translating · Martin Luther · 1530