Luther and the Bible > Epistle of Paul to the Galatians
The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians: a Commentary by M. Luther, Augustinian
Martin Luther (1483-1546)
Leipzig: Melchior Lotter, 1519
Burke Tower 03-B1864
Luther famously preferred some portions of the Bible to others. Among his favored sections were the New Testament epistles of St. Paul, whose teachings on “justification by faith” were a central, organizing theme for Luther’s theology and the lens through which he interpreted the whole Bible. Rather than something earned by good behavior or holy exertions, St. Paul wrote of salvation as an unwarranted gift from God that could only be gratefully received through faith. St. Paul’s letter contains extensive argument about the tension between “law” (which Luther interpreted to mean anything undertaken in an attempt achieve favor or standing with God on one’s own) and “faith” (trust in God’s unearned promise to save despite the impossibility of anyone deserving it).