Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1: Luther on the CreationLuther, Martin
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Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1: Luther on the Creation
Luther, Martin
Bible. Genesis -- Commentaries
This penal threat also thus expressly added proves that it was a law,
not an admonition, that was given to Adam. And it moreover shows that
Adam was created in a state of innocence and righteousness. For as yet
there was no sin in existence because God did not create sin. If Adam
therefore had obeyed this command he would never have died, for death
entered into the world by sin. All the rest of the trees of paradise
therefore were created to the end that they might aid and preserve
unto man his animal life, sound and whole, and without the least evil
or inconvenience.
Now it naturally appears wonderful to us at this day, that there
should have been an animal life without any death and without any
evils or accidental causes of death, which now abound, such as
diseases, boils and fetid redundancies, in bodies, etc., etc. The
reason is that no part of the body in the state of innocency was foul
or impure. There was no unpleasantness in the evacuations or
secretions. There were no impurities whatever. Everything was most
beautiful and delightful. There was no offense to any of the organs or
senses. And yet the life was an animal life. Adam ate, digested,
performed the functions of, and managed and regulated, his body. And
had he continued in his innocence he would have done all these and
other things the animal life does and requires, until he had been
translated to the spiritual and eternal life.
For this deathless translation also we have lost by sin. And now,
between this present and a future life, there exists that awful medium
passage, death. That passage, in the state of innocence, would have
been most delightful; and by it Adam would have been translated to the
spiritual life, or as Christ calls it in the Gospel, the life "as the
angels in heaven," Math. 12:25; in which state all animal actions
cease. For in the resurrection we shall neither eat nor drink nor are
given in marriage. So with respect to Adam, all animality would have
ceased and a spiritual life in glory would have followed; even as we
also believe it will be with us "in the resurrection" through Christ.
So also Adam would have put off his childhood glory of innocence, if I
may so term his natural life of innocency, and would have put on his
heavenly glory. He would have done with all inferior actions, which
however, in that childhood glory of innocency, would have been pure
and unattended with that sorrow which mars all things since the fall;
and would have been translated from his infantine glory of created
innocence, to that manhood of glorious innocence, which angels enjoy;
and which we also who believe shall enjoy in the life to come.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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