Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1: Luther on the CreationLuther, Martin
ReligionChristian
Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1: Luther on the Creation
Luther, Martin
Bible. Genesis -- Commentaries
This brief clause therefore shows us the awfulness of the evil which
has come upon us, as the consequence of the sin of ... [text not
printed] ... would be considered a proof of utter insanity. That very
state of body therefore which was in Adam and Eve their highest glory,
would be in us, should we be seen in that state, our deepest shame. It
was the very glory of man and would have continued to be so, had he
remained in his original innocency, that while all the other animals
had need of hairs, feathers, scales, etc., to cover their
unsightliness, man alone was created with that dignity and beauty of
body, that he could appear uncovered, in the glory of his created
nakedness. But all this glory is lost. We are now compelled not only
for necessary protection, but for the sake of avoiding the deepest
turpitude, to cover our bodies with more study and care than any other
animals of God's creation. For they all come into the world covered by
nature.
After this manner therefore does this second chapter of the book of
Genesis more clearly and fully describe the creative work of the sixth
day. In what manner man was created by the wonderful counsel of God.
In what manner the garden of Eden was formed, in which man might have
lived in the highest possible pleasure. In what manner, by means of
the prohibition of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the
external worship of the future church was instituted by divine
authority. By what external worship and in which place, had the
prohibition of the tree of knowledge not been violated by Adam and
Eve, they would have testified their obedience to God, had they not
been deceived and drawn aside by the snares of Satan.
Some suppose that Adam with his Eve passed the night of the sixth day
in paradise until the following seventh day, the Sabbath. And what
occurred on the Sabbath day, the following chapter will inform us.
CHAPTER III.
PART I. THE TEMPTATION TO FALL.
V. 1a. _Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field
which Jehovah God had made._
In the preceding chapter, we were taught the manner in which man was
created on the sixth day; that he was created in the image and after
the likeness of God, that his will was good and perfect, and that his
reason or intellect was also perfect, so that whatsoever God willed or
said, that man also willed, believed and understood. And this
knowledge was necessarily accompanied by the knowledge of all other
creatures, etc. For wherever the perfect knowledge of God is, there
must also be, of necessity, the perfect knowledge of other things,
which are inferior to God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account