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
Wherefore most assuredly the Holy Trinity is here intended of God;
that in the one divine essence there are three divine Persons, the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; so that the Deity is not
separated here, even in this case of action or agency. For all three
Persons here concur and speak unitedly when they say, "Let us make."
For neither does the Father make any other man than the Son makes; nor
does the Son make any other man than the Holy Ghost makes. But the
Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, the one same God, are the one same
author of the one same work and are the one same creator.
Wherefore according to this scriptural argument and this holy
statement of the truth, the Deity or Godhead cannot be separated
objectively, as the object of divine worship, nor actively as the
creative agent. For the Father is not known, but in the Son through
the Holy Ghost. Hence as actively, so objectively, there is but one
adorable God; who nevertheless is in and within himself, substantially
or essentially Father, Son and Holy Spirit; three distinct persons in
one Godhead or Deity.
These divine testimonies of this book of Genesis ought to be dear and
delightful to us. For although both Jews and Turks deride us, because
we believe that there is one God, but three Persons in the Godhead,
yet unless they are prepared impudently to deny the authority of the
Scriptures, they must be compelled by the present text as well as by
the passages above cited to fall in with our doctrine. They may indeed
attempt to elude and avoid these testimonies, nevertheless the sting
of this passage still sticks fast in their hearts; they cannot get rid
of the divine expression "Let us make." They can assign no other
reason for it than we have here given. Nor can they otherwise explain
why Moses uses the plural noun ELOHIM. The reflections and natural
convictions arising from these divine expressions they cannot shut out
from their hearts and consciences, notwithstanding all the various
means which they adopt in order to do so. And if they deem it the
height of their wisdom to elude and get rid of these testimonies, do
they think that we are destitute of ability, and cannot find wisdom
enough to defend them? But the authority of the Scriptures on our side
is far mightier than all wisdom on theirs; especially since the New
Testament reveals the whole divine matter more clearly still. For
there the Son which is in the bosom of the Father teaches us all these
things with a clearness far surpassing all other testimony; whom not
to believe is the highest blasphemy and eternal death. Wherefore, bid
we farewell to all these blind corrupters of divine doctrines until we
meet them at the day of judgment!
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