Commentary on the Epistle to the GalatiansLuther, Martin
ReligionChristian
Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians
Luther, Martin
Bible. Galatians -- Commentaries
True Christian theology does not inquire into the nature of God, but
into God’s purpose and will in Christ, whom God incorporated in our
flesh to live and to die for our sins. There is nothing more dangerous
than to speculate about the incomprehensible power, wisdom, and majesty
of God when the conscience is in turmoil over sin. To do so is to lose
God altogether because God becomes intolerable when we seek to measure
and to comprehend His infinite majesty.
We are to seek God as Paul tells us in I Corinthians 1:23, 24: “We
preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto
the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and
Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” Begin with
Christ. He came down to earth, lived among men, suffered, was crucified,
and then He died, standing clearly before us, so that our hearts and
eyes may fasten upon Him. Thus we shall be kept from climbing into
heaven in a curious and futile search after the nature of God.
If you ask how God may be found, who justifies sinners, know that there
is no other God besides this man Christ Jesus. Embrace Him, and forget
about the nature of God. But these fanatics who exclude our Mediator in
their dealings with God, do not believe me. Did not Christ Himself
say: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me”? Without Christ there is no access to the Father, but
futile rambling; no truth, but hypocrisy; no life, but eternal death.
When you argue about the nature of God apart from the question of
justification, you may be as profound as you like. But when you deal
with conscience and with righteousness over against the law, sin, death,
and the devil, you must close your mind to all inquiries into the nature
of God, and concentrate upon Jesus Christ, who says, “Come unto me,
all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Doing
this, you will recognize the power, and majesty condescending to your
condition according to Paul’s statement to the Colossians, “In Christ
are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” and, “In him
dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Paul in wishing grace
and peace not alone from God the Father, but also from Jesus Christ,
wants to warn us against the curious incursions into the nature of
God. We are to hear Christ, who has been appointed by the Father as our
divine Teacher.
Christ is God by Nature
At the same time, Paul confirms our creed, “that Christ is very God.” We
need such frequent confirmation of our faith, for Satan will not fail
to attack it. He hates our faith. He knows that it is the victory which
overcometh him and the world. That Christ is very God is apparent in
that Paul ascribes to Him divine powers equally with the Father, as for
instance, the power to dispense grace and peace. This Jesus could not do
unless He were God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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