Works of Martin Luther, with Introductions and Notes (Volume I)Luther, Martin
ReligionChristian
Works of Martin Luther, with Introductions and Notes (Volume I)
Luther, Martin
Lutheran Church -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 16th century -- Early works to 1800
But Luther can be properly known and estimated only when he is
allowed to speak for himself. He should be seen not through the
eyes of others, but through our own. In order to judge the man
we must know all sides of the man, and read the heaviest as well
as the lightest of his works, the more scientific and theological
as well as the more practical and popular, his informal letters
as well as his formal treatises. We must take account of the time
of each writing and the circumstances under which it was
composed, of the adversaries against whom he was contending, and
of the progress which he made in his opinions as time went on.
The great fund of primary sources which the historical methods of
the last generation have made available should also be laid under
contribution to shed light upon his statements and his attitude
toward the various questions involved in his life-struggles.
As long as a writer can be read only in the language or languages
in which he wrote, this necessary closer contact with his
personality can be enjoyed only by a very limited circle of
advanced scholars. But many of these will be grateful for a
translation into their vernacular for more rapid reading, from
which they may turn to the standard text when a question of more
minute criticism is at stake. Even advanced students appreciate
accurately rendered and scholarly annotated translations, by
which the range of the leaders of human thought, with whom it is
possible for them to be occupied, may be greatly enlarged. Such
series of translations as those comprised in the well-edited
Ante-Nicene, Nicene and Post-Nicene Libraries of the Fathers have
served a most excellent purpose.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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