To follow up a recent blog post of the 1879 announcement of the forthcoming St. Louis Edition, or “Walch 2” in Der Lutheraner, a year later, in 1880, Walther had the great pleasure of announcing the fruition of his dream, an American Edition of Luther's Works. The later translation into English currently sold by CPH, the so-called "American Edition", is a version containing many unorthodox comments by the editors, yet claims higher scholarship. And although the newer American Edition may contain portions not available in the Old Missouri's German language “St. Louis Edition”, it woefully lacks many works, including many wonderful letters of Luther. However, CPH may be commended for now working on their “New Series” to fill in the missing materials. — Now let us hear Walther's words of promotion for this great edition, the other American Edition. Translation from Der Lutheraner, vol. 36 (1880), p. 176:Dr. Martin Luther's Sämmtliche Schriften, edited by Dr. Joh. Georg Walch. Volume 1. The first part of the exposition of the first book of Moses. New revised stereotype edition. St. Louis, Mo. “Concordia Lutheran Publishing House.” (M. C. Barthel, Agent.) 1880.
The Lord has done great things for us; let us rejoice! The first volume of the new edition of Walch's famous edition of Luther's complete works in German, which was announced just a year ago, is now ready for dispatch. In a time like ours, in which the once so mighty building of the Lutheran Church presents the picture of a devastated city (Is. 1:8), a new edition of Luther's works in such a magnificent form as Walch's seemed to be an almost foolish, because impossible, undertaking. And behold! The Lord has helped that so many subscriptions have already been made in order to confidently begin the so costly work in His, the Lord's, name. Certainly, we are right to call this something “great”, and all the more so because we cannot doubt that, after the first volume has been able to “appear” in the present jubilee year of our dear Luther Church, with God's help, all the other volumes will also appear little by little; for whoever has once tasted of this food, will certainly ask for more. Reserving a discussion of the importance and great value of Luther's writings for one of the next numbers of this journal, in the present number we only share the "Preface" to the new edition, in which the dear Editor describes it in more detail as follows:
"In Lord's name, the first volume of the old Walch edition of Dr. Luther's works, well known and highly esteemed in the Lutheran Church, is hereby presented to the public in a new form and shape! The Pastoral Conference of the Western District of the Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states dealt in September 1879 with the question whether a new edition of the works of Luther by Dr. J. G. Walch would not be in the interest of our Synod. Reference was made to the twofold circumstance that the copies of the old edition [Walch 1] are becoming increasingly rare, and that the Erlangen edition, which lacks the valuable, longer prefaces and the translations of the Latin writings, does not replace Walch's edition.
“Thus the conference decided, "in the name" of the Ministry of the Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, "to procure" a new, revised edition of Luther's works according to Dr. Joh. G. Walch, and predestined that Pastor G. Stoeckhardt, with the assistance of E. W. Kaehler, should take over the editing.
“After the ministry of the synod and the directorate of the synod's printing office had declared themselves in agreement with this plan, the aforementioned went to work together and first tackled the revision of the first volume of the edition, containing the first part of the exposition of the first book of Moses. In difficult cases, they sought the opinion of Doctor and Professor of Theology C. F. W. Walther, who had been placed at their side by the conference as a counselor. The old translation with its comprehensible, vernacular language was to be retained in essence. However, since an edition of Luther's works is mainly concerned with capturing the meaning and opinion of Luther himself as accurately as possible, the translation published by Walch was again compared with the “Latin” original. The following changes seemed to be necessary in such a revision. The incorrect and inaccurate versions have been corrected, incomprehensible expressions have been replaced by clearer ones, complex paraphrases have been shortened, superfluous additions, e.g. the tables of contents preceding each chapter, which only classify the known biblical text, as well as some notes in the preface, which can hardly be appreciated from an antiquarian point of view, have been omitted for the sake of clarity and comprehensibility. Printing and layout will recommend themselves to the readers. Above each page, the corresponding page number of the old Walch edition is noted under W. I, II 2c., of the Erlangen Latin edition under L. I, II 2c. The German of the old translation has been clarified according to the rules of the newer orthography. The rather laborious correction of the printed sheets was done by Mr. Christian Körner.
May this new edition of Luther's works stimulate and encourage Lutheran Christians to listen diligently and eagerly to the voice of their teacher, the prophet of the “last” days! Just the exposition of the first book of Moses contains, as is also noted in the prefaces, a short, clear summary of Luther's doctrine, which is taken directly from God's Word. The double anniversary of this year, the 350th anniversary of the handing over of the Augsburg Confession, as well as the 300th anniversary of the first publication of the Book of Concord, has seriously reminded Lutheran Christianity to be faithful with the treasures handed down to it by the Fathers. Among these treasures are especially Luther's writings. By God's great grace, the unadulterated doctrines of Luther, long forgotten and buried, have been made accessible anew to the Lutheran Church of North America. Let us prove our gratitude for this blessing of God also by researching and studying Luther's doctrine from Luther himself - for the strengthening and fortification of our most holy faith! St. Louis, on the Feast of the Reformation 1880. The Editors.”
We would like to add that the layout is excellent in every respect, and to the delight of our Synod, it may be a new proof that those who are active in our “Concordia-Verlags”-establishment not only understand, but also compete with each other with love for the cause, to make the so valuable printed works from this establishment worthy of it.
This first volume, which contains, in addition to the prefaces, the first half of the great, incomparable exposition of the first book of Moses [Genesis], comprises XVIX and 1765 columns or 907 pages in large quarto format. The price of this volume is set at $3.50 (postage not included). From this extremely low price, not only will every reader see that this enterprise is not aimed at the acquisition of money, but only at the dissemination of the salutary doctrines, may many be encouraged by this opportunity to acquire a priceless treasure for so little, not to shy away from the small expenditure. W. [Walther]”
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