StL10b: Polemics strengthen the weak; Lord's chosen armor

      This continues from Part 10a (Table of Contents in Part 1) in a series on the St. Louis Edition (StL) of Luther's complete writings in English. —  Walther explains why Luther's polemics are so great.  While his sermons, catechetics, and expositions are indispensable for new readers, yet his polemics can address issues for which these readers may be weak in faith. 

(From Der Lutheraner, vol. 46 p. 205 (No. 26, Dec. 16, 1890) [EN] (underlining follows Guenther's emphasis):

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[Review by Martin Guenther; concluded from Part 10a]

Dogmatic - polemical writings.

B. Against the Sacramentarians and other zealots,

as well as against the Jews and Turks.

     [Walther's quote continued]:

Luther's polemical writings make the one who already believes the truths he defends with all his heart rejoice, they strengthen the weak in faith, they make the hitherto doubtful certain, they give full light to the hitherto ignorant of the matter and to the one who out of weakness is caught in error, and they crush the willfully resisting opponent of truth. … The longer one reads these writings and immerses oneself in them, the more undoubted it becomes that here it is not a man who fights against flesh and blood, but that the Lord Himself, through His chosen armor, fights against the prince of darkness, who has deceived poor people into being his instruments. … In addition, like all the writings of this true Reformer, they have the peculiarity of being instructive and attractive to the most simple as well as to the most learned; even the most mischievous sophistries of the opponents are clearly laid before their eyes in all their nakedness, and even the deepest doctrines of divine revelation are presented, substantiated and developed in the brightest and clearest manner.” L. u. W. III, 43 f.

Other important writings contained in this volume could be referred to; among the controversial writings against the Jews we only want to mention the writing against the Sabbaths as important for us here in America, where some want to have keep Sunday as a Jewish Sabbath.

Prof. Hoppe has also taken care in the publication of this volume to provide a correct text; he has added valuable explanations, corrected incorrect time determinations and newly translated some things from Latin. The "Introduction to Luther's controversial writings" etc. is a thorough work and the "Index of some rare or obsolete words in Luther's writings" a most valuable addition.

May this new volume be widely distributed and not only purchased, but also diligently read and studied. Price: $5.00. G. [Martin Guenther]

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      The 3 volumes of Luther's polemics  (18, 19, 20) were the first volumes that I tackled to digitize and translate because Luther's polemics so clearly defended the true Christian faith.  And he stood on the Rock, that is Christ and His Word. — Guenther's short writing only briefly mentions Luther's writings against the Jews, a disappointment for me as I wanted to hear his judgment on this "hot topic" for today. — In the next Part 10c, we add a short review by Franz Pieper from Lehre und Wehre.