StL9a: Guenther, v. 18; ML Polemics – first rank (Der Lutheraner 1888)

      This continues from Part 8* (Table of Contents in Part 1) in a series on the St. Louis Edition (StL) of Luther's complete writings in English. — This 3-part sub-series presents Prof. Martin Guenther's review of  StL Volume 18, the first of the 3 volumes of "Dogmatic-Polemical Writings." His excerpt from editor Prof. Stoeckhardt's "Foreword" is well worth a read for its power. Then we add Pieper's insightful review of the same volume in Part 9c. 

(From Der Lutheraner, vol. 44 p. 185-186 (No. 24, Nov. 20, 1888) [EN] (all underlining and bolding follows Guenther's emphasis):

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Dr. Martin Luther's

Reformation Writings.

Second part.

Dogmatic-Polemical Writings.

A. Against the Papists.

St. Louis, Mo.-Luth Concordia Publishers. 1888.

To all our dear readers the pleasant news that another volume of our new Luther edition has appeared. It is the eighteenth volume of Walch's edition and contains Luther's controversial writings against the papists from the years 1516-1525; namely, 1. those against the semipelagian school theologians, 2. against Tetzel, 3. against Prierias, 4. against Dungersheim, 5. against Eck, 6. Against the theologians at Cologne, Louvain, and Paris, 7. Against Alveld, 8. Against Latomus, 9. Against Emser, 10. Against the Minorites at Jüterbock, 11. Against Ambrosius Catharinus, 12. Against Erasmus; among the latter, the well-known and famous reply to Erasmus, “That Free Will is Nothing.” [or “The Bondage of the Will”]

 

“Luther's controversial writings,” it says in the Foreword [by editor Prof. Georg Stöckhardt], “are truly not of subordinate importance among Luther's writings, but rank among those of the first rank. As high and incomparable as Luther stands as a preacher, as a catechist, as an exegete, he is first and foremost the Reformer of the Church. And especially his polemical writings are a testimony and monument to the great work and struggle of the Reformation. If you first carefully read through the writings of Luther contained in this volume one after the other, it will probably take some effort to work your way through the jumble of papist lies, posts, and foolishness that Luther had to deal with. But this effort is amply rewarded when he now sees how the light shines out of the darkness, how the bright glow of the Gospel drives away the old night, and when he then follows step by step the course, progress and victory of divine truth, up to that climax, when the sun stands in the bright noon, when Luther testifies to Erasmus the gospel of the free grace of God with a joy of faith and certainty of victory, such as is seldom found, and calls out as with the voice of a herald into the Pharisaic world.”

 

Although many moderns hold Luther's controversial writings in low esteem, we count them precisely among the most glorious treasures that God has given to the church. As Luther was the greatest teacher of the church after the Apostles, who led it back to apostolic purity, so he was also the bravest fighter for the honor of God, the fighter who should beat the Antichrist. Some are offended by the harsh words he used in his pamphlets. But what would have become of the Reformation if Luther had acted so mildly, so leniently against the Pope and his worshippers, as newer people do and demand? No Reformation would have come about. The papacy would still be there today unweakened, it would have increased in power. Luther had to speak so harshly, so crudely, had to treat the papacy with scorn and derision, if it was to be fought in truth and if the fight was not to be a mere air-raid. Only in this way could Luther free the poor, deceived, enchanted people from the bonds of the Pope. Luther saw before his eyes how the Pope and his servants despised God's Word and hardened themselves against the truth, how they robbed Christ, the one mediator, of His honor, how they seduced the poor souls with their lies and persecuted and killed the witnesses of the truth. Should he not rather speak harshly to the hardened enemies in holy anger, in ardent zeal for God's honor, in fervent love for the deceived souls? 

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When I first read the extended quote above, I thought it was from book reviewer Guenther, but the narrative pointed to an even more excellent writer.  I then discovered it was from the StL book editor George Stoeckhardt and so I had another reason to rank Stoeckhardt quite highly among the teachers of the Old Missouri Synod. Many people are offended by Luther’s harsh words. But Luther is battling for them, that they see the errors in doctrine for what they are: poison. — In the next Part 9b are quotes from Luther to demonstrate that he, and no one else, was the "Reformer of the Church."