StL7a: A. L. Graebner reviews StL vol. 9, Luther's Galatians

      This continues from Part 6c (Table of Contents in Part 1) in a series on the St. Louis Edition (StL) of Luther's complete writings in English. — This begins a sub-series (#7) on Prof. A. L. Graebner's 1893 promotional announcement of the new volume 9 from publisher Concordia.  I was concerned that Graebner's writing would not reflect the greatness of Walther's promotions, but I was joyfully surprised, even if the writing was shorter than most of Walther's.

(From Der Lutheraner, vol. 49 p. 188 (No. 11, Nov. 21, 1893) [EN]:

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A new volume of Luther's works.

Dr. Martin Luther's Complete Writings. Ninth volume. Interpretation of the New Testament. Conclusion. Luther's larger interpretation of the Epistle to the Galatians and the other exegetical writings. Newly published by order of the Ministry of the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, etc., St. Louis, Concordia Publishing House. 1893. price $3.75.

  

Among all the volumes hitherto published of the new edition, organized at great expense by our Synod, of the writings of the greatest writer since the time of the apostles, there is none, except the two first volumes containing Luther's exposition of the first book of Moses, which to the same extent as this one, which has just been completed in print, deserves to be in constant use, be it in the study room of the preacher, be it in all Christian houses, to be read, reread, read again, studied diligently and persistently, to be locked in the heart with joy as a priceless treasure. For this volume contains, first of all, and in an excellent translation that more closely follows Luther's Latin words and has been prepared for this edition, Luther's precious larger exposition of Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, then Luther's sermon on Eph. 6:10-17, Luther's interpretations of individual parts of the first letter to Timothy, his interpretation of the passage of Tit. 2, 13, his interpretation of the first epistle of St. Peter in the first and second editions of the first epistle to the Galatians, and Luther's interpretation of the first epistle to the Galatians. Petri in the first and second editions, together with five sermons on parts of this letter, his interpretations of the second epistle of Peter, his interpretations of the first letter of St. John and individual parts of it, his interpretation of the epistle of St. Jude, as well as finally “interpretations of many beautiful sayings of holy scripture, which Luther wrote to some in their Bibles”, and “short notes, which Luther wrote with his own hand in his copy of the New Testament”.

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In the concluding Part 7b, Prof. Graebner provides a stirring description of Luther's Galatians commentary that rivals the writings of Walther.

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      Of course Prof. Graebner could not comment on Prof. Jaroslav Pelikan's 1963 CPH American Edition, volumes 26 and 27, "Lectures on Galatians".  It is supremely ironic that Pelikan should be the editor and translator of this magisterial work of Luther, yet then not only leave the LC-MS, but also the Lutheran Church for Greek Orthodoxy, a church which tragically errs on the Doctrine of Justification, the theme of Luther's writing. Now it is my pleasure to present the translation of the St. Louis Edition of the same work of Luther so that one does not have to meet with Pelikan on this, but can read Luther from those who believed that what Luther taught was Scriptural. I will now read Old Missouri's faithful translation from the original Latin, now translated into English. What then of Pelikan's CPH translation?… it is only for reference.

      CPH may be commended for including in their blurb on Vol. 26 the testimony of the English author John Bunyan: "In Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners John Bunyan (1628-88), who was languishing in jail, spoke of 

'the God, in whose hands are all days and ways, did cast into my hand, one day, a book of Martin Luther; it was his comment on the Galatians…this, methinks, I must let fall before all men, I do prefer this book of Martin Luther upon the Galatians, excepting the Holy Bible, before all books that ever I have seen, as most fit for a wounded conscience.'"

     What follows the break below is an embedded Archive viewer of the St. Louis Edition, vol. 9, starting at Luther's Foreword. The next Part 7b will provide bookmarks for the major divisions.