Writings

God’s Word cannot be present without God’s people, and God’s people cannot be without God’s Word.

The Church cannot be without bishops, pastors, preachers, priests; on the other hand, they cannot be without the Church; both must be together.

In this section of the treatise, Luther develops the notion of the joyful exchange and describes how in Christ all Christians are kings and priests.

It ought to be a matter of great honor and satisfaction for you to see your son an angel in the empire and an apostle… Read More »A Sermon on Keeping Children in School, 2 of 2

The holy, Christian Church is outwardly known by the holy possession of the Holy Cross. Thus it becomes like its head, Christ.

In 1517, Luther was deeply concerned with the widespread understanding and practice of indulgences, but he was still not quite clear what indulgences and their… Read More »Ninety-Five Theses (1517)

These outward, free things we should regard as the baptismal shirt or cloth in which a child is wrapped for baptism. The child is not… Read More »On the Councils and the Church, 4 of 4

We do not have to ask about the literal Latin or how we are to speak German. Rather we must ask the mother in the… Read More »An Open Letter on Translating, 1 of 2

“Dear Dr. Luther, how is it that you emphasize the Ten Commandments so much, though your teaching is that they are to be discarded?”

Ah, translating is not every one’s skill as some mad saints think. A right, devout, honest, sincere, God-fearing Christian, trained, educated, and experienced heart is… Read More »An Open Letter on Translating, 2 of 2