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Luther’s Interpretation of St Paul

In 1515, Luther began preaching on St Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Studying these biblical texts for the first time, he was astounded by Paul’s words: ‘He who through faith is righteous shall live’ (Romans 1:17) and ‘For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God’ and ‘Not of works lest any man boast’ (Ephesians 2:8–9). Luther interpreted these passages to mean that although God should be feared, man can also take succour in God’s love and mercy.

Luther also awakened to a realization that salvation and faith were given freely by the grace of God and not earned by good works. From this personal epiphany came Luther’s doctrines of salvation by faith and grace alone. His constant confessions seemed no longer necessary, for he now believed that confession and good works did not determine whether or not a man is saved. St Paul’s message of God’s love made the Roman Catholic Church’s papal bulls and indulgences seem irrelevant to Luther as avenues for salvation. He also recalled his 1510 journey to Rome, where he had observed a corrupt and arrogant Church which bore little resemblance to the true religion he felt he had discovered through St Paul’s epistles.