Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1: Luther on the Creation

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Martin Luther. Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1: Luther on the Creation

SECOND INTRODUCTION

PREFACES AND DEDICATIONS

DEDICATION OF VEIT DIETRICH

DEDICATION OF BASIL FABER

PREFACE OF DR. JOHN GEORGE WALCH

FROM THE PREFACE BY DR. HENRY COLE

DR. MARTIN LUTHER TO THE CHRISTIAN READER

COMMENTARY ON GENESIS

CHAPTER I

I. INTRODUCTION

II. GOD'S WORK ON THE SIX DAYS IN PARTICULAR

PART I. GOD'S WORK ON THE FIRST DAY

PART II. GOD'S WORK ON THE SECOND DAY

PART III. GOD'S WORK ON THE THIRD DAY

PART IV. GOD'S WORK ON THE FOURTH DAY

PART V. GOD'S WORK ON THE FIFTH DAY

PART VI. GOD'S WORK ON THE SIXTH DAY

CHAPTER II

PART I. GOD'S REST, SANCTIFICATION OF THE SABBATH AND CREATION OF ADAM

PART II. PARADISE

PART III. THE INTRODUCTION OF MAN INTO THE GARDEN, THE COMMAND GOD GAVE HIM AND THE THREATENING GOD ATTACHED TO IT

PART IV. THE CREATION OF EVE

PART V. THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY

CHAPTER III

PART I. THE TEMPTATION TO FALL

PART II. THE AWFUL FALL BY SINNING

PART III. THE JUDGMENT GOD HELD WITH OUR FIRST PARENTS AFTER THEIR FALL AND THE ACCOUNT OF THEIR STEWARDSHIP HE REQUIRED FROM THEM

PART IV. THE SERPENT AND SATAN CURSED. THE FIRST PROMISE

PART V. THE PUNISHMENT INFLICTED ON OUR FIRST PARENTS

PART VI. NAME ADAM GAVE HIS WIFE. GOD REMINDS MAN OF THE FALL. THE CHERUBIM

CHAPTER IV

PART I. GENERATION, MARRIAGE, BIRTH AND EDUCATION OF CAIN AND ABEL

PART II. OFFERINGS IN GENERAL, OF OUR FIRST PARENTS, AND OF CAIN AND ABEL

PART III. CAIN'S CONDUCT UPON THE REJECTION OF HIS OFFERING AND HIS PUNISHMENT

PART IV. HOW CAIN MURDERED HIS BROTHER AND WAS REQUIRED TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT, AND HOW HE CONDUCTED HIMSELF

PART V. HOW CAIN WAS PUNISHED FOR HIS MURDER

PART VI. CAIN'S CONDUCT UPON BEING PUNISHED

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We certainly will be pardoned for issuing here and at this time the Prefaces: of Veit Dietrich, who published the first of these lectures in Latin; of Basil Faber, who was the first to translate parts from Latin into German; of Dr. Walch, who issued one of the best editions of Luther's complete works; and of Dr. Cole, who was the first to translate a small part from Latin into English. The words of these four men are a stronger appeal than we can write for the extensive circulation among English Protestants of this the last and the greatest of Luther's writings.

It is as Mathesius says: "Surely the last thoughts are the best when they at the time refer to the Word of God and spring from it. The sermons and books of aged men are worthy of consideration and preservation." Hence, Jerome Weller called this commentary Luther's Swan Song, and Morlin calls it the "Consummatum Est," "It Is Finished," of Luther.

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Averrois had other thoughts, more absurd and far more in agreeable to reason. For he advocated that each sphere was an intellect, or an intelligent nature. The occasion or cause of these foolish thoughts was that he saw the infallibly perfect and most regular motion of the heavenly bodies. Therefore he thought these spheres were intelligent substances, each setting itself in motion in a sure and continuous manner. But from this follows the greatest and worst ignorance of God; wherefore we repudiate the thoughts of Averrois. But the others, which we have mentioned, we approve in so far as they are useful to be taught. For indeed this knowledge of the motion of the heavenly bodies is most worthy of all praise, however little that knowledge may be.

Moses however proceeds with his narrative of the creation in all simplicity and plainness, as they say; making here three divisions: waters "above" the firmament, waters "under" the firmament, and "the firmament" in the middle. In the term heaven, Moses comprehends all that body which philosophers represent by their eight spheres, by fire and by air. For the sacred historian makes no mention of the flowing of the waters until the third day. And it is manifest that the air in which we live is called in the holy Scriptures the heaven; because the Scriptures speak of the "fowls of heaven," Job 28:21; Ps. 8:8. It also speaks of the heavens being shut when it does not rain, 1 Kings 8:35. And again it speaks of the heavens giving their dew, Zech. 8:12; all these things take place in the air, not in the spheres of the moon or of the other planets. This distinction of the spheres therefore is not Mosaic nor scriptural but is an invention of men as an aid to instruction on these astronomical subjects; and which ought not to be despised as such an assistance.

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