In the name of God, the first volume of the old Walch edition of Dr. Luther's works, well known and highly esteemed in the Lutheran Church, is hereby presented to the public in a renewed form and shape! The Pastoral Conference of the Western District of the Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states dealt in September 1879 with the question whether a new edition of the works of Luther by Dr. J. G. Walch would not be in the interest of our Synod. Reference was made to the twofold circumstance that the copies of the old edition are becoming increasingly rare, and that the Erlangen edition, which lacks the valuable, longer prefaces and the translations of the Latin writings, does not replace Walch's edition. Thus, the conference decided, in the name of the ministry of the Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other states, to procure a new, revised edition of Luther's works according to Dr. Joh. G. Walch, and determined that P. G. Stöckhardt, with the assistance of E. W. Kähler, should take over the editing.
After the Ministry of the Synod and the Directorate of the Synodal Printing Office had agreed to this project, the aforementioned went to work together and first tackled the revision of the first volume of this edition, containing the first part of the interpretation of the first book of Moses. In difficult cases, they sought the opinion of Doctor and Professor of Theology C. F. W. Walther, who was placed at their side by the conference as a counselor. The old translation with its comprehensible, popular language was to be essentially retained. Since, however, the most important thing in an edition of Luther's works is to capture the meaning and opinion of Luther himself as accurately as possible, the translation published by Walch was again compared with the Latin original. The following changes seemed to be necessary in such a revision. The incorrect and inaccurate versions have been corrected, incomprehensible expressions have been replaced by clearer ones, complex paraphrases have been shortened, superfluous additions, e.g., the passages preceding each chapter, have been removed.
The book has been edited for clarity and clarity, but supplementary remarks from the more recent Luther literature have been included, and from time to time explanatory notes have been added. Printing and layout will commend themselves to the readers. Above each page, the corresponding page number of the old Walch edition is noted under W. I, II etc., of the Erlangen Latin edition under E. I, II etc. The German of the old translation has been clarified according to the rules of the newer orthography. The rather laborious correction of the printed sheets was done by Mr. Christian Körner.
May this new edition of Luther's works stimulate and spur Lutheran Christians to diligently and eagerly listen to the voice of their teacher, the prophet of the last days.
listen! Just the interpretation of the first book of Moses contains, as is also noted in the prefaces, a short, clear summa of Luther's teaching, which is taken directly from God's Word. The double anniversary of this year, the 350th anniversary of the handing over of the Augsburg Confession, as well as the 300th anniversary of the first publication of the Book of Concord, has seriously reminded Lutheran Christianity to be faithful with the treasures handed down to it by the Fathers. Among these treasures are especially Luther's writings. By God's great grace, the unadulterated teachings of Luther, long forgotten and buried, have been made accessible anew to the Lutheran Church in North America. Let us prove our gratitude for this blessing of God also by researching and studying Luther's teachings from Luther himself - for the strengthening and fortification of our most holy faith!
St. Louis, on Reformation Day, 1880.