Luc. 9, 28-36.
And it came to pass after these sayings, about eight days, that he took Peter, John, and Jacob, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the form of his countenance was changed, and his raiment became white and shining. And, behold, two men talked with him, which were Moses and Elias. They appeared in clarity and spoke of the end which he was to fulfill in Jerusalem. Peter and those with him were asleep. When they awoke, they saw his clarity and the two men standing with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto JESUS, Master, here is good: let us make thee three tabernacles, and Most one, and Elias one. And knew not what he spake. And as he spake these things, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they were afraid, because the cloud covered them. And there fell a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son; him shall ye hear. And when such a voice came, they found JEsum alone. And they kept silence, and told no man any thing in those days which they had seen.
Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Trinity, for the sake of the article that in our Christian faith we believe and confess three persons of divine majesty, of equal omnipotence, power and eternity,
*) Held publicly in the parish church, 1538.
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Mainz foundation holds today the Gospel of Nicodemo. The Brandenburg Monastery here holds this Gospel of the Transfiguration of Christ on Mount Thabor. But we are not bound to it. We would like to
Take the Gospel of Matthew 3, of the revelation that took place at the baptism of Christ at the Jordan, which gospel is most appropriate for this feast, since one is to preach about the article that there is one, eternal God, and yet three distinct persons of the one, eternal divine being.
2. at the Jordan the persons appeared more differently. Because the figures, in which the persons reveal themselves, are further from each other. The Father appears in the voice and speaks from heaven of his Son. The Son appears in humanity and is baptized by John in the Jordan. The Holy Spirit appears in the form of a dove and hovers over Christ. There every person has its own and peculiar form and image finely different. And thus three distinct persons of divine essence are clearly indicated, that the Father is a distinct person from the Son and the Holy Spirit; and the Son is a distinct person from the Father and the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit is a distinct person from the Father and the Son. And yet the Father is not without the Son and the Holy Spirit. Item, that neither Father nor Holy Spirit, but the Son became man.
(3) On Mount Thabor, the figures in which the persons are revealed are not so far apart, but the difference between the three persons is also clearly indicated. The Father reveals himself in voice, and speaks from the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son; him shall ye hear." The Son reveals Himself in glorious form and clear face, shining like the sun. The Holy Spirit reveals Himself in a light cloud, overshadowing the disciples and pouring faith into them. These are also three figures and images, in which the difference of the three persons is shown, although the figures are not so far from each other as there. The Father speaks from the cloud not of Himself but of the Son; therefore the Father is another distinct person from the Son. And it is the Son of whom the Father speaks, and he is seen in a clear form; therefore the Son is another distinct person from the Father. And the Holy Spirit
comes in a light cloud and overshadows the disciples; therefore the Holy Spirit is a different, distinct person from the Father and the Son. And yet all three persons are one, eternal, almighty God.
4 We confess these things in our Christian faith; we should also believe and confess them according to the revealed gospel. Before Christ's future and birth, this article was not as clear and evident in the Old Testament as it is in the New Testament after Christ's future. For God tolerated and carried the Jewish people as a mother carries her child in her womb. The patriarchs and prophets understood this article well; but the common people remained simple-minded in the faith of the one God. Just as among us the silly, simple-minded people remain that there is one, eternal, almighty God, and cannot grasp the difference of the three persons in the one Godhead as actually as the scholars.
(5) But the true faith in the New Testament is that we Christians publicly preach and confess that the three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are one, eternal God; item, that the Son became man, suffered and died for our sin, and rose again for our righteousness; item, that the Holy Spirit is sent from the Father and Son, who sustains us in Word and Sacrament, comforts us, strengthens us, forgives sin, raises us from the dead, and leads us to eternal life. This is the true Christian faith, and apart from this faith there is no more true faith on earth.
(6) And this faith has certain outward testimonies and proofs that it is the true united faith. The first external testimony is that no faith on earth, be it what it may, has existed as long as this faith. Adam and all the fathers from the beginning of the world had this faith, and all the blessed will have this faith until the end of the world.
The other external proof is that no faith on earth has performed such miraculous signs as this faith. If you read the histories of the Old and New Testaments, you will find how great miracles were performed.
signs and deeds the saints have done through this faith. In the Old Testament, the holy fathers and prophets performed miracles upon miracles through this faith, even raising the dead; as we read of Elijah and Elisha. Abraham had only three hundred and eighteen servants born in his house, yet he struck with them and put down four mighty and powerful kings. So this faith has always rumbled and rumbled in the world, even in the Old Testament, and has done great deeds, as the epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 11, tells many such examples. In the New Testament, what miraculous signs Christ and the apostles did! How easy it was for them to make the blind see, the deaf hear, the lepers clean, the lame walk, and to raise the dead! What deeds have believers done after Christ and after the apostles! As Christ proclaimed before, Marci 16, 17. 18.: "The signs which shall follow them that believe are these: In my name they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall cast out serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; on the sick they shall lay their hands, and it shall be better with them." No faith on earth has ever done such deeds. Therefore, there is a certain outward indication and proof that this faith is true. The other faiths in the world have not been able to perform such miraculous signs, even though they have tried; just as the sorcerers in Egypt could not perform all the signs that Moses did.
(8) No faith on earth has fought and contended so valiantly against all opposition and persecution as the Christian faith. The Turk, the Pope, the Roman, Greek and Persian empires have opposed this faith with all their might and power, but they have won nothing. They may have killed many Christians and thought they would destroy and exterminate them all, but this faith has prevailed against all, even though it was the only one and the others all challenged it. The Turk is content with the faith of the Jews, but he wants to eradicate the Christian faith, even if it is true,
that one should attack the Christian faith, then Turks and Jews become one, as Pilate and Herod became one over Christ. Other faiths fall to the ground, even if they remain unchallenged; but the Christian faith is challenged by all and still endures. Especially the Pope has attacked the Christian faith with innumerable sects; as we still see today: because the Christian faith is shining at this last time, the papists are using all their power to dampen the gospel and to eradicate the Christian faith. But what happens? The Christian faith is on top and triumphant; the pope with his cults and sects perishes. All the cults and sects suffer and get along with each other, and all become one to fight against the Christian faith; but they accomplish nothing, except that they weaken themselves and strengthen the Christian faith. The Turk is powerful and strong, has great money and goods, but it does not help: the Christian faith remains.
(9) The third outward proof is that there has been no faith from the beginning of the world that has so certainly proclaimed and prophesied what is to come as the Christian faith. The Christian faith has certain prophecies about how it and other faiths in the world will fare when it and other faiths in the world come to an end, namely: that other faiths will perish; but the Christian faith will last until the last day, when teaching, preaching, and faith will be seen. The Turk cannot know from his Alcoran how long his faith will stand and how the Turks will finally fare. But the Christian faith and holy scripture prophesies of the beginning and end of Mahomet; as can be seen in the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel. And St. Paul prophesies of the beginning and end of Pabst, and says, 2 Thess. 2, that in the Church of God the end-Christ will rise up for God; but Christ will overthrow him with the spirit of his mouth and with the appearance of his future. He will attack him, he says, not with his fist, but with his mouth and with his word, and he will break him with the appearance of his future.
(10) Therefore no other faith can be the true faith, except that which was from the beginning and came to us through the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, bishops and teachers who followed in the footsteps of the apostles. The same faith has existed and remained; will also exist and remain until the last day. Even though the devil and his followers have opposed it with all their might, power, wisdom and art, and even today there is no end to the mobs and sects that all aim against this faith: nevertheless, this faith has remained and will remain until the end of the world. We have quenched the sacramentalists and the Anabaptists a little; but the devil will not fail to stir up other tempests, but he shall not succeed. He may persecute us; but our faith goes through fresh, like a fine strong chariot through a great water. The mud may cling to the chariot and the muck to the wheels, but the chariot goes through and cannot be hindered. . So it is with the Christian faith also: all the filth and stink of the devil clings to it; as Christ and the apostles proclaimed that there would be many troubles; but the Christian faith passes through and stands firm.
11 The Turk cannot say this about his Alcoran and Mahometan faith; indeed, he himself confesses that the Mahometan faith will exist only until a new prophet comes who will establish a new faith. But he rages against the Christian faith and thinks he wants to eradicate it. So he thinks: Mahomet has the whole world in his hands; what can the poor little group that adheres to Jesus Christ do? But the Christian faith is not defeated, but conquers and wins, although the Turk makes many martyrs. If the Christian faith were a human, lying thing, it would have perished long ago, as other faiths in the world have perished. Pabst's and Mahomet's faith has now stood for a long time; but at last it endures and does not last. The Christian faith, however, will remain until the end of the world. If it were not the right faith, it should have fallen just as well as the faith of the heathen. Gentile faith
together with their idols, Jupiter, Diana etc., have fallen. Even if the Turk falls or is converted, no new faith will come, but the old faith will remain, which has been from the beginning, and still is and will be until the end.
12. Now these are external indications and proofs that our faith is the right faith, namely: First, the length of time, that this faith has been from the beginning of the world and will be until the end of the world; second, the power, that this faith triumphs over all temptation, and the divine power and authority are shown in this faith, even against the gates of hell; third, the prophecy, that this faith tells beforehand what is to come, and the prophecies rhyme well with the stories and certainly come to pass. No other faith has these three things, neither the Christian faith alone. Therefore it is certainly and truly the true one faith.
(13) Therefore, we must hold to the true old faith that in the eternal Godhead there are three distinct persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the highest and first article in the Christian faith, in which the others all hang. We call it the article of the Holy Divine Trinity. But "Trinity" is a rather wicked German; for in the Godhead is the highest unity. Some call it "Trinity"; but this is all too mocking. Augustine also complains that he has no convenient word. For I cannot say, as there are three men or three angels, that there are also three Gods; but I must say that there is one eternal God. There is indeed a third in the Godhead; but the same third are persons of the one Godhead: not three Gods, not three Lords, not three Creators; but One God, One Lord, One Creator, or as we say: It is one divine being, and yet are three different persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I call it a Third. For Trinity is just as expensive, and I can not give it a proper name.
14. to preach about this today, as our Christian faith requires us to confess that God, who created the heavens and the earth
The Son, and not the Father, nor the Holy Spirit, became man; and that the Holy Spirit writes these things in the hearts of men through faith; but that the Son and the Holy Spirit are the same eternal God who is the Father. Whoever worships the Son does not worship a foreign God, and whoever calls upon the Holy Spirit does not call upon a foreign God. In sum, whichever person of the Godhead one calls, one has called the right, true God.
(15) In the Old Testament, this article is also well used, as the Scriptures show that Moses and the prophets understood it well. But it is not so clearly stated as in the New Testament. For God led and nurtured the Jewish people as a mother nurtures her child by the teat. But in the New Testament, now that the Gospel is revealed, this article does not go darkly nor hidden, but with pictures and words publicly; as Christ taught that one should baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This is what we always do in Christianity, so that this article may remain firm, namely: that there is one eternal God, and yet three different persons of the one eternal divine being, and that the Son became man, and that the Holy Spirit pours faith into the hearts of men. He who believes, then, is a Christian and a child of God, who lets Jews, Turks, and the Reds, yes, his own heart and reason, be pushed and annoyed by it, and remains firm in the word that teaches us to believe.
16 Thus this gospel teaches us. The Father speaks from the cloud and talks about His Son; the Son stands there with a clear face, in a white shining garment, and prays; the Holy Spirit appears in the form of a light cloud. There are indicated three different persons. For he that speaketh out of the cloud is another than he of whom he speaketh; and he that appeareth in the cloud of light is another than he that speaketh, and he that is spoken of. He who speaks is the Father, and He of whom He speaks is
the Son, who stands and prays; and he who appears in the light cloud is the Holy Spirit. Therefore the Father is separated from the Son, and the Son from the Father, and the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son according to person; yet the Father is no other God than the Son, and the Son no other God than the Father, and the Holy Spirit no other God than the Father and the Son; but the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One, Eternal God.
(17) Then the heretics come and fight against this article with all their power and art. Some, like Arius, attack the Son and do not want to let the Son be God, saying: The Son is called God according to the name, but not according to the divine nature and essence; that is, he is to be called such God, through whom all other creatures were created, but is not a true, natural, eternal God with the Father. Some attack the Holy Spirit and do not want the Holy Spirit to be God. The Holy Scripture stands against this, and testifies powerfully that the Son and the Holy Spirit are natural, eternal God, equal to the Father in omnipotence, power and glory.
18 Jn 5:20-23: "The Father loves the Son, and shows him all that he does, and will show him even greater works, so that you will marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them: so also the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that they all may honor the Son as they honor the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which sent him." What is to become of this? The text says that the Son has the same power that the Father has; that the Son makes alive what is dead, just as the Father makes alive; and as the Father is honored, so also the Son should be honored. Now this is a divine power, to make dead things alive, and a divine honor, that the Father may be honored. Therefore, the Son must be true, eternal God, with the Father. For if he were not true, eternal God, as Arius claims, the divine power and honor that the Father has could not be assigned to him.
(19) Likewise, the Scriptures testify, and the Nicene Symbol confesses and teaches from the Scriptures, that it is the Holy Spirit who gives life, and who is worshipped and honored at the same time as the Father and the Son. Therefore, the Holy Spirit must also be true, eternal God with the Father and the Son, in one being. For if he were not true, eternal God, the divine power and honor that he gives life and is worshipped and honored with the Father and the Son at the same time could not be attributed to him; as the holy fathers have vigorously asserted and preserved this from the Scriptures against the heretics.
It is true that the persons of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are so far separated that Arius would still like to say according to reason: The Son (Christ) is not God, but only man; and the heretics would like to say: The Holy Spirit is not God, but a creature. But however far the persons are separated, yet here they come together again in the divine power and glory, that as the Father raises the dead and makes them alive, so also the Son raises the dead and makes them alive; and the Holy Spirit raises the dead and makes them alive. And as the Father is worshipped and honored, so also the Son is worshipped and honored; and the Holy Spirit is worshipped and honored with the Father and the Son at the same time; as St. Paul makes a third and separates the persons of divine being from each other, and yet brings all three persons together again and concludes them in one, when he speaks Rom. 11, 36: "From him, and through him, and in him are all things. To Him be glory forever and ever, amen."
21 So also in this Gospel there is a great difference of the persons. The Father speaks from the cloud; the Son stands and prays; the Holy Spirit overshadows the disciples: but according to the Christian faith, I must bring all three persons together again and say that the three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are one, undivided, divine being. The difference of the persons is enormous.
The Father talks about the Son. The Son hears the Father speak. The Holy Spirit does not hover over the voice, but over Christ and over the disciples. Voice, Son, Cloud, these three are widely distinguished. But I say according to the Christian faith, these three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are one God, of equal power, glory and majesty.
22 For the Scriptures teach that by the Son and the Holy Spirit all things were created: Col. 1:16: "By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth"; Psalm 33:6: "The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all his host by the spirit of his mouth. Item, that the Son and Holy Spirit raises the dead and makes them alive, as the Father. These works, creating all things, raising the dead, and making them alive, powerfully conclude and compel that these three distinct persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are one God. For the Holy Scripture says that there is no more than one Creator, one Life-Giver. These works, creating all things, making the dead alive, belong to the one God. Since they are attributed to the Son and the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures, it follows that although the Son is a distinct person from the Father and the Holy Spirit is a distinct person from the Father and the Son, yet the Son and Holy Spirit are one, eternal God with the Father. We cannot deny this, because we would deny the whole Holy Scripture. Therefore, the Holy Scriptures and the Christian faith compel us to distinguish the three persons in the one Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Son and Holy Spirit, and yet not to separate or separate the one Godhead from one another, nor to make three gods; but to confess and honor one God in three Persons and three Persons in one Godhead.
(23) For we Christians are not satisfied that we have one God, as the Turks do, who are very proud with their argument, saying, "In one house there cannot be three masters, but there must be one master. Since
they think they have hit it, and consider us Christians to be vain mad geese and ducks, as if we could not understand that we worship three gods. But woe to all those who first drove the Mahometan faith into the people with this argument. Woe also to all those who write such things about us Christians in foreign countries and lie to us so shamefully.
(24) We Christians are not such foolish geese and ducks, nor such coarse gags, that we do not understand that it is not only a foolish thing, but also idolatry, to worship more than one God. We also say that there is one God and Creator of all creatures, and do not make three gods, but believe and confess that there is one God; and yet say that the same one God wants to be known and honored in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For thus God has revealed Himself that we should believe and confess that in His Divine Being there are three distinct Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Not in his creation are three distinct persons; for there he is one; but in his inward divine being are three distinct persons. In his creation, from the outside against the creatures to reckon.
new, God is one, one God and Creator of all creatures. But to reckon in His Godhead inwardly against Himself is not one single Person, but are three distinct Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
(25) In creation and works, counting from the outside against the creature, we Christians are one with the Turks; there we also say that there is no more than one God. But we say that this is not enough, that we alone believe that there is one God. For the same one God, whom the Turks praise as being one Creator of heaven and earth, has revealed Himself to be Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three distinct persons, and one eternal God. Therefore, the Jews and the Turks do us an injustice by accusing us and saying that we are idolatrous, that we worship three gods; for we do not worship three gods, but one unified God, without recognizing and honoring the same unified God as He has revealed Himself.
26. May God the Father, through His Holy Spirit, keep us firm in such faith for the sake of His dear Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, against all that may oppose us, amen.