according to the Altenburg manuscript. *)
From Luther's lectures from July 18 to August 2, 1525. Printed in 1886.
Translated from Latin.
What the prophet Habakkuk intends
The ecclesiastical writers do not agree on the summa or the purpose and the time of this prophecy. Jerome and those who followed him think that this prophet prophesied at the time of the Babylonian captivity, and that his prophecy was directed against the king of the Chaldeans, who had miserably afflicted the people of God. And to confirm this opinion of theirs, they have I don't know what kind of fiction or history from Daniel [of the dragon of Babylon, v. 35. 38.] that Habakkuk was raptured by the angel etc. But because this history, which they bring forward, is not in the Hebrew Canon, nothing certain can be established from it. In any case, I conclude from the circumstances of the text that the opinion of Jerome and all those who followed him, is not at all
and at what time he prophesied.
fit. Hence it is that I do not agree with them in this matter. For I do not doubt that Habakkuk was the prophet and prophesied before the Babylonian captivity and that he directed his prophecy against the two remaining tribes that the king of the Chaldeans would come. In short, in my opinion, this is how he deals with it: first, he announces the future downfall of the remaining two tribes: the king of the Chaldeans will come against them out of God's judgment and disturb everything, and second, that the king himself must also perish, no matter how many kingdoms he subjugates himself to and seizes dominion over everywhere. Because the supremacy stood at that time with the Chaldeans etc.
*) In the Altenburg manuscript this writing has the title: Commentarius D. Martini Lutheri in Prophetam Abacuc, M.D.XXV. 18. Julii. ^Vittembergae At the end: M.V.XXV. 2. ^nZusti. The same is printed for the first time in the Erlangen edition, sxe.]. opp., toin. XXVII, p. 171, in 1886; then "with some improvements" in the Weimar one, vol. XIII, p. 424. We have translated according to the latter.