1 This epistle is written against those who think that Christian faith is without works. Therefore he exhorts them to test themselves by good works, and to be sure of the faith, just as trees are known by their fruit.
(2) And after this begin to magnify the gospel against the doctrine of men, that the same only should be heard, and no doctrine of men. For when he said, "No prophecy has ever been made by the will of man."
Therefore, in the second chapter, he warns against the false teachers of the future, who deal in works and thereby deny Christ. And he condemns them harshly with three horrible examples, depicting them with their avarice, arrogance, sacrilege, fornication and hypocrisy, so that it must be assumed that he is referring to today's spiritual state, which devours the whole world with its avarice and leads a free, carnal, worldly life.
4. in the third, he shows that the last day will be
will soon come; and though it seems to men a thousand years, yet in the sight of God it is as one day. 1) And he describes how it will happen on the last day, that everything will be consumed with fire. 2) But he also prophesies that at that time people will be quite mocking and will not believe in faith, like the Epicureans.
Summa, the first chapter shows how Christianity should stand at the time of the pure Gospel. The second chapter shows how it would stand in the time of the pope and the doctrine of men. The third chapter shows how people will despise both gospels and all doctrine and believe nothing. And this is now going on in full swing until Christ comes.
1) Here follows 1522: Now in the sight of God is everything that dies, but what lives is in the sight of men. Therefore, the last day is coming for everyone soon after his death.
2) The following to the end is missing in the 1522 edition.
*) This preface is found in the Leipzig edition, vol. XII, p. 68 and in the Erlanger, vol. 63, p. 152.