which Luther suppressed in the later editions of the New Testament.*)
In this book of the Revelation of John, I also let everyone have his own way; I do not want to bind anyone to my conceit or judgment. I say what I feel. I do not lack anything in this book, that I consider it neither apostolic nor prophetic. First and foremost, that the apostles do not deal with visions, but prophesy with clear and concise words, as Peter, Paul, and Christ also do in the Gospel; for it is also proper to the apostolic office to speak clearly and without image or face about Christ and his deeds. There is no prophet in the Old Testament, let alone in the New, who speaks so thoroughly with visions and images that I consider it almost equal to the fourth vision of Ezra and cannot feel that it is full of the Holy Spirit. In addition, it seems to me to be too much that he so harshly commands such his own book, more than any other holy books do, since much more is needed, and
again, blessed are those who keep what is written therein, since no one knows what it is, let alone that he should keep it, and it is just as much as if we did not have it, even though there are many more noble books to keep. Many of the fathers have rejected this book before, and even though St. Jerome speaks it with high words and says that it is above all praise, and that there is as much mystery in it as words, he cannot prove anything about it and is too lenient in all places of his praise. Finally, everyone thinks of it what his spirit gives him. My spirit cannot be sent into the light, and it is reason enough for me that I do not esteem it highly, that Christ is neither taught nor recognized in it, which, above all things, an apostle is obliged to do, as he says in Acts 1:8. 1:8: "Ye shall be my witnesses." That is why I stay with the books that present Christ to me brightly and purely.
*Walch did not include this preface among his other prefaces, because Luther himself suppressed it, but only had it printed in his preface to the fourteenth volume, p. 13. In the Erlangen edition it is found in vol. 63, p. 169.