Newly translated from Latin.
Grace and peace in Christ! If thou art angry, sin not; speak with thine heart upon thy couch, and wait [Ps. 4:5]. It is I who give out these remarks of thine, and send thee to thyself. If you yourself
If you do not like us, you are right to do so; it is enough if you please us. On your side is the wrong (peccatum), if there is a wrong here; why did you not give it out yourself? Why did you suffer that
*The first work of Melanchthon on the letter of Paul to the Romans was published by Luther without the knowledge and will of the author under the title: Annotationes Philippi Melanchthonis in epistolas Pauli ad Romanos et Corinthios. 1522. 4 This happened because Melanchthon could not be persuaded to publish it due to timidity. This writing did not pass into Melanchthon's works, but only two later adaptations, which are found there in the third and fourth volumes. It was later reprinted again, as can be seen from von der Hardts ^.utoAraptm lmtlrori, torn. I, p. 137 and p. 201 and from des Olearius XutoKrapüa 1,nttreri p. 13. Walch had an edition in his hands which was entitled: lVl6lan6Ütüoni8 6ornrn6ntnrin8 in 6pi8tolam ?anli aä Rornanc>8, PO81 8at 1)6N6 lonAurn 8uppr688ion6w, doni pudlioi Aratia, jarn prininln in 1N66M 6<1itn8: j(l6ru in toini8 ?üi1ippi6i8, Uu6t6nn8 vi8i8, non reperitnr, and had appeared at Frankfurt an der Oder in 1612 in octavo. This manuscript has also been translated into German. Walch used a translation that had the title: "^nnotation68 Philippen Melanchthons. Verzeichnung und kürtzliche Anzeigung des rechten und eigentlichen Verstands der Epistel, die St. Paul zu den Römern geschrieben hat, verdeutscht." Von der Hardt, I. 6. p. 244, mentions an "Interpretation of the Epistles of St. Paul, one to the Romans and two to the Corinthians, Philippi Melancht., Germanized by Johannem Agricolam Eislebiensem etc. Walch notes that the latter translation seems to be different from the former, but he cannot say for sure, since he has not seen it himself. Furthermore, he states: In Olearius, p. 13, "I find under the year 1522 annot. ?üii. lVIol. in 6p. acl Horn, translated by Luther, together with a preface in 4.", but adds, as we think, nnt rightly: "but that Luther himself should have made the German translation is not credible". Our preface, or rather epistle, is found in Latin in Aurifaber's collection of letters, torn. II, kcü. 87; in De Wette, vol. II, p. 238 and in the Erlangen edition, opp. vur. urs., torn. VII, p. 490. German in the Eisleben edition, vol. I, p. 108; in the Altenburger, vol. II, p. 205; and in the Leipziger, vol. XII, p. 85. (The Erlanger has reprinted here "vol. XXII" from De Wette.) We have retranslated according to De Wette.
I have so often begged, commanded and urged you in vain to give them up? This is my excuse against you; for I want to be and be called your thief, and I am not afraid of your future complaints or accusations. By the way, to those of whom you perhaps suspect that they will turn up their noses, or of whom you fear that not enough has been done for them, I will say this: Give out something better. I ascribe to you with truth that which the godless Thomists liefully ascribe to their Thomas, namely, that no one has written better about St. Paul. For Satan persuaded them to boast about their Thomas, so that they would spread his ungodly teachings and poison. I know from what spirit and judgment I am saying this about you. What is it to you if those world-famous 1) people and giants mock this judgment of mine? Mine is the danger. Yes, I want to irritate these wise men even more, and say: the interpretations of Jerome and Origen are nothing but childish and inconsistent things, if they are compared with your remarks. You will say: Why is it necessary to provoke even the most gifted people to envy me so much? Nevertheless, be humble, but let me be proud of you. Who then has prevented these highest spirits from issuing something better, and to expose the outrageousness of my judgment? If only God wanted them to be such people, who would be able to do something better! Yes, I also threaten you that I will steal even further and also publish what you have prepared about Genesis and the Gospels of Matthew and John, if you do not come first yourself. You say that one should only read the Scriptures.
1) In the word famosi there is an ambiguity (famous and infamous) that cannot be rendered in German.
read without interpretations. You rightly say this of Jerome and Origen and Thomas and the like of them. For they have written interpretations in which they have taught rather what is theirs than what is Paul's, or Christian things. No one will call your remarks an interpretation, but only a guide to reading the Scriptures and recognizing Christ, which none of the interpretations has yet accomplished, at least none that is available. For what you claim, that not enough has been done for you in all respects by your notes, it takes effort and work for me to believe you; but behold, I believe that you have not done enough for yourself. This is neither sought in you nor demanded of you; rather, we also want Paul to retain his honor, so that no one may boast that Philip is higher than Paul or equal to him. It is enough for you that you are exceedingly close to Paul. We envy none: who can come nearer. We know that you are nothing. Again, we know that Christ is all in all. If he speaks through his ass, it will be pleasing; why should it be displeasing if he speaks through a man? Are you not a man? Are you not Christ's? Is not his mind in thee? Now if thou thyself wilt adorn and increase this little book with more graceful speech and richer learning, it shall be pleasant. In the meantime, it will also be pleasant against your will that we take possession of the things and the mind of Paul, which have been brought to light through your service. I do not ask for your forgiveness if I offend you by doing this, but refrain from being offended by that, by which rather you offend us, and will need forgiveness. But may the Lord increase and sustain you forever. Wittenberg, July 29, 1522.
Your Martin Luther.