Luther wants to translate the New Testament. Lang is already busy with it, and Luther encourages him to continue.
Printed in Aurifaber, vol. I, p. 295 d (with the wrong year: 1520); in De Wette, vol. II, p. 115 and in Erlanger Briefwechsel, vol. III, p. 256.
To his extremely dear Johann Lang, Augustinian friar, Christian ecclesiastical priest at Erfurt, Martin Luther. 3)
I do not approve of this noisy departure 4); they could have parted from each other peacefully and in friendship. You will be at the meeting 5); see to it that you do not
1) Aurogallus taught Hebrew at that time.
2) Compare No. 44 of this appendix, ยง 7.
3) Here, Aurifaber also omits the usual caption: "JEsus", which De Wette and the Erlangen edition, from their second volume on, have omitted in order to save space. Soon after the beginning of the year 1523, Aurifaber also leaves it out.
4) It is meant the departure of the monks from the Augustinian monastery. Kolde, Augustinercongregation, p. 375, note 3.
5) Around Epiphany 1522, a convention of Augustinians from Saxony, Thuringia and Meissen met in Wittenberg under the presidency of Link, at which the vows were declared no longer binding and the resignation from the monastery was made optional. The resolutions of the convention are found in Corpus Reformatorum, Vol. I, p. 456 (but find to be set only at the end of Decembers). .
You favor and defend the party of the gospel. I will remain hidden here until Easter. In the meantime, I will compile the postils and translate the New Testament into German, which I hear you are also engaged in. 6) Continue as you have begun. If only God would have every single city have its interpreter, and only this book would dwell in everyone's mouth, hand, eyes, ears and heart. You will hear other things from the Wittenbergers. I am well in body and well provided for, but I am plagued by sins and also by temptations. Pray for me and live well. From the desert, Wednesday after Luciae [18 December] 1521.
Your Martin Luther.