January 18, 1518.
What order a theologian must follow in learning the Holy Scriptures. Enclosed is an excellent judgment on Erasmus, St. Jerome, Augustine and Ambrose.
To his Georg Spalatin, the righteous disciple of Christ in truth, his brother, etc.
JEsus.
1st Hail. Up to now, my dear Spalatin, you have demanded such things of me that were within my capacity and in which I was allowed to dare something; but now, since you demand guidance on that which concerns the thorough knowledge of the holy scriptures, you demand something that goes far beyond my powers. For I myself have not been able to find anyone who would have guided me in this so important matter. Here different people, even the most learned and astute, have different opinions. Erasmus publicly claims that St. Jerome is such a great church teacher that he alone wants him to be regarded as such. If I now oppose him to St. Augustine, I will be regarded as a very biased and suspicious arbiter, not only because of my attachment to my order, but also because Erasmus' judgment is very well known and has been accepted for a long time, since he said that it would be quite impertinent if someone wanted to compare Augustine with Jerome. Others judge differently. I do not dare, with my small gifts of erudition and understanding, to pronounce anything definite about such important matters among such great judges.
2 I always praise Erasmus extremely highly among those (that is, among all) who are either deliberately hostile to the fine sciences or, out of laziness, do not want to know anything about them; I also defend him as much as I can, and am careful not to let that lead me out in which I depart from him, lest others also be strengthened in their hatred of him by my speeches. But there is a great deal in Erasmus that does not seem to me to fit the knowledge of Christ, if I am to speak of the matter as a divine scholar, not as a teacher of language: otherwise Jerome himself, who has been singled out so much by Erasmus, would not have seen anything more learned and perceptive. There you have my judgment about Erasmus; but if you should make it known to another, know that you would thereby violate the duties of friendship. I do this reminder with good deliberation. There are (as you know) many who diligently seek opportunities to blaspheme the fine sciences. Therefore, keep secret what I have said; indeed, do not believe me until you have read and examined the writings. If you nevertheless want to entice my order in studying from me, then I will not let anything go unheeded to you, as my very trusted friend, but in such a way that you only follow me with good deliberation.
3 First of all, it is quite certain that one cannot penetrate the Scriptures by one's own diligence and understanding. Therefore, the first thing to be done is to begin with prayer, that is, to call upon the Lord, if it pleases him.
*) The Latin original of this letter is in the Anhaltisches Gesammtarchiv at Zerbst. Handwritten copies of the letter are available in the Oock. Osssnv. in Zerbst, No. 2; in the Ooä. Kolter. Orssä. 6. 351, Bl. 62 b; in the 6oä. 3sn. a., toi. 17; in the Oock. Eluslxbsrbitauns 11, 10, toi. 250; in 6oä. ElusIpUsrb. 202, toi. 109. further printed in Aurifaber's collection of letters, vol. I, toi. 47; In X. Driesus 8v1vuln Ksntsntinruni p. 222 b; in Löscher's Reformation Acta, vol. II, p. 600; in De Wette, vol. I, p. 87; in Erlanger Briefwechsel, vol. I, p. 140. German in Hallischer Theil (1702) p. 153 and twice in Walch in the old edition, namely vol. X, 260 and vol. XVIII, 2492. Although this letter has now already been published in the 10th volume of the St. Louis edition, it is still in print. Louis edition, we nevertheless consider it necessary to insert here a new translation according to the Erlangen edition, because the latter has reproduced the text according to the original, and this letter (as Seidemann, De Wette, vol. VI, 599, note 1., remarks) belongs to the many letters that are carried around a lot, "which everyone arranged at will", therefore presenting numerous variants, gaps and excrescences.
1978 L. Br.-W. 1,142 f. Appendix of some of Luther's letters. W. XVIII, 2494 f. 1979
that something may be done through us for his glory, not for ours or any man's, let him give us the true understanding of his word according to his great mercy. For there is no master in the Scriptures but he from whom they originally came, hence it is said [John 6:45.], "they shall all be taught of GOD." Accordingly, you must completely despair of your efforts and at the same time of your understanding, and rely solely on the inspiration of the Spirit. Believe me this, I who have tried it myself. Then, after a humble despair has gained room, read the Bible in order from beginning to end, so that you only first grasp the simple story in your memory (which I believe you will have done long ago). For this, St. Jerome, both with his letters and with his interpretations, will do excellent service; on the other hand, for the knowledge of Christ and the grace of God (that is, for the more secret understanding of the spirit), St. Augustine and Ambrose seem to me to be much more useful, especially since St. Jerome seems to follow Origen too much (that is, to make obscure interpretations). I do not want to have said this to the detriment of Erasmus' opinion, since you have not asked me for Erasmus', but for my judgment.
4. but you can (if you like my order in studying) with the holy augu
stinus [begin with the book] "Vom Geist und Buchstaben" [Of the Spirit and the Letter], which our incomparably learned Carlstadt has now provided and published with very beautiful interpretations; then [take] the book against Julianus; likewise, that against two letters of the Pelagians. You can also take St. Ambrose on the profession of all pagans; although this book seems to have been written by someone other than Ambrose in terms of style, thought and time, it is nevertheless written in a very scholarly manner. The rest I will tell you later, if you should have liked this one. Forgive me only my audacity, that I dare in such a difficult matter to present my instructions beyond the greatest men (ultra).
Staupitz is in Munich, because he recently wrote to me from there.
1) In the original Latin: Eleuthrrius.