compiled from the lectures of Doctor Martin Luther.
Preface to the Lecture on the Prophet Isaiah.
(1) Whoever wants to explain this prophet must understand two things: First, the grammar, and that he is firm in it and has it perfectly. I frankly confess that I have not yet reached this point, as have other great teachers in the church,
than Augustine and others, lacked it. However, the other knowledge, namely of the sacred histories, is even more necessary. For if one had to do without one of the two, I would rather have this than the grammar, as we also see in Augustine. How-
Although he does not understand grammar, and therefore often lacks the right understanding, he nevertheless remains, because he diligently pursues history and has a good grasp of it, with the similarity of faith. The opposite can be seen in Jerome. His knowledge of the Hebrew language was great enough; but because he treats history very coldly, he often departs greatly from the rule of faith. For this reason, knowledge of history is absolutely necessary; for this, not only is it necessary that one understand the words and syllables as they are spoken, but that one also has that which belongs to rhetoric and logic, that one diligently considers all the circumstances of the events. Thus I call the knowledge of grammar not only that one knows what each word means, but especially the figures and the way of speaking, which is peculiar to the Hebrew language above others, and which differs from our habit. And in this piece we have to lament that we are still lacking a lot, because we do not yet have a properly elaborated Hebrew grammar.
(2) Furthermore, one must immediately proceed from grammar to the knowledge of history, and see what Ahaz and the other kings, under whom the prophet lived, did; as has been shown above in the preface [ยง 2] about this prophet.
The most noble and main content of all prophets is that they put their people off to the future Christ, as we also see in Moses, who, although he seems to primarily establish and teach the law, nevertheless always points to Christ, as we can clearly see from the passage Deut. 18:15. This is also what we do today. What we teach, order and set, all happens to the end that the pious should wait for the future of their Savior on the last day. And this is the reason why the apostles so much emphasized the teaching of waiting for the other future.
Tit. 2, 13. Hebr. 13, 14. and in other places! places more. Whoever follows this way will not err in reading and preaching. Therefore, the prophets must be read and acted upon in such a way that they prepare the people for the coming Christ. For although the majority of the prophets speak of the kingdom of the flesh, here and there they recently and quickly refer to the kingdom of Christ, or secretly aim at it. Especially Isaiah often speaks about this doctrine, although he speaks a lot about his people at that time and the kingdom of the flesh. This is what Peter says in 1 Ep. 1, 10: "For what blessedness the prophets sought and searched, pointing to us from the grace to come."
Some turn everything into allegories, as Jerome ridicules a certain Apollinaris, although he himself is in the habit of doing the same. But they can sometimes be used as ornaments and explanations to teach the inexperienced common people, to whom one and the same thing must always be inculcated in a different form.
5. the treatment of history must be the first and foremost, in which we see how the pious were protected and helped by God, but the wicked were abandoned and punished. This must be applied to us, so that we learn that it will be the same for us if we do not improve our lives 2c. Therefore, history should be an example for us, by which we should be taught to live rightly in faith and love. After that, the revealed prophecies of Christ are to strengthen our faith and religion, since we see that this was promised and foretold by God so many centuries before.
6 And at this point it may be enough for now, so that we may pay the more attention to the history. However, Oecolampadius has taken quite a lot of care with the grammar, even though he departs from us here and there.