compiled by M. Georg Rörer.
Laid out in the Passion and Easter seasons 1544; printed 1550.
Preface by D. Martin Luther.
We want to praise God and our Lord Jesus Christ as long as we are allowed to do so, and as long as we have time and are able to do so. For the world does just the opposite, since it is completely full of blasphemies and horrible aversions and denials of our Savior, so that Christ is an exceedingly annoying object of our faith. That is why he is and remains in his hidden and ugly form.
as the prophet says [Cap. 52, 14]. Therefore, faith must be nourished and strengthened by constant study of the Scriptures and godly contemplation, so that we do not lose or forsake this "arm of the Lord," because in it lies all our salvation. But why the Pope, the Turks and the Jews do not believe in Christ, we will leave to the secret counsel of God.
*) Because of the title of the original edition, time determination, location in the editions 2c. compare the note Col. 192. - Luther's preface is found only in the Erlangen edition, 6X6K. ox "x"., bom. XXIII, x". 441 sq. In the Jena edition, not only the preface is missing (as in the Wittenberg edition), but also the entire more extensive explanation of the 53rd chapter.
But we want to thank God with all our heart that he has called us to this light of truth and the gospel.
However, I have decided to treat the fifty-third chapter at this time, since it is primarily intended for us to consider the passion and resurrection of Christ and to thank him for his unspeakable gift. It is marvelous that Isaiah had so much light that he was able to portray the mysteries of Christ so clearly and actually, even more precisely than the evangelists, with the exception of Paul, who is the chosen instrument. For otherwise almost the whole Scripture has no passage equal to this fifty-third chapter. Isaiah calls this Messiah the Lord of glory, the arm of the Lord, a king,
a priest, and yet the most miserable and despised" man, that there could be none more despised in the whole human race, and yet that he must at the same time be worshipped as God in his majesty.
Isaiah sees all this beforehand and has no hesitation in claiming that this arm of God is the second person of the Godhead and our High Priest, at the same time true man, who, having become a sacrificial lamb, has sufficed for our sins, redeemed us from the power of Satan and given us eternal life. This is the main article of our faith and confession, which Paul has dealt with abundantly.
Now, in these days of his suffering and in his memory, let us treat both that Christ is God and man.