One thing that really jumped out at me was that Dr. Hahn stated that Luther purposely inserted the German word "allein" (alone) into Romans 3:28 despite the fact that it is not in the Greek texts. In Luther's translation of this verse he added the word "alone." "Romans 3:28 states, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law" (NKJV). To word it slightly differently, the issue to Luther was a translation issue far more than a doctrinal issue in his translation of Romans 3:28. In fact, he once offered his doctor's cap to anyone who could reconcile it with Romans 3:28 and scoffed at his friend, Philip Melanchthon, for attempting it. Yes. Why did Luther add the word 'alone' to Romans 3:28? The German “allein” is translated “alone” in English. “We hold that man is justified by faith, apart from the works of the law”. Paul is setting up an exclusive statement. Notes: 1 This is found in the margin of the Luther Bible for 3:23ff.. 2 Ernst Käsemann, Commentary on Romans, trans. Last week we looked at the subject, "Justified by Faith Alone." In 1513, as a brand-new professor at the University of Wittenberg, Luther lectured on the Psalms. Luther’s German Bible translates the verse this way: »So halten wir nun dafür, daß der Mensch gerecht werde ohne des Gesetzes Werke, allein durch den Glauben« (1912 ed.). The section properly begins at 3:21 and runs through 3:26. So halten wir nun dafür, daß der Mensch gerecht werde ohne des Gesetzes Werke, allein durch den Glauben. Romans 3:28 Delivered 04/03/2011. Martin Luther, in his German translation of the Bible, specifically added the word "allein" (English 'alone') to Romans 3:28-a word that is not in the original Greek. Unfortunately his actions did lead to Martin Luther’s excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church and even a price being place on his head. He was simply striving to bring the precision of the greek into the German. To Martin Luther, James was an epistle of straw that had "nothing of the nature of the Gospel about it." So halten wir nun dafür, daß der Mensch gerecht werde ohne des Gesetzes Werke, allein durch den Glauben. The Greek reads: λογιζόμεθα γὰρ δικαιοῦσθαι πίστει ἄνθρωπον χωρὶς ἔργων νόμου. Notice verse 28: For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Luther added the German word "allein" (alone) to Romans 3:28 despite the fact that it is not in the Greek texts. Martin Luther did not want to leave or be excommunicated from the church he just wanted to open the debate on interpretation of Holy Scripture as compared to the interpretation by the church in 1517. ... Paul's position and Luther's is that a soul in anguish on account of transgression must sweep clean out all anxieties as to what it can do to please the Father, beyond the filial act of looking to Him through Him who came to reveal Him. Martin Luther struggled greatly with James' "not by faith alone" (Jam. 2:24). He then lectured on St. Paul’s epistles to the Romans and Galatians from 1515 to 1517. The years leading up to October 31, 1517 were essential to understanding Martin Luther’s motivation and the purpose of the Reformation. and edited by G. Bromiley (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980) 92.. 3 As is common, the lectionary gives us a poorly defined text. Romans 3:28 NASB. Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. It is true. I said that I agreed with that, it is faith ALONE that saves us. He then lectured on the Psalms simply striving to bring the precision of the Reformation the.! 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