Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > a treatise on good works >

µÚ1½Ú

a treatise on good works-µÚ1½Ú

С˵£º a treatise on good works ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡








A¡¡treatise¡¡on¡¡Good¡¡Works



by¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Martin¡¡Luther






together¡¡with¡¡the

Letter¡¡of¡¡Dedication

by¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Martin¡¡Luther£»¡¡1520











INTRODUCTION



1¡£¡¡The¡¡Occasion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Work¡£¡¡¡¡Luther¡¡did¡¡not¡¡impose¡¡himself¡¡as

reformer¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Church¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡a¡¡conscientious

performance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡duties¡¡of¡¡his¡¡office£»¡¡to¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been

regularly¡¡and¡¡divinely¡¡called£»¡¡and¡¡without¡¡any¡¡urging¡¡on¡¡his

part£»¡¡he¡¡attained¡¡to¡¡this¡¡position¡¡by¡¡inward¡¡necessity¡£¡¡In¡¡1515

he¡¡received¡¡his¡¡appointment¡¡as¡¡the¡¡standing¡¡substitute¡¡for¡¡the

sickly¡¡city¡¡pastor£»¡¡Simon¡¡Heinse£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡city¡¡council¡¡of

Wittenberg¡£¡¡Before¡¡this¡¡time¡¡he¡¡was¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡preach¡¡only

occasionally¡¡in¡¡the¡¡convent£»¡¡apart¡¡from¡¡his¡¡activity¡¡as¡¡teacher

in¡¡the¡¡University¡¡and¡¡convent¡£¡¡Through¡¡this¡¡appointment¡¡he¡¡was

in¡¡duty¡¡bound£»¡¡by¡¡divine¡¡and¡¡human¡¡right£»¡¡to¡¡lead¡¡and¡¡direct¡¡the

congregation¡¡at¡¡Wittenberg¡¡on¡¡the¡¡true¡¡way¡¡to¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡would

have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡denial¡¡of¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡salvation¡¡which¡¡God¡¡had

led¡¡him¡¡to¡¡acquire£»¡¡by¡¡way¡¡of¡¡ardent¡¡inner¡¡struggles£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had

led¡¡the¡¡congregation¡¡on¡¡any¡¡other¡¡way¡¡than¡¡the¡¡one¡¡God¡¡had

revealed¡¡to¡¡him¡¡in¡¡His¡¡Word¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡deny¡¡before¡¡the

congregation¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡intrusted¡¡to¡¡his¡¡care£»¡¡what¡¡up¡¡to

this¡¡time¡¡he¡¡had¡¡taught¡¡with¡¡ever¡¡increasing¡¡clearness¡¡in¡¡his

lectures¡¡at¡¡the¡¡University¡¡¡¡for¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lectures¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Psalms£»

which¡¡he¡¡began¡¡to¡¡deliver¡¡in¡¡1513£»¡¡he¡¡declares¡¡his¡¡conviction

that¡¡faith¡¡alone¡¡justifies£»¡¡as¡¡can¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡from¡¡the¡¡complete

manuscript£»¡¡published¡¡since¡¡1885£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡still¡¡greater

clearness¡¡from¡¡his¡¡Commentary¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Epistle¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Romans

£¨1515¡­1516£©£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡accessible¡¡since¡¡1908£»¡¡nor¡¡what¡¡he¡¡had

urged¡¡as¡¡spiritual¡¡adviser¡¡of¡¡his¡¡convent¡¡brethren¡¡when¡¡in¡¡deep

distress¡¡¡¡compare¡¡the¡¡charming¡¡letter¡¡to¡¡Georg¡¡Spenlein£»¡¡dated

April¡¡8£»¡¡1516¡£¡¡



Luther's¡¡first¡¡literary¡¡works¡¡to¡¡appear¡¡in¡¡print¡¡were¡¡also

occasioned¡¡by¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡his¡¡calling¡¡and¡¡of¡¡his¡¡office¡¡in¡¡the

Wittenberg¡¡congregation¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡no¡¡other¡¡object¡¡in¡¡view¡¡than¡¡to

edify¡¡his¡¡congregation¡¡and¡¡to¡¡lead¡¡it¡¡to¡¡Christ¡¡when£»¡¡in¡¡1517£»

he¡¡published¡¡his¡¡first¡¡independent¡¡work£»¡¡the¡¡Explanation¡¡of¡¡the

Seven¡¡Penitential¡¡Psalms¡£¡¡On¡¡Oct¡¡31¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡year¡¡he¡¡published

his¡¡95¡¡Theses¡¡against¡¡Indulgences¡£¡¡These¡¡were¡¡indeed¡¡intended¡¡as

controversial¡¡theses¡¡for¡¡theologians£»¡¡but¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡it¡¡is

well¡¡known¡¡that¡¡Luther¡¡was¡¡moved¡¡by¡¡his¡¡duty¡¡toward¡¡his

congregation¡¡to¡¡declare¡¡his¡¡position¡¡in¡¡this¡¡matter¡¡and¡¡to¡¡put

in¡¡issue¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡question¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡¡and¡¡wrong¡¡of

indulgences¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡his¡¡theses¡£¡¡His¡¡sermon¡¡Of¡¡Indulgences¡¡and

Grace£»¡¡occasioned¡¡by¡¡Tetzel's¡¡attack¡¡and¡¡delivered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡latter

part¡¡of¡¡March£»¡¡1518£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡his¡¡sermon¡¡Of¡¡Penitence£»

delivered¡¡about¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time£»¡¡were¡¡also¡¡intended¡¡for¡¡his

congregation¡£¡¡Before¡¡his¡¡congregation¡¡£¨Sept¡££»¡¡1516¡­Feb¡££»¡¡1517£©

he¡¡delivered¡¡the¡¡Sermons¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Ten¡¡Commandments£»¡¡which¡¡were

published¡¡in¡¡1518¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Sermons¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Lord's¡¡Prayer£»¡¡which

were¡¡also¡¡published¡¡in¡¡1518¡¡by¡¡Agricola¡£¡¡Though¡¡Luther¡¡in¡¡the

same¡¡year¡¡published¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡controversial¡¡writings£»¡¡which

were¡¡occasioned¡¡by¡¡attacks¡¡from¡¡outside¡¡sources£»¡¡viz¡££»¡¡the

Resolutiones¡¡disputationis¡¡de¡¡Virtute¡¡indulgentiarum£»¡¡the

Asterisci¡¡adversus¡¡obeliscos¡¡Joh¡£¡¡Eccii£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Ad¡¡dialogum

Silv¡£¡¡Prieriatis¡¡responsio£»¡¡still¡¡he¡¡never¡¡was¡¡diverted¡¡by¡¡this

necessary¡¡rebuttal¡¡from¡¡his¡¡paramount¡¡duty£»¡¡the¡¡edification¡¡of

the¡¡congregation¡£¡¡The¡¡autumn¡¡of¡¡the¡¡year¡¡1518£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was

confronted¡¡with¡¡Cajetan£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡year¡¡of¡¡1519£»¡¡when

he¡¡held¡¡his¡¡disputations¡¡with¡¡Eck£»¡¡etc¡££»¡¡were¡¡replete¡¡with

disquietude¡¡and¡¡pressing¡¡labors£»¡¡still¡¡Luther¡¡served¡¡his

congregation¡¡with¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡series¡¡of¡¡writings¡¡during¡¡this¡¡time£»

and¡¡only¡¡regretted¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡entirely¡¡at¡¡its¡¡disposal¡£¡¡Of

such¡¡writings¡¡we¡¡mention£º¡¡Explanation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lord's¡¡Prayer¡¡for

the¡¡simple¡¡Laity¡¡£¨an¡¡elaboration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sermons¡¡of¡¡1517£©£»¡¡Brief

Explanation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Ten¡¡Commandments£»¡¡Instruction¡¡concerning

certain¡¡Articles£»¡¡which¡¡might¡¡be¡¡ascribed¡¡and¡¡imputed¡¡to¡¡him¡¡by

his¡¡adversaries£»¡¡Brief¡¡Instruction¡¡how¡¡to¡¡Confess£»¡¡Of¡¡Meditation

on¡¡the¡¡Sacred¡¡Passion¡¡of¡¡Christ£»¡¡Of¡¡Twofold¡¡Righteousness£»¡¡Of¡¡the

Matrimonial¡¡Estate£»¡¡Brief¡¡Form¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡and¡¡to¡¡pray¡¡the

Lord's¡¡Prayer£»¡¡Explanation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lord's¡¡Prayer¡¡¡¨vor¡¡sich¡¡und

hinter¡¡sich¡¨£»¡¡Of¡¡Prayer¡¡and¡¡Processions¡¡in¡¡Rogation¡¡Week£»¡¡Of

Usury£»¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡Sacrament¡¡of¡¡Penitence£»¡¡Of¡¡Preparation¡¡for¡¡Death£»

Of¡¡the¡¡Sacrament¡¡of¡¡Baptism£»¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡Sacrament¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sacred¡¡Body£»

Of¡¡Excommunication¡£¡¡With¡¡but¡¡few¡¡exceptions¡¡these¡¡writings¡¡all

appeared¡¡in¡¡print¡¡in¡¡the¡¡year¡¡1519£»¡¡and¡¡again¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the

congregation¡¡which¡¡Luther¡¡sought¡¡primarily¡¡to¡¡serve¡£¡¡If¡¡the

bounds¡¡of¡¡his¡¡congregation¡¡spread¡¡ever¡¡wider¡¡beyond¡¡Wittenberg£»

so¡¡that¡¡his¡¡writings¡¡found¡¡a¡¡surprisingly¡¡ready¡¡sale£»¡¡even¡¡afar£»

that¡¡was¡¡not¡¡Luther's¡¡fault¡£¡¡Even¡¡the¡¡Tessaradecas¡¡consolatoria£»

written¡¡in¡¡1519¡¡and¡¡printed¡¡in¡¡1520£»¡¡a¡¡book¡¡of¡¡consolation£»¡¡which

was¡¡originally¡¡intended¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sick¡¡Elector¡¡of¡¡Saxony£»¡¡was

written¡¡by¡¡him¡¡only¡¡upon¡¡solicitation¡¡from¡¡outside¡¡sources¡£¡¡



To¡¡this¡¡circle¡¡of¡¡writings¡¡the¡¡treatise¡¡Of¡¡Good¡¡Works¡¡also

belongs¡¡Though¡¡the¡¡incentive¡¡for¡¡its¡¡composition¡¡came¡¡from¡¡George

Spalatin£»¡¡court¡­preacher¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Elector£»¡¡who¡¡reminded¡¡Luther¡¡of

a¡¡promise¡¡he¡¡had¡¡given£»¡¡still¡¡Luther¡¡was¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡undertake¡¡it

only¡¡when¡¡he¡¡recalled¡¡that¡¡in¡¡a¡¡previous¡¡sermon¡¡to¡¡his

congregation¡¡he¡¡occasionally¡¡had¡¡made¡¡a¡¡similar¡¡promise¡¡to

deliver¡¡a¡¡sermon¡¡on¡¡good¡¡works£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡Luther¡¡actually

commenced¡¡the¡¡composition¡¡he¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡else¡¡in¡¡view¡¡but¡¡the

preparation¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sermon¡¡for¡¡his¡¡congregation¡¡on¡¡this¡¡important

topic¡£¡¡



But¡¡while¡¡the¡¡work¡¡was¡¡in¡¡progress¡¡the¡¡material¡¡so¡¡accumulated

that¡¡it¡¡far¡¡outgrew¡¡the¡¡bounds¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sermon¡¡for¡¡his¡¡congregation¡£

On¡¡March¡¡25¡£¡¡he¡¡wrote¡¡to¡¡Spalatin¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡become¡¡a¡¡whole

booklet¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sermon£»¡¡on¡¡May¡¡5¡£¡¡he¡¡again¡¡emphasizes¡¡the

growth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡material£»¡¡on¡¡May¡¡13¡£¡¡he¡¡speaks¡¡of¡¡its¡¡completion

at¡¡an¡¡early¡¡date£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡June¡¡8¡£¡¡he¡¡could¡¡send¡¡Melanchthon¡¡a

printed¡¡copy¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡entitled£º¡¡Von¡¡den¡¡guten¡¡werckenn£º¡¡D¡£¡¡M¡£¡¡L¡£

Vuittenberg¡£¡¡On¡¡the¡¡last¡¡page¡¡it¡¡bore¡¡the¡¡printer's¡¡mark£º¡¡Getruck

zu¡¡Wittenberg¡¡bey¡¡dem¡¡iungen¡¡Melchior¡¡Lotther¡£¡¡Im¡¡Tausent

funfhundert¡¡vnnd¡¡zweyntzigsten¡¡Jar¡£¡¡It¡¡filled¡¡not¡¡less¡¡than¡¡58

leaves£»¡¡quarto¡£¡¡In¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡its¡¡volume£»¡¡however£»¡¡the¡¡intention

of¡¡the¡¡book¡¡for¡¡the¡¡congregation¡¡remained£»¡¡now¡¡however£»¡¡not¡¡only

for¡¡the¡¡narrow¡¡circle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Wittenberg¡¡congregation£»¡¡but¡¡for¡¡the

Christian¡¡layman¡¡in¡¡general¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡dedicatory¡¡preface¡¡Luther

lays¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡stress¡¡upon¡¡this£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡writes£º¡¡¡¨Though¡¡I¡¡know

of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡many£»¡¡and¡¡must¡¡hear¡¡it¡¡daily£»¡¡who¡¡think¡¡lightly¡¡of¡¡my

poverty¡¡and¡¡say¡¡that¡¡I¡¡write¡¡only¡¡small¡¡Sexternlein¡¡£¨tracts¡¡of

small¡¡volume£©¡¡and¡¡German¡¡sermons¡¡for¡¡the¡¡untaught¡¡laity£»¡¡I¡¡will

not¡¡permit¡¡that¡¡to¡¡move¡¡me¡£¡¡Would¡¡to¡¡God¡¡that¡¡during¡¡my¡¡life¡¡I

had¡¡served¡¡but¡¡one¡¡layman¡¡for¡¡his¡¡betterment¡¡with¡¡all¡¡my¡¡powers£»

it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡sufficient¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡thank¡¡God¡¡and¡¡suffer¡¡all

my¡¡books¡¡to¡¡perish¡¡thereafter¡£¡£¡£¡£¡¡Most¡¡willingly¡¡I¡¡will¡¡leave¡¡the

honor¡¡of¡¡greater¡¡things¡¡to¡¡others£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡will¡¡I¡¡be

ashamed¡¡of¡¡preaching¡¡and¡¡writing¡¡German¡¡to¡¡the¡¡untaught¡¡laity¡£¡¨¡¡



Since¡¡Luther¡¡had¡¡dedicated¡¡the¡¡afore¡­mentioned¡¡Tessaradecas

consolatoria¡¡to¡¡the¡¡reigning¡¡Prince£»¡¡he¡¡now£»¡¡probably¡¡on

Spalatin's¡¡recommendation£»¡¡dedicated¡¡the¡¡Treatise¡¡on¡¡Good¡¡Works

to¡¡his¡¡brother¡¡John£»¡¡who¡¡afterward£»¡¡in¡¡1525£»¡¡succeeded¡¡Frederick

in¡¡the¡¡Electorate¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡probably¡¡good¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡dedicating

the¡¡book¡¡to¡¡a¡¡member¡¡of¡¡the¡¡reigning¡¡house¡£¡¡Princes¡¡have¡¡reason

to¡¡take¡¡a¡¡special¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡preaching¡¡on¡¡good

works¡¡should¡¡occur¡¡within¡¡their¡¡realm£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡safety¡¡and¡¡sane

development¡¡of¡¡their¡¡kingdom¡¡depend¡¡largely¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡cultivation

of¡¡morality¡¡on¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of¡¡their¡¡subjects¡£¡¡Time¡¡and¡¡again¡¡the

papal¡¡church¡¡had¡¡commended¡¡herself¡¡to¡¡princes¡¡and¡¡statesmen¡¡by

her¡¡emphatic¡¡teaching¡¡of¡¡good¡¡works¡£¡¡Luther£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»

had¡¡been¡¡accused¡¡¡¡like¡¡the¡¡Apostle¡¡Paul¡¡before¡¡him¡¡£¨Rom¡£¡¡3¡¡31£©

¡¡that¡¡the¡¡zealous¡¡performance¡¡of¡¡good¡¡works¡¡had¡¡abated£»¡¡that

the¡¡bonds¡¡of¡¡discipline¡¡had¡¡slackened¡¡and¡¡that£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡necessary

consequence£»¡¡lawlessness¡¡and¡¡shameless¡¡immorality¡¡were¡¡being

promoted¡¡by¡¡his¡¡doctrine¡¡of¡¡justification¡¡by¡¡faith¡¡alone¡£¡¡Before

1517¡¡the¡¡rumor¡¡had¡¡already¡¡spread¡¡that¡¡Luther¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡do¡¡away

with¡¡good¡¡works¡£¡¡Duke¡¡George¡¡of¡¡Saxony¡¡had¡¡received¡¡no¡¡good

impression¡¡from¡¡a¡¡sermon¡¡Luther¡¡had¡¡delivered¡¡at¡¡Dresden£»¡¡because

he¡¡feared¡¡the¡¡consequences¡¡which¡¡Luther's¡¡doctrine¡¡of

justification¡¡by¡¡faith¡¡alone¡¡might¡¡have¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡morals¡¡of¡¡the

masses¡£¡¡Under¡¡these¡¡circumstances¡¡it¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been

surprising¡¡if¡¡a¡¡member¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Electoral¡¡house¡¡should¡¡harbor¡¡like

scruples£»¡¡especially¡¡since¡¡the¡¡full¡¡comprehension¡¡of¡¡Luther's

preaching¡¡on¡¡good¡¡works¡¡depended¡¡on¡¡an¡¡evangelical¡¡understanding

of¡¡faith£»¡¡as¡¡deep¡¡as¡¡was¡¡Luther's¡¡own¡£¡¡The¡¡Middle¡¡Ages¡¡had

differentiated¡¡between¡¡fides¡¡informis£»¡¡a¡¡formless¡¡faith£»¡¡and

fides¡¡formata¡¡or¡¡informata£»¡¡a¡¡formed¡¡or¡¡ornate¡¡faith¡£¡¡The¡¡former

w

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ