Opening of the book
COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE
TO THE GALATIANS
(1535)
By Martin Luther
Translated by Theodore Graebner
PREFACE
The preparation of this edition of Luther's Commentary on Galatians was first suggested to me by Mr. P. J. Zondervan, of the firm of publishers, in March, 1937. The consultation had the twofold merit of definiteness and brevity.
"Luther is still the greatest name in Protestantism. We want you to help us publish some leading work of Luther's for the general
American market. Will you do it?"
"I will, on one condition."
"And what is that?"
"The condition is that I will be permitted to make Luther talk
American, 'streamline' him, so to speak—because you will never get people, whether in or outside the Lutheran Church, actually to read
Luther unless we make him talk as he would talk today to Americans."
I illustrated the point by reading to Mr. Zondervan a few sentences from an English translation lately reprinted by an American publisher, of one of Luther's outstanding reformatory essays.
The demonstration seemed to prove convincing for it was agreed that one may as well offer Luther in the original German or Latin as expect the American church-member to read any translations that would adhere to Luther's German or Latin constructions and employ the Mid-Victorian type of English characteristic of the translations now on the market.
"And what book would be your choice?"
"There is one book that Luther himself likes better than any other.
Let us begin with that: his Commentary on Galatians..."
The undertaking, which seemed so attractive when viewed as a literary task, proved a most difficult one, and at times became oppressive. The Letter to the Galatians consists of six short chapters.
Luther's commentary fills seven hundred and thirty-three octavo pages in the Weidman Edition of his works. It was written in Latin. We were
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