



Produced by Ron Swanson





THE PRECIOUS AND SACRED WRITINGS OF MARTIN LUTHER

_The Hero of the Reformation, the Greatest of the Teuton Church
Fathers, and the Father of Protestant Church Literature_

BASED ON THE KAISER CHRONOLOGICAL EDITION WITH REFERENCE TO THE
ERLANGEN AND WALCH EDITIONS

EDITED BY JOHN NICHOLAS LENKER, D.D. IN CONNECTION WITH LEADING
SCHOLARS OF ALL PARTS OF THE CHURCH

LUTHERANS IN ALL LANDS CO.,
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., U.S.A.
1904




LUTHER ON THE CREATION

A CRITICAL AND DEVOTIONAL COMMENTARY ON GENESIS

BASED ON DR. HENRY COLE'S TRANSLATION FROM THE ORIGINAL LATIN.
REVISED, ENLARGED, PARTS RETRANSLATED AND EDITED IN COMPLETE FORM

BY

JOHN NICHOLAS LENKER, D.D.

PROFESSOR OF OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS, AUTHOR OF "LUTHERANS IN ALL
LANDS" AND PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL LUTHERAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION




VOL. I.




LUTHERANS IN ALL LANDS CO.,
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., U.S.A.
1904




COPYRIGHT, 1904,
BY PROF. J. N. LENKER, D.D.




SECOND INTRODUCTION

--to--

LUTHER'S WORKS IN ENGLISH.


This introduction or prospectus is supplementary to that in the first
volume on the Psalms, in that it likewise emphasizes, though from
different view-points, the history and fruits, as well as the present
need and future mission of the Protestant Classics of the greatest of
all reformers in their relation to the development of the human race.

Let us in this introduction briefly notice the following: The progress
of the movement to translate and circulate Luther's works in English,
and then emphasize the need of developing an interest to read them;
first, because of the relation of Luther and his writings to the
public library; and secondly, because as the chief of the Teuton
Protestant Church Fathers, we need to understand Luther in his
relation to the Greek and Latin Church Fathers, and our true historic
relations to them all.


THE PROGRESS OF THE MOVEMENT.

With profound gratitude to Almighty God for his rich blessing bestowed
upon the publication and quick sale of the first volume, Luther's
Commentary on the Psalms, a book "the mourning soul cannot well be
without," we now send forth the first volume of his Commentary on
Genesis, with the confidence that those, who think with Melanchthon
that "a single page of Luther contains more sound divinity than many
whole volumes," will not change their opinion by studying this volume.
Having purchased all the copies of Luther on Galatians and his Notes
on the Gospels by Dr. P. Anstadt, and the right to reprint them, with
two other volumes about ready for the press, one by Prof. E. F.
Bartholomew, D.D., and another by Dr. Bernhard Pick, our progress is
encouraging, especially since the movement has taken an intersynodical
character with colaborers from every branch of our polyglot communion.


LUTHER ON THE OLD TESTAMENT NEEDED FIRST.

This volume on Genesis follows the first volume on the Psalms because
the volumes ought to be published first that are needed most and will
do the most good. As Professor of Old Testament Exegesis I found that
like "Luther on the Psalms" so "Luther on Genesis" was not accessible
to the English, Swedish, Norwegian and Danish students of theology,
Prof. Bugge's Norwegian translation of extracts from it being out of
print. Therefore we believe this volume also will be welcomed by all
Old Testament professors and students. While both these volumes will
be a healthy corrective to the Old Testament critics, their
contribution to the biblical knowledge and the devotional life of
Protestantism cannot be exaggerated. Though first delivered to
critical students they have also been extensively read in family
worship. Luther began and closed his blessed ministry in the church of
God not by fighting the Pope, but by expounding the Word of God. He
began by explaining the whole Psalter from 1513 to 1516 (before 1517)
forming volumes III and IV of the Kaiser Chronological Edition and
closed his life's labors by expounding the first book of the Bible,
Genesis, which composes volumes I and II of the St. Louis Walch
edition. He commenced with the penitential Psalms of David and ended
with Moses, the earliest writings of the Old Testament. The reason so
many preachers and congregations neglect the Old Testament is because
it is neglected in the seminaries. God willing a volume of Luther on
the Prophetical Books will be issued and then in all three years at
the seminary the students may have something of Luther on the
Pentateuch, Psalms and Prophets.


LUTHER'S WORDS ON PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

In the recent marvelous development of public libraries it is held if
it is the duty of the state to teach the child to read for the welfare
of the child and of the state, it is also the duty of the state to
offer the child something to read. Hence the library is being
supported by taxation like the public school, and the library
buildings are being erected near the high schools. It is as President
Roosevelt said while west recently, our civilization rests on the
church, the school and the library. The library is the child of the
church and school and will in turn greatly influence both. Luther, the
founder of the Protestant Church, and the founder of the Public
School, is also the founder of the Protestant Library. Yea, more,
nearly four hundred years ago he united the school and the library as
is proved by the following:

It is noteworthy that Luther closes his "Address to the Mayors and
Aldermen of all the Cities of Germany in behalf of Christian Schools,"
which is considered by educators for its pioneer character and
statements of principles "the most important educational treatise ever
written," by a powerful appeal in behalf of public libraries which I
give in full from Luther on Education by Prof. Painter.

Luther concludes that great educational treatise thus:

"Finally, this must be taken into consideration by all who earnestly
desire to see such schools established and the study of the languages
preserved in the German states; that no cost nor pains should be
spared to procure good libraries in suitable buildings, especially in
the large cities that are able to afford it. For if a knowledge of the
Gospel and of every kind of learning is to be preserved, it must be
embodied in books, as the prophets and apostles did, as I have already
shown. This should be done, not only that our spiritual and civil
leaders may have something to read and study, but also that good books
may not be lost, and that the arts and languages may be preserved,
with which God has graciously favored us. St. Paul was diligent in
this matter, since he lays the injunction upon Timothy, 'Give heed to
reading,' I Tim. 4:13, and directs him to bring the books, but
especially the parchments left at Troas, 2 Tim. 4:13.

"All the kingdoms that have been distinguished in the world have
bestowed care upon this matter, and particularly the Israelites, among
whom Moses was the first to begin the work, who commanded them to
preserve the book of the law in the ark of God, and put it under the
care of Levites, that any one might procure copies from them. He even
commanded the king to make a copy of this book in the hands of the
Levites. Among other duties, God directed the Levitical priesthood to
preserve and attend to the books. Afterwards Joshua increased and
improved this library, as did subsequently Samuel, David, Solomon,
Isaiah, and many kings and prophets. Hence have come to us the Holy
Scriptures of the Old Testament, which would not otherwise have been
collected and preserved, if God had not required such diligence in
regard to it.

"After this example collegiate churches and convents formerly founded
libraries, although with few good books. And the injury from the
neglect to procure books and good libraries, when there were men and
books enough for that purpose, was afterwards perceived in the decline
of every kind of knowledge; and instead of good books, the senseless,
useless, and hurtful books of the monks, the Catholicon, Florista,
Graecista, Labyrinthus, Dormi Secure (names of Latin grammars and
collections of sermons), and the like, were introduced by Satan, so
that the Latin language was corrupted, and neither good schools, good
instruction, nor good methods of study remained. And as we see, the
language and arts are, in an imperfect manner, recovered from
fragments of old books rescued from the worms and dust; and every day
men are seeking these literary remains, as people dig in the ashes of
a ruined city after treasures and jewels.

"Therein we have received our just due, and God has well recompensed
our ingratitude, in that we did not consider his benefits, and lay up
a supply of good literature when we had time and opportunity, but
neglected it, as if we were not concerned. He in turn, instead of the
Holy Scriptures and good books, suffered Aristotle and numberless
pernicious books to come into use, which only lead us further from the
Bible. To these were added the progeny of Satan, the monks and the
phantoms of the universities, which we founded at incredible cost, and
many doctors, preachers, teachers, priests and monks, that is to say,
great, coarse, fat fellows, adorned with red and brown caps, like
swine led with a golden chain and decorated with pearls; and we have
burdened ourselves with them, who have taught us nothing useful, but
have made us more and more blind and stupid, and as a reward have
consumed all our property, and filled all the cloisters, and indeed
every corner