Martin Luther

Continuing a short series on Romans 8: [Of vv. 4-13] You must not understand flesh here read more

Continuing a short series on Romans 8: [Of vv. 4-13] You must not understand flesh here as denoting only unchastity or spirit as denoting only the inner heart. Here St. Paul calls flesh (as does Christ in John 3) everything born of flesh, i.e. the whole human being with body and soul, reason and senses, since everything in him tends toward the flesh. That is why you should know enough to call that person "fleshly" who, without grace, fabricates, teaches and chatters about high spiritual matters. You can learn the same thing from Galatians, chapter 5, where St. Paul calls heresy and hatred works of the flesh. And in Romans, chapter 8, he says that, through the flesh, the law is weakened. He says this, not of unchastity, but of all sins, most of all of unbelief, which is the most spiritual of vices.

Peace is more important than all justice; and was not made for the sake of justice, but justice for the read more

Peace is more important than all justice; and was not made for the sake of justice, but justice for the sake of peace.

A preacher must be both soldier and shepherd. He must nourish, defend, and teach; he must have teeth in his read more

A preacher must be both soldier and shepherd. He must nourish, defend, and teach; he must have teeth in his mouth, and be able to bite and fight.

The fewer words the better prayer.

The fewer words the better prayer.

If any man ascribes anything of salvation, even the very least thing, to the free will of man, he knows read more

If any man ascribes anything of salvation, even the very least thing, to the free will of man, he knows nothing of grace, and he has not learned Jesus Christ rightly