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← Luther's Little Prayer Book (Ein Betbüchlein)/Book 1 · Betbüchlein (Ein Betbüchlein)
Chapter 3Betbuechlein.1.3

Auslegung des Glaubens

The Triune Foundation of Faith

The Creed is structured around the three Persons of the Trinity, distinguishing between mere historical knowledge and a living, trusting faith.

The Creed is divided into three main parts, corresponding to the three Persons of the holy divine Trinity as they are presented in it.1 The first part is ascribed to the Father, the second to the Son, and the third to the Holy Spirit, for this is the highest article in the Creed, upon which all the others depend. It should be noted here that there are two ways of believing. First, regarding God: that is, when I believe that what people say about God is true. It’s just like believing that what people say about the Turk, the Devil, and Hell is true.2 This kind of faith is more knowledge or opinion than faith.3 In the second way, one believes in God—that is, when I not only believe that what is said about God is true, but put my trust in him, entrust myself to him and venture to deal with him, and believe without any doubt that he will be and act toward me just as people say of him.4 In that sense, I wouldn't put my faith in the Turk or in any human being, no matter how highly people praised him. For I easily believe that a man is upright; that still doesn't mean I dare to build on him.5 This kind of faith—a faith that dares to rely on God as He is revealed, whether in life or in death—is what makes a person a Christian, and it obtains from God everything it seeks. A false heart cannot possess it, for this is a living faith, and it is commanded in the First Commandment: I am your God; you shall have no other gods.✦ That’s why the little word "in" is so well chosen, and we should carefully take it to heart: we don’t say, "I believe God the Father," or "about the Father," but rather, "in God the Father, in Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit."6 And faith should be given to no one except God alone. That is how the divinity of Jesus Christ and of the Holy Spirit is made known: that we believe in them just as we believe in the Father.7 And just as it is one and the same faith in all three Persons, so the three Persons are also one God.

The First Article: Trust in the Creator

An exposition of the First Article, emphasizing renunciation of idols and absolute trust in God the Father as the source of all security.

The first part of the Creed. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. That is: I renounce the evil spirit, all idolatry, all sorcery, and false belief. I don't put my trust in any human being on earth, nor even in myself, nor in my power, skill, goods, piety, or anything else I may have.✦ I don't put my trust in any creature, whether in heaven or on earth. I weigh this carefully and place my trust solely in the one, invisible God, who created heaven and earth and alone stands above every creature.8 Again, I am not terrified by all the wickedness of the devil and his company, because my God is above them all. I believe in God just as much, even if everyone were to abandon or persecute me. I believe nonetheless, even if I am poor, lacking understanding, unlearned, and despised, or if I lack everything. I believe nonetheless, even though I am a sinner. This faith of mine should and must hover above everything that is and isn't, above sin and virtue, and above all things, so that it keeps itself pure and clean toward God, just as the first commandment compels me to do. I also don't desire any sign from him, so as to put him to the test.✦ I trust him steadfastly, however long he delays, and I set him no limit, time, measure, or manner, but entrust everything to his divine will in a free, true faith. Since he is almighty, then, what can I lack that he cannot give me and do for me?✦ Since he is Creator of heaven and earth, and Lord of all things, who will take anything from me or do me harm?✦ And how could all things not work for my good and serve me, if He wishes me well—the One to whom they are all obedient and subject?✦9 Because he is God, he both can and knows how to deal with me for the best; because he is Father, he also wants to do it, and he does it gladly from the heart. Since I don't doubt this and place my trust in him, I'm certain that I'm his child, servant, and heir forever—and it will be done for me as I believe.

The Second Article: The Work of the Redeemer

An exposition of the Second Article, detailing how Christ's life, death, and resurrection serve to redeem the believer from sin, death, and the devil.

Part Two. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.✦✦✦✦✦ That is: I believe not only that Jesus Christ is the true and only Son of God, in one eternal divine nature and essence, eternally begotten from everlasting, but also that the Father has subjected all things to him, and that according to his humanity he has been set as Lord of me and of all things—the things he created with the Father according to his divinity. I believe that no one can believe in the Father or come to the Father through skill, works, reason, or anything else you could name in heaven or on earth, but only in and through Jesus Christ, his only Son—that is, through faith in his name and lordship. I firmly believe that he was conceived for my good by the Holy Spirit, without any human or fleshly act, without a bodily father or a man's seed. So that he might purify my sinful, fleshly, unclean, damnable conception—and that of all who believe in him—and make it spiritual, through the gracious will of himself and of the Almighty Father.1011 I believe that He was born for me of the pure Virgin Mary, without any harm to her bodily or spiritual virginity, so that according to the order of the Father's mercy He would bless my sinful and damned birth—and that of all who believe in Him—and make it harmless and pure. I believe that He bore His suffering and cross for my sins and the sins of all believers, and that through this, He has blessed every suffering and every cross, making them not only harmless, but also healing and highly meritorious.✦ I believe that He died and was buried to completely put to death and bury my sin and the sin of all who believe in Him; and that He has also slain bodily death, making it entirely harmless, useful, and salutary.✦✦✦ I believe that He descended into hell to crush and take captive the devil and all his power, cunning, and malice for me and for His believers, so that from now on the devil cannot harm me, and that He has redeemed me from the torment of hell, which He has also made harmless and meritorious.✦12 I believe that he rose from the dead on the third day to give new life to me and to all who believe in him.✦ And so he has raised me up with him in grace and Spirit, never again to sin, but to serve him alone in every kind of grace and virtue, and in this way to fulfill God's commandments.✦✦13 I believe that he has ascended into heaven and received from the Father power and honor over all angels and creatures, and so sits at the right hand of God—that is, he is King and Lord over all God's goods in heaven, hell, and earth.✦✦ Therefore, he can help me and all believers in all our needs, against all our adversaries and enemies.✦ I believe that he will come again from there, from heaven, on the Last Day, to judge the living, who will still be found then, and the dead, who by then will have died.✦14 All people, angels, and devils must appear before his judgment seat and see him bodily—to redeem me and all his believers from physical death and every infirmity, to punish his enemies and adversaries forever, and to free us eternally from their power.✦✦

The Third Article: The Life of the Spirit

An exposition of the Third Article, explaining the Holy Spirit's role in gathering the Church, granting forgiveness, and preparing the believer for eternal life.

Part Three. I believe in the Holy Spirit, one holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the flesh, and everlasting life. Amen.15 That is: I believe not only that the Holy Spirit is a true God with the Father and the Son, but also that no one can come into and to the Father through Christ and his life, death, and everything that is said of him, or obtain any of it, without the work of the Holy Spirit, with which the Father and✦16 the Son touch, awaken, call, and draw me and all who are His, through and in Christ; make them alive, holy, and spiritual; and so bring them to the Father. For He is that by which the Father works everything through Christ and in Christ and makes it alive.✦✦17 I believe that on earth, as far as the world reaches, there is only one holy Christian Church, which is nothing other than the community or gathering of the saints—the devout, believing people on earth—who are gathered, preserved, and governed by that same Holy Spirit, and increased daily through the Sacraments and the Word of God.18 I believe that no one can be saved who isn't found in this community, holding with her in one accord—in one faith, Word, Sacraments, hope, and love—and that no Jew, heathen, heretic, or sinner will be saved with her, unless he is reconciled to her, united with her, and made like her in all things.✦ I believe that in this community, or Christendom, all things are held in common: each person's goods belong to the others, and no one has anything as his own alone. Therefore, all the prayers and good works of the entire community must come to help me and every believer, stand by us, and strengthen us at all times, in life and in death. And so, as St. Paul teaches, each one bears the other's burden.✦ I believe that in that same community—and nowhere else—there is forgiveness of sins. That outside it, good works do no good for the forgiveness of sins, however many and great they may be; but inside it, it does no harm to the forgiveness of sins, however much, how greatly, and how often people may have sinned—which forgiveness remains wherever and as long as that same one community remains.19 Christ gives the keys to this community, and he says in Matthew 18: "What you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." And the same is said to Peter alone, standing in the place of and signifying the one individual Church—Matthew2021 16: "What you loose," and so on. I believe in the coming resurrection of the dead, in which, through that same Holy Spirit, all flesh will be raised again—meaning all people, whether godly or wicked, will be raised in body and flesh.✦ This means that the very same flesh that died, was buried, decayed, and perished in any number of ways will return and be made alive again. I believe that after the resurrection there will be an eternal life for the saints and an eternal death for sinners. And I do not doubt any of this: the Father, through the Son Jesus Christ our Lord, with and in the Holy Spirit, will let all these things come to pass for me—that is, Amen: that is, it is faithfully and certainly true.✦2223

Read the original Latin

DEr Glaube theilet sich in drey Heuptstück / nach dem die drey Person der heiligen Göttlichen Dreyfaltigkeit darin erzehlet werden. Das erste dem Vater / Das ander dem Sohn / Das dritte dem heiligen Geiste zu zueignen / Denn das ist der höheste Artickel im Glauben / darinnen die andern alle hangen.

Hie ist zu mercken / daß zweyerley weise gegleubet wird. Zum ersten / von Gott / das ist / Wenn ich gleube / daß es wahr sey / was man von Gott sagt. Gleich als wenn ich gleube / daß wahr sey / was man vom Türcken / Teuffel / Helle sagt. Dieser Glaube ist mehr ein wissenschafft oder wahn / denn ein Glaube.

Zum andern wird an Gott gegleubet / das ist / wenn ich nicht allein gleube / daß wahr sey / was von Gott gesagt wird / sondern setze mein trawen in jhn / begebe vnd erwege mich mit jhm zu handeln / vnnd gleube ohn allen zweiffel / er werde mir also seyn vnd thun / wie man von jhm sagt. Auff welche weise ich nicht gleubte / dem Türcken oder Menschen / wie hoch man sein Lob preisete. Denn ich gleube leichtlich / daß ein Man from sey / ich wags darumb nicht / auff jhn zu bawen.

Solcher Glaube / der es wagt auff Gott / wie von jhm gesagt wird / es sey im leben oder sterben / der macht allein einen Christen Menschen / vnnd erlanget von Gott alles was er wil / den mag kein falsches Hertz haben / denn das ist ein lebendiger Glaube / vnd der wird geboten im ersten Gebot / das da sagt / Ich bin dein Gott / Du solt kein ander Götter haben.

Darumb ist das Wörtlein / An / fast wol gesetzt / vnd mit fleiß wahrzunemen / daß wir nicht sagen / Ich gleube Gott dem Vater / oder von dem Vater / Sondern / An Gott den Vater / An Jesum Christum / An den heiligen Geist. Vnnd den Glauben sol man niemand geben / denn allein Gott. Darumb wird die Gottheit Jesu Christi vnd des heiligen Geistes damit bekant / daß wir an jhn / gleich wie an den Vater gleuben. Vnd wie es ein gleicher Glaube ist an alle drey Person / so sind die drey Person auch ein Gott.

Das Erste Theil des Glaubens.

ICh gleube an GOTT den Vater Allmechtigen / Schöpffer Himels vnnd Erden.

Das ist:

Ich versage dem bösen Geist / aller Abgötterey / aller Zeuberey vnd Mißglauben.

Ich setze mein Trawen auff keinen Menschen auff Erden / auch nicht auff mich selbs / noch auffmein Gewalt / Kunst / Gut / Frömigkeit / oder was ich haben mag.

Ich setze mein Trawen auff keine Creatur / sie sind im Himel oder auff Erden.

Ich erwege vnnd setze mein Trawen allein auff den blossen vnsichtlichen einigen Gott / der Himel vnd Erden geschaffen hat / vnd allein vber alle Creatur ist. Wiederumb entsetze ich mich nicht für aller bößheit des Teuffels / vnd seiner Geselschafft / denn mein Gott vber sie alle ist.

Ich gleube nichts desto weniger an Gott / ob ich von allen Menschen verlassen oder verfolget were.

Ich gleube nichts desto weniger / ob ich Arm / Vnuerstendig / Vngelehret / veracht bin / oder alles dinges mangel.

Ich gleube nichts desto weniger / ob ich ein Sünder bin / Denn dieser mein Glaube sol vnd muß schweben vber alles was da ist vnd nicht ist / vber Sünde vnnd Tugend / vnd vber alles / auff daß er an Gott lauter vnd rein sich halte / wie mich das erste Gebot dringet.

Ich begehre auch kein Zeichen von jhm / jhn zuuersuchen.

Ich trawe bestendiglich auff jhn / wie lange er verzeucht / vnd setze jhm kein Ziel / Zeit / Maß oder Weise / sondern stelle es alles heim seinem Göttlichen Willen / in einem freyen richtigen Glauben.

So er denn Allmechtig ist / was mag mir gebrechen / das er mir nicht geben vnd thun möge?

So er Schöpffer Himels vnd Erden ist / vnd aller ding ein HERR / Wer wil mir etwas nehmen oder schaden? Ja wie wollen mir nicht alle ding zu gut kommen vnd dienen / wenn er mir guts gan / dem sie alle gehorsam vnnd vnterthan sind?

Dieweil er denn Gott ist / so mag er vnd weiß / wie er es machen mit mir sol auffs beste / dieweil er Vater ist / so wil ers auch thun / vnd thut es hertzlich gerne.

Dieweil ich daran nicht zweiffel / vnd setze mein Traw also auff jhn / so bin ich gewiß sein Kind / Diener vnd Erbe ewiglich / Vnnd wird mir geschehen / wie ich gleube.

Das Ander Theil.

VNnd an Jesum Christum seinen einigen Sohn vnsern Herrn / der empfangen ist von dem heiligen Geist / geborn von der Jungfrawen Maria / gelitten vnter Pontio Pilato / gecreutziget / gestorben vnnd begraben / Nieder gestiegen zu der Helle / am dritten Tage aufferstanden von den Todten / auffgefahren gen Himel / Sitzend zur rechten Gottes des Allmechtigen Vaters / von dannen er zukünfftig ist / zu richten die Lebendigen vnd die Todten.

Das ist:

Ich gleube nicht allein / daß Jesus Christus warhafftiger einiger GOttes Sohn ist / in einer ewigen Göttlichen Natur vnd Wesen / von ewigkeit jmer geboren / sondern auch daß jhm von dem Vater alle ding vnterworffen sind / vnd auch nach der Menscheit mein vnd aller ding ein HERR gesetzt ist / die er mit dem Vater nach der Gottheit geschaffen hat.

Ich gleube / daß niemand an den Vater gleuben / vnd zu dem Vater kommen mag / weder durch Kunst / Werck / Vernunfft / noch alles das man nennen kan im Himel vnd auff Erden / denn allein in vnd durch Jesum Christum seinen einigen Sohn / das ist / durch den Glauben an seinem Namen vnd Herrschafft.

Ich gleube festiglich / daß er mir zu gut empfangen ist von dem heiligen Geist / ohn alles Menschlichs vnnd Fleischlichs Werck / ohn leiblichen Vater oder Mans Samen. Auff daß er mein vnnd aller die an jhn gleuben / Sündliche / Fleischliche / vnreine / verdamliche Empfengnis reinigte / vnd Geistlich machete / durch gnedigen willen seines vnnd des Allmechtigen Vaters.

Ich gleube / daß er mir geborn ist / von der reinen Jungfrawen Maria / ohn allen schaden jhrer Leiblichen vnnd Geistlichen Jungfrawschafft / auff daß er nach ordenung Väterlicher Barmhertzigkeit / meine Sündliche vnd verdampte Geburt vnd aller seiner Gleubigen segnete / vnschedlich vnd rein machte.

Ich gleube / daß er sein Leiden vnnd Creutz für meine vñ aller Gleubigen Sünde getragen hat / vnnd dadurch alle Leiden vnd Creutz gesegnet / vnd nicht allein vnschedlich / sondern auch heilsam vnd hochverdienstlich gemacht hat.

Ich gleube / daß er gestorben vnd begraben ist / meine Sünde vnd aller seiner Gleubigen gantz zu tödten vnd begraben / dazu den Leiblichen Todt erwürget / vnnd gantz vnschedlich / nützlich / heilsam gemacht hat.

Ich gleube / daß er zu der Helle nieder gestiegen ist / den Teuffel vnd alle seine gewalt / list vnd bößheit / mir vnnd seinen Gleubigen zu dempffen vnd gefangen zu nehmen / daß mir der Teuffel hinfort nicht schaden kan / vnnd mich von der Hellen pein erlöset / die auch vnschedlich vnd verdienstlich gemacht.

Ich gleube / daß er sey aufferstanden am dritten Tage von den Todten / mir vnd allen seinen Gleubigen ein newes Leben zu geben. Vnd also mit jhm in Gnaden vnd Geist erwecket hat / hinfort nimer zu sündigen / sondern jhm allein zu dienen / in allerley Gnaden vnd Tugenden / vnnd also die Gebot Gottes erfüllen.

Ich gleube / daß er auffgefahren sey gen Himel / vnd von dem Vater empfangen Gewalt vnnd Ehre / vber alle Engel vnd Creaturen / vnd also sitzet zu der rechten Hand Gottes / Das ist / Er ist ein König vnd HERR vber alle Gottes Güter im Himel / Helle vnd Erden. Derhalben er helffen kan mir vnd allen Gleubigen / in allen vnsern nöten / wieder alle vnser Wiedersacher vnd Feinde.

Ich gleube / daß er wieder von dannen / von dem Himel kommen wird am Jüngsten Tage / zu richten die Lebendigen / die denn erfunden werden / vnd Todten / die in des verstorben sind. Vnd alle Menschen / alle Engel vnd Teuffel / für seinen Gerichsstuel komen müssen / vnd jhn leiblich sehen / mich vnd alle seine Gleubigen zu erlösen von dem Leiblichen Todt vnnd allen Gebrechen / vnd zu straffen ewiglich seine Feinde vnd Wiedersacher / vnd vns von jhrer gewalt ewiglich zu erlösen.

Das Dritte Theil.

ICh gleube an den heiligen Geist / eine heilige Christliche Kirche / eine gemeinschafft der Heiligen / Vergebung der Sünden / Aufferstehung des Fleisches / vnd ein Ewiges Leben / Amen.

Das ist:

Ich gleube nicht allein / daß der heilige Geist ein warhafftiger Gott ist / mit dem Vater vnd Sohn / Sondern auch in vnd zu dem Vater durch Christum vnnd sein Leben / Sterben vnd alles was von jm gesagt ist / niemand kommen noch etwas desselben erlangen mag / ohn des heiligen Geistes werck / mit welchem der Vater vnd

Sohn / mich vnd alle die seinen rüret / wecket / rüffet / zeucht / durch vnd in Christo / Lebendig / Heilig vnd Geistlich macht / vnd also zum Vater bringt / Denn er ist das / damit der Vater durch Christum vnd in Christo alles wircket vnd lebendig macht.

Ich gleube / daß da sey auff Erden / so weit die Welt ist / nicht mehr denn eine heilige gemeine Christliche Kirche / Welche nicht anders ist / denn die gemeine oder samlung der Heiligen / der frommen / gleubigen Menschen auff Erden / welche durch denselben heiligen Geist versamlet / erhalten vnd regieret wird / vnd täglich in den Sacramenten vnd Wort Gottes gemehret.

Ich gleube / daß niemand kan Selig werden / der nicht in dieser Gemeine erfunden wird / eintrechtiglich mit jhr haltend / in einem Glauben / Wort / Sacramenten / Hoffnung vnd Liebe / vnnd kein Jüde / Heyde / Ketzer oder Sünder mit jhr Selig werde / es sey denn / daß er sich mit jhr versüne / vereinige / vnd jhr gleichförmig werde in allen dingen.

Ich gleube / daß in dieser Gemeine oder Christenheit alle ding gemeine sind / eines jeglichen Güter des andern eigen / vnnd niemand ichts eigen sey. Darumb mir vnd einem jeglichen Gleubigen / alle Gebet vnd gute Werck der gantzen Gemeine / zu hülff komme / beystehen vnnd stercken müssen zu aller zeit / in Leben vnd Sterben. Vnd also ein jeglicher des andern Bürde tregt / wie S. Paulus lehret.

Ich gleube / daß da sey in derselben Gemeine / vnd sonst nirgend / vergebung der Sünde. Daß ausser derselben nicht helffe / wie viel vnd groß die gute Werck jmer seyn mügen / zur Sünden vergebung / Aber inner derselben nicht schade / wie viel / groß vnd offt gesündiget werden mag / zu vergebung der Sünde / welche bleibt / wo vnd wie lange dieselbige einige Gemeine bleibt. Welcher Christus die Schlüssel gibt / vnd spricht Matth. 18. Was jhr werdet auff binden auff Erden / sol auffgebunden seyn in dem Himel / Desselbigen gleichen zu dem entzelen Petro / an stat vnnd bedeutung der entzelen vnd einigen Kirchen / Matth. 16. Was du wirst auffbinden / etc.

Ich gleube / daß da zukünfftig ist eine Aufferstehung der Todten / in welcher durch denselben heiligen Geist / wird wieder aufferweckt werden alles Fleisch / das ist / alle Menschen nach dem Leib oder Fleisch / fromme vnd bösen. Also / daß eben dasselbige Fleisch / das gestorben / begraben / verwesen / vnd mancher weise vmbkommen ist / wieder komen sol vnd lebendig werden.

Ich gleube / daß nach der Aufferstehung seyn wird ein ewiges Leben der Heiligen / vnd ewiges Sterben der Sünder / Vnd zweiffel an dem allen nicht / der Vater durch den Sohn Jesum Christum vnsern Herren / mit vnd in dem heiligen Geist / werde mir diese Stücke alle lassen geschehen / das ist / Amen / Das ist / Es ist trewlich vnd gewiß wahr.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Deut.5.6-Deut.5.7 — I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Deut.5.7 — You shall have no other gods before me.
  2. ↩Ps.146.3;Jer.17.5 — Do not put your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. Jer.17.5 — Thus says the LORD: Cursed is the man who trusts in man, who makes flesh his arm, and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
  3. ↩Deut.6.16;Matt.4.7;Luke.4.12;Matt.12.38-Matt.12.39;John.4.48 — You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. Matt.4.7 — Jesus said to him again, 'It is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.' Luke.4.12 — And Jesus answered him, 'It is said, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.' Matt.12.38 — Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." Matt.12.39 — But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." John.4.48 — So Jesus said to him, 'Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe.'
  4. ↩Ps.23.1 — A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
  5. ↩Rom.8.31 — What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
  6. ↩Rom.8.28 — And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good — for those who are called according to his purpose.
  7. ↩Matt.1.18-Matt.1.23;Luke.1.26-Luke.1.35 — Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened in this way: after his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. Matt.1.19 — And Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. Matt.1.20 — But as he was considering these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.' Matt.1.21 — She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Matt.1.22 — All this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: Matt.1.23 — "Look, the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call his name Immanuel," which means, "God with us." Luke.1.26 — In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee whose name was Nazareth, Luke.1.27 — to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. Luke.1.28 — And coming to her, he said, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.' Luke.1.29 — But she was troubled at his message, and she kept pondering what sort of greeting this might be. Luke.1.30 — And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Luke.1.31 — And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. Luke.1.32 — He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. Luke.1.33 — And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. Luke.1.34 — But Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not known a man?" Luke.1.35 — And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore also the one to be born will be called Son of God."
  8. ↩1Pet.3.18-1Pet.3.19;Eph.4.9 — For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God — put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit. 1Pet.3.19 — in which also he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, Eph.4.9 — Now "he ascended"—what does it mean except that he also descended into the lower regions, the earth?
  9. ↩1Cor.15.3-1Cor.15.4 — For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. 1Cor.15.4 — and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
  10. ↩Mark.16.19;Acts.1.9-Acts.1.11;Ps.110.1 — So then, after the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. Acts.1.9 — And after he said these things, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. Acts.1.10 — And as they were looking intently into the sky as he was going, behold, two men stood beside them in white garments. Acts.1.11 — Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way you saw him go into heaven. Ps.110.1 — The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool."
  11. ↩Acts.10.42;2Tim.4.1 — And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. 2Tim.4.1 — I charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is about to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
  12. ↩Isa.53.4-Isa.53.6;1Pet.2.24 — And Surely he carried our sicknesses and bore our pains, yet we considered him stricken, struck by God, and afflicted. Isa.53.5 — But he was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isa.53.6 — All of us, like sheep, have gone astray; each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 1Pet.2.24 — He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness — by whose wounds you were healed.
  13. ↩1Cor.15.3-1Cor.15.4 — For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. 1Cor.15.4 — and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
  14. ↩Rom.6.3-Rom.6.11 — Or are you unaware that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Rom.6.4 — Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so also we might walk in newness of life. Rom.6.5 — For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall also be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection. Rom.6.6 — We know this: our old self was crucified with him, so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we might no longer be enslaved to sin. Rom.6.7 — For the one who has died has been justified from sin. Rom.6.8 — Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Rom.6.9 — knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no longer; death no longer has dominion over him. Rom.6.10 — For the death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. Rom.6.11 — So also you, consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
  15. ↩Heb.2.14;1Cor.15.54-1Cor.15.57;Phil.1.21 — Since, therefore, the children have shared in blood and flesh, he himself also in like manner partook of the same, so that through death he might destroy the one having the power of death, that is, the devil, 1Cor.15.54 — But when this perishable puts on imperishability, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' 1Cor.15.55 — Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? 1Cor.15.56 — The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 1Cor.15.57 — But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Phil.1.21 — For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
  16. ↩Col.2.15;Eph.4.8-Eph.4.9 — He disarmed the rulers and the authorities, made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Eph.4.8 — Therefore it says, 'When he ascended on high he led captivity captive, and he gave gifts to men.' Eph.4.9 — Now "he ascended"—what does it mean except that he also descended into the lower regions, the earth?
  17. ↩Rom.6.4 — Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so also we might walk in newness of life.
  18. ↩Rom.6.4-Rom.6.11;Eph.2.5-Eph.2.6;Col.3.1 — Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so also we might walk in newness of life. Rom.6.5 — For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall also be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection. Rom.6.6 — We know this: our old self was crucified with him, so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we might no longer be enslaved to sin. Rom.6.7 — For the one who has died has been justified from sin. Rom.6.8 — Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Rom.6.9 — knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no longer; death no longer has dominion over him. Rom.6.10 — For the death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. Rom.6.11 — So also you, consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Eph.2.5 — even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— Eph.2.6 — and raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus Col.3.1 — If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
  19. ↩Rom.6.6-Rom.6.13 — We know this: our old self was crucified with him, so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we might no longer be enslaved to sin. Rom.6.7 — For the one who has died has been justified from sin. Rom.6.8 — Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Rom.6.9 — knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no longer; death no longer has dominion over him. Rom.6.10 — For the death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. Rom.6.11 — So also you, consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Rom.6.12 — Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. Rom.6.13 — And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
  20. ↩Ps.110.1;Mark.16.19 — The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool." Mark.16.19 — So then, after the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
  21. ↩Matt.28.18;Phil.2.9-Phil.2.11 — And Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.' Phil.2.9 — Therefore God also exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name, Phil.2.10 — so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, Phil.2.11 — and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
  22. ↩Heb.4.14-Heb.4.16;Rom.8.34 — Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. Heb.4.15 — For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in every way, yet without sin. Heb.4.16 — Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Rom.8.34 — Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus—the one who died, and more than that, was raised—who is also at the right hand of God, and who also intercedes for us.
  23. ↩Acts.1.11;2Tim.4.1;1Pet.4.5 — Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way you saw him go into heaven. 2Tim.4.1 — I charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is about to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 1Pet.4.5 — They will give an account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
  24. ↩Rom.14.10;2Cor.5.10 — But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 2Cor.5.10 — For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what has been done through the body, whether good or evil.
  25. ↩Job.19.25-Job.19.27;1John.3.2;Rev.1.7 — But I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the dust." "Dust" better links to mortality and verse 26 while remaining clear. Job.19.26 — And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God Job.19.27 — whom I myself shall see, and my eyes have seen, and not another; my kidneys are consumed within me. 1John.3.2 — Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. We know that when he is revealed, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. Rev.1.7 — Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him. Yes, Amen.
  26. ↩John.14.6;1Cor.12.3;John.6.44 — Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' 1Cor.12.3 — Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. John.6.44 — No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
  27. ↩John.6.44 — No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
  28. ↩John.6.63;Rom.8.11;2Cor.3.6 — It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no benefit. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. Rom.8.11 — And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 2Cor.3.6 — who also has made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
  29. ↩Eph.4.4-Eph.4.5 — There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope of your calling. Eph.4.5 — one Lord, one faith, one baptism
  30. ↩Gal.6.2 — Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
  31. ↩John.5.29;Acts.24.15 — and they will come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. Acts.24.15 — I have hope in God—which they themselves also await—that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.
  32. ↩John.5.28-John.5.29;Matt.25.46 — Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice John.5.29 — and they will come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. Matt.25.46 — And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩Early modern 'der Glaube' here means the Creed as confessional text (Auslegung des Glaubens), not bare subjective belief; rendered as 'Creed' for that catechetical sense.
  2. 2 ↩Türcken is Luther’s period collective for the Ottoman/Muslim other, used here as a foil for mere factual assent, not saving trust; rendered as “the Turk” to keep the source’s singular collective force.
  3. 3 ↩wissenschafft here means knowing/information, not modern “science”; wahn means a held notion or opinion (not necessarily madness). The contrast is mere intellectual assent versus true faith, which the next section develops as trust in God.
  4. 4 ↩German contrasts glauben von Gott (assent that claims about God are true) with glauben an Gott (trusting, self-committing faith). Early modern trawen, begeben, and erwegen mark trust, self-entrustment, and daring to deal with God, not mere opinion.
  5. 5 ↩fromm can mean pious, godly, or upright; here it marks moral/religious repute, not saving trust.
  6. 6 ↩German An (as in an Gott glauben) is the creedal preposition rendered "in" in English ("I believe in God"). Luther contrasts this with dative Gott dem Vater ("believe God") and von dem Vater ("of/about the Father"), which do not express the same trust.
  7. 7 ↩Source has singular jhn (ihn, "him") after naming the divinity of both Christ and the Spirit. Rendered "them" for English clarity of dual reference; the force is equal faith in the Son and Spirit as in the Father.
  8. 8 ↩ENHG 'bloß' here means bare/unmediated: trust rests on God alone, without creaturely props or intermediaries—continuing the previous section's refusal of trust in any creature.
  9. 9 ↩Early New High German 'mir guts gan' = 'mir Gutes gönnt': wishes/grants me good, means me well. Rendered as 'wishes me well' to keep the personal favor sense without modernizing into vague therapy-speak.
  10. 10 ↩Empfengnis here is 'conception' (the beginning of human life), not pregnancy in general: Christ's pure conception is said to cleanse the believer's sinful conception (original sin).
  11. 11 ↩seines vnnd des Allmechtigen Vaters is taken as a double genitive of will—'of himself (Christ) and of the Almighty Father'—not as a redundant 'his Almighty Father.'
  12. 12 ↩Early modern German die is feminine and most naturally picks up Hellen pein (hell’s torment), parallel to the previous section where bodily death is made unschädlich/nützlich/heilsam. Less likely, it could summarize the devil’s power/cunning/malice (also feminine nouns).
  13. 13 ↩German 'erwecket hat' leaves the object unstated; rendered as first-person singular to continue 'mir' from s1, matching the creed's personal confession voice. 'mit jhm ... erwecket' is the being-raised-with-Christ sense, not mere emotional awakening.
  14. 14 ↩Early New High German 'in des' is read as 'inzwischen/by then' (those who will have already died by the Last Day); the parallel clause 'die denn erfunden werden' means those still alive when he comes.
  15. 15 ↩Luther’s German creed has “eine heilige Christliche Kirche” (holy Christian church), not “catholic”; retained as “Christian.” “Aufferstehung des Fleisches” is rendered “resurrection of the flesh” to match Fleisch/caro rather than the smoother English creed form “body.”
  16. 16 ↩Printed section ends mid-clause at 'mit welchem der Vater vnd'; the relative clause and finite verbs continue in Betbuechlein.1.3.39.
  17. 17 ↩This section continues mid-sentence from Betbuechlein.1.3.38: the Holy Spirit is the means 'with which the Father and the Son' act. 'Er' in the second clause is the Holy Spirit (neuter instrument 'das, damit' = that by means of which).
  18. 18 ↩ENHG gemeine is used twice: first in heilige gemeine Christliche Kirche (the one shared/common Christian Church), then as noun gemeine oder samlung (community or gathering) for the communion of saints. English renders the first as the familiar Creed phrase “holy Christian Church” and keeps the second as community/gathering.
  19. 19 ↩Luther’s point is not that sin is harmless, but that membership in the one Christian community keeps the way of forgiveness open, while outside it even great works cannot secure forgiveness of sins.
  20. 20 ↩Early New High German 'auffbinden/auffgebunden' here is taken as 'loose/loosed' (unbinding), which fits the forgiveness article; the source cites only this half of the keys saying before turning to Peter in Matthew 16.
  21. 21 ↩'entzelen Petro ... an stat vnnd bedeutung der entzelen vnd einigen Kirchen': Peter is treated as the singular representative figure of the one Church, not as a private individual only.
  22. 22 ↩German Stücke here means the articles of the Creed just expounded; rendered as 'these things' for natural modern English while keeping the personal force of 'mir ... lassen geschehen' (will let them come to pass for me).
  23. 23 ↩ewiges Sterben is literally 'eternal dying'; rendered 'eternal death' as the natural theological English for the damned counterpart to the saints' eternal life, without softening the contrast.

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