DEC- n 1913 .Gc3H5 Rev. J. P. Hentz, D. D. V DEC 2 9 191J 1 / r /^ { f> I iS'c^ HISTORY OF THE T.UTHERAS VER- SION OF THE BIBLE Rev. John P. Hentz, D.D. Author of **Way Marks," "Lutheran Church in Germantown, Ohio," "Twin Valley," etc. Dayton, Ohio Columbus, Ohio The F. J. Heer Printing Co. 1910 DePfcatton This volume is dedicated by its author to his life- long and ever true friend, the distinguished Chris- tian scholar and faithful laborer in our Divine Master's vineyard, the without whose unwearied and benevolent efforts this book would perhaps never have been published, at least not at this particu- lar time and in its pres- ent attractive form. Contents^ Page Preface ^11 Introduction lS-29 Chapter I. Martin Luther — Luther's Activ- ity and Versatility — Luther's Doc- trines 31-o4 Chapter IL The Bible 55-60 Chapter IIL Early Translations — The Sep- tuagint — The Vetus Latina — The Itala —The Latin Vulgate 61-76 Chapter IV. The Gothic Translation. . . 77-83 Chapter V, Some Ancient Versions — Early German Efforts — Papal Disfavor. . 84-91 Chapter VI. Writing and Printing. . . . 92-96 Chapter VIL The Lutheran Version — Luth- er's Qualifications — Progress of Luth- er's Version — Collegium Publicum — Editions and Recensions — Success of Luther's Bible — Roman Efforts at Translating — Critical Estimate of Luther's Version — The Texts used by Luther — The Complutensian Bible — The German Rendering — The Prot- estant Spirit of Luther's Version — The Papist's Reply to Luther— Sale of Luther's New Testament — Luther on the Epistle of St. James. . . . 97-132 (5) 6 Contents. Page Chapter VIII. The Canstein Bible Institute. 133-138 Chapter IX. Revision of the Lutheran Ver- sion 139-148 Chapter X. Luther's Defense of his Transla- tion — Luther's Letter to Wenceslaus Link 149-172 Chapter XI. Testimonials to the Merit of Luther's Version — Krauth — Jacob's — Spaeth's — D'Aubigne — Dollinger — Monroe — Hedge — Imes — Lind- say — Jacob Grim — Heine — Willi- bald Grim 173-192 Chapter XII. The English Version — Primi- tive English Version — Modern Ver- sion — The Wycliffe Bible — The Tyn- dale Bible — The Coverdale Bible — The Thomas Mathewes Bible — The Great Bible — The Taverners Bible — The Genevan Bible — The Bishop's Bible — The Authorized Version — The Revised Version of England — The Revised Version of America. . . 193-219 Illuetrattone. Page 1. Portrait J. P. Hentz. D. D., Frontispiece. 2. Wartburg ^^"^^ 3. Wittenberg ^^"^^ 4. Martin Luther ^^"^^ 5. LUTHERHOUSE IN ElSENACH 32-33 6. Melanchthon Assisting Luther. . • 42-43 ^ -14—45 7. CoBURG Castle tt-^t^ 8. Luther Reading to the Elector. . . 66-67 9. Luther Finding the Bible. .... 100-101 10. Collegium Publicum 104-105 11. Lutherhouse in Wittenberg 116-117 12. Carl R. von Canstein 132-133 18. Melanchthon (Portrait) 172-173 14. Wycliffe (Portrait) 196-197 15. Tyndale (Portrait) 204-205 (7) PREFACE. This little volume makes no preten- sions to profound erudition, critical ac- umen or eloquent diction. It simply tells in plain and unadorned language the story of Luther's translation of the Bible. Prepared with a special view to the use and information of people of average intelligence, such as can be found among the men and women of most any well conducted Christian household, all learned and critical dis- cussions have been excluded from its pages. In the land and in the language of Luther some well executed treatises have appeared on the subject of Lu- ther's Bible; but as far as they have come to our notice, they are without a single exception written in a style too lofty and too abstruse to be adapted to the capacity of the humbler class of 10 Preface. readers. Among us, and in the En- glish language, all that we have on the subject, is found in. fragments only, scattered through many volumes. This treatise of ours, as far as we know, is the first attempt to present the subject matter in connected form and to bring it within the easy comprehension of plain readers. The book, therefore, we are inclined to think, will fill a place hitherto unoccupied. This, in addition to the fact that the subject is one of interest and importance and is deserv- ing of our thoughtful consideration, is the apology which we have to offer for adding another to the many literary productions of our day. The histories of translations made be- fore and after that of Luther, and with which the latter stands intimately con- nected, have been added with the object of making the account fuller, more com- plete and more intelligible than could otherwise have been done. Preface. ] 1 It behooves us to add further, that in our efforts to gather the material for this brief and humble treatise, we have had recourse to the following learned authors and have gleaned from their writings much valuable information, viz: The Rev. Henry Eyster Jacobs, D. D., LL. D., of the Mt. Airy Lutheran Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the Rev. William J. Mann, D. D., of the same institution; the Rev. Philip Schaff, D. D., of the Union Theological Seminary, New York City; the Rev. Wilibald Grimm, D. D., of Jena Uni- versity, Germany, and a few others of equal distinction and prominence in the literary world. This hiunble production is sent forth on its friendly errand, in the hope and with the earnest prayer that it may prove pleasing and profitable to all its readers. J. P. H. Dajrfcon, Ohio. < H M H w H a H <: Vi < CM H w « « M H W hrl Ml INTRODUCTION. The Protestant world is greatly in- debted to the Reformation of the 16th century for many of the choicest bless- ings in which she is now rejoicing. It has delivered her from the tyranny and oppression of an arrogant and corrupt priesthood; from the idolatry of saint, relic and image worship; from the su- perstitious fear of purgatory, and from the false doctrine of justification from sin by self-wrought human works. It has secured for us pure sacraments, and that freedom of thought and con- science, that has become the creative and impellmg cause of our modern spirit of inquiry and research; has brought about the present advancement of commerce and industry, of true science and the useful arts; and has been the chief agent in the social and 13 14 Introduction. moral elevation of the masses of our day. But of all its marvelous and blessed fruits, Luther's translation of the Bible stands pre-eminent as one of the greatest and the best. Luther began his work of translating the Holy Bible during the time of his imprisonment in the Wartburg. To this place the Elector Frederick, his friend and protector, had secretly caused him to be conveyed, having made him a captive Avhile on his return jour- ney from the Diet of Worms, that here he might rest safe from the wrath and vengeance of the pope and his zealous adherents. Here, in his captivity a^^d isolation, he had leisure for literary la- bor. How was he to employ this idle time? What was he to undertake, as of first and greatest importance to the cause of God and the spiritual well- being of man ? These were his thoughts as he sat meditating in his secluded room in Wartburg Castle. Total inac- Introduction. 1 5 tivity was with him at any time, but especially so now, in the stirring events transpiring, a matter utterly out of question. To his active, busy spirit nothing could prove more irksome and unendurable than to be totally excluded from participation in the reformatory movement, which had been so auspic- iously inaugurated. His soul was ani- mated with a fiery zeal, for the honor of God and the salvation of his fellow- men, that would not suffer him to waste one moment in idleness. While thus situated, and while in this state of mind, his thoughts went back to the time, when in the universitv librarv at Er- f urt, he had discovered a Latin copy of the Holy Scriptures. He recalled to mind how, by the reading of this best of all books, divine light had dawned upon his benighted soul, and how, from its contents, he had learned to know the way of life through faith in Jesus Christ. After a long and painful strug- 16 Introduction. gie with an awakened and an accusing conscience, the Holy Word had brought peace to his troubled soul. Through its reading he had been made to feel the sweetness of sins forgiven, and the peace of reconciliation with an offended God. By recollections and reflections like these, he felt himself moved to place the precious treasure of the Di- vine Word in the hands of the German people in their own native tongue. For hitherto, no readable and true transla- tion had been offered them. Some translations, it is true, had been made. A distinguished writer counts no less than fifteen of thenj, dating back to the time of Luther, and says of them all: ^^They had a common character, which may be expressed in a word— they were abominable.'' Priests and people w^ere alike ignorant of God's truth and the way to salvation. Luther longed most earnestly to see a clearer and fuller knowledge and a better and happier Introduction. 1 7 spiritual life prevailing among his well-loved German countrymen, than was the case now. He was therefore thoroughly convinced that for the ac- complishment of this object, God's Word must be employed as the instru- ment. In the Holy Scriptures he recog- nized the germ and seed from which must come forth the spiritual regener- ation and life of the German nation. To plant this seed in their hearts, to place in their hands the Revealed Word, that therein they might find the way to God and heaven— this he felt himself called to do, this he recognized as his divinely imposed task here in his lone confinement. It was on the first day of November, 1521, that he entered upon the work of translating the New Testament, and with such vigor and industry did he prosecute his chosen task, that by the following February after a brief space of three months, every portion of this 1 8 Introduction. part of the Bible was rendered into pure and lucid German. Soon after this he undertook and ac- tively entered upon, the more extended and difficult task of translating the Old Testament. On his return from the Wartburg to Wittenberg he continued the work begun, and such were, again, the energy and persevering application with which he threw himself upon his labor, that by the year 1533 the wonder- ful and immortal work was completed. Twelve years did he spend upon the translation, amid various interruptions, and a multitude of other duties. There were friends and helpers who aided him by their own investigations and coun- sels, but the main burden of the work lested on him. The translation is em- phatically his own. Untold labor and imwearied patience were required in its execution. Sometimes he was occu- pied a fortnight upon a single passage. That he might always hit upon the r c H K w H PI Introduction. 19 proper word, to express most correctly the sense of the original, he would go out upon the highways and fields, enter the workshops and slaughterhouses, and there converse with the people, inquire their names of things, and listen to their manner of speech. It was in this way and by this means, that he gathered in- formation by which he was enabled to bring forth a version that spoke the language of his German countrym^en in a manner which was intelligible to all, and at the same time conformed most closely to the sense and meaning of the original. But even after having gone to all this immense trouble, and after his work seemed done to perfection, he was not satisfied to rest from his labor. He made his Bible the work of his life, esteeming it evidently the most impor- tant of all he ever attempted. For many years, to even almost the end of his days, he continued to make changes and improvements in it, until at last it 20 Introduction. stood forth a finished and perfect mas- terwork. It was a work not only per- fect in itself, but a work also by which he had new created and perfected the German language. ^^The language of Germany has grown since Luther, but it has had no new creation. He Avho takes up Luther's Bible grasps a whole world in his hand, a world which will perish only, when this green earth it- self shall pass away.'' Thus speaks of this wonderful translation, one who is counted among the most eminent sages of our age and country. That Luther had not labored in be- half of an ungrateful people, was evi- denced by the eagerness with which all held out the hand to receive Luther's Bible. There was a perfect crowding and scrambling for the new translation. The first edition of the New Testament, consisting of 3,000 copies was sold in less than three months. Edition fol- lowed edition, until by the year 1533 the introduction. 21 number of copies sold, ran up into the hundred thousands. The people read it while at their work. It was, on all oc- casions and at all places, the absorbing subject of their thoughts, and the chief theme of their conversation. Women and children even read and re-read it, until they had committed its contents to memory. No book ever enjoyed a popu- larity so widespread, or wrought im- pressions so deep and so enduring. There had arisen in Germany a desire for the Gospel, and especially for the Gospel in Luther's language, that noth- ing on earth was able to suppress or to arrest. The chief cause of this was, the re-awakened and quickened conscious- ness of the need of redemption and for- giveness through Jesus Christ. This conscious need could be satisfied by nothing else but the reading and hear- ing of the gracious Word of God. Since Luther gave his translation to the Ger- man people, many and great changes 22 introduction. have taken place. Manners, customs, laws, governments, pursuits and sciences have undergone changes, and with them has changed the German language. Attempts have accordingly been miade to so alter and improve Lu- ther's Bible as to conform its structure and words to these changes; but such is the love and veneration which the German people cherish for the unal- tered Bible of Luther, that they will have no other. They reject every re- vision as an ii^everent innovation. Af- ter a trial of 350 years Luther's Bible still retains the warmest place in their hearts. The Germans are not all Luth- erans. They di:ffer on the subject of religion. In our country they are found dispersed among all the numerous sects that have struck root into our soil. But however widely they may di:ffer in their doctrinal viev/s and teachings, on one thing they are harmonious and united. All make use of the Lutheran Bible, Introduction. 23 and all profess to cherish for it equal love and reverence. An English Bap- tist may reject the authorized English version, but a German, be he Baptist or anything else, unreservedly endorses Luther's translation and unhesitatingly employs it in public and private wor- ship. Luther's Bible formes a bond of union, strong and indissoluble, between all German speaking tribes and nations of the Protestant faith, wherever dis- persed throughout the wide world. Luther was a German in the fullest sense of the term, and has impressed on his work the stamp of his own German spirit and character. The book, upon every page, exhibits the depth and the sincerity of the feeling, the simplicity and joyousness of the faith, and the pious sentiment and chaste imagina- tion, characteristic of the German peo- ple. The beautiful German language, so graceful, so pliable and so plastic, so rich and so suggestive, no one ever 24 Introduction. knew how to touch and how to handle, with the skill of a master hand, as did Luther. He was master of all its treas- ures, its ruggedness and its tenderness, its fullness and its simplicity, its strength and its depth. Even his ad- versaries and opposers concede this fact and admire and praise his w^ork. By his translation of the Holy Scrip- tures Luther has become the father and creator of the modern German language. He has reconstructed, enlarged and im- proved it to an extent that makes it a new language. By doing so he has ren- dered the German nation a service, which merits their everlasting grati- tude. But • the greatest obligation, under which Luther has laid his nation, does not arise from his improvement of their language, but from the accuracy of his translation, as regards sense and thought. So pure and so faithful, so correct and so faultless, so clear and so Introduction. 25 plain and so fully conformed to the Holy Spirit, is his rendering, that it makes its way directly to mind and heart. Our English version, in many instances, conforms more to the letter than the sense, more to the form than to the substance, of the original. It is too severely verbal and literal, and re- tains too much of the foreign idiom. Hence many of its passages are render- ed unnecessarily obscure and awkward. Luther was less concerned about form and more about substance. He seized upon the sense and gave it in plain and intelligible German, in such form and order as he deemed best adapted to the purpose. He was a man of sincere and fervent piety, lived in close connnunion with the Savior, and was gifted with a profound insight into the deep things of God. With clear vision he penetrated divine mysteries to their profoundest depth. To him it was given, as to no uninspired man before him, to bring to 26 Introduction. full light of day the hidden treasures of God's Word. This gift was not an accident. God had chosen and ordained him for this peculiar work, and had qualified him for it, both by education and by endowing him with needful tal- tnts. It was by means of the firm and fervid faith which the Spirit had wrought in him, by means of the ardent love for the Redeemer which had come to him from above, and by means of the light and guidance of the Holy Ghost, that he was enabled to open to his peo- ple the long closed and sealed up sacred treasure, and to give it a true and prop- er form. These are the reasons that account for the fact, that in Luther's day, his Bible was received with so much open- ness of hand and so much gladness of heart, and that our fathers clung to it with so much ardor of affection. At no price were they willing to part with the sacred treasure. Luther's Bible introduction. 27 contributed more than all else to the furtherance and success of the Refor- mation. It laid a sure and safe founda- tion for the superstructure of the re- newed and purified church of Christ. It awakened and produced a reforma- tion of individual souls, and with that of the church as a collective bodv. This tree of life, of faith and of hope, has now endured for near four hundred years, it has ever risen higher and ex- tended wider, mitil now other countries are gathered under its branches and other nations recline under its shadow. Germans are a wandering people, a cos- mopolitan nation. They are found dis- jDersed over all parts of the habitable earth. But wherever their migrations lead them, thither they carry with them their Lutheran Bible. The precious Book is their companion at home and abroad, on seas and on land, in good and in evil days. Vast and marvelous have been the 28 introduction. changes that have occurred during the last 300 years. Many a work, once the admiration of the world, has fallen into neglect and decay and crumbled into dust and ashes. No such fate has he- fallen the work wrought by Luther. Amidst change and death on all sides, his Bible, by God's gracious providence, has been preserved to us unharmed and undeiiled to this day. We are the sons of the sires of the Reformation; to us Luther's Bible has come as an mheri- tance and a legacy, a legacy worthy of our most earnest love and deserving of our highest veneration. To think light- ly of it would be to degrade ourselves. To neglect itwould be to harm ourselves. For the sake of our Lutheran Bible, it seems to us, we ought to seek to keep alive as long as possible, and extend and spread as far as opportunity offers, the language of the Fatherland, of Lu- ther, and of Luther's Bible. It seems to us that every Lutheran theologian, at Introduction. 29 least, should feel himself moved to read and imder stand God's holv, sanctifying and saving Word, in the language of the world's greatest reformer. God's Word is precious, very precious, not only in the German, but equally in every other language. May its divine precepts and heaven-born doctrines be- come ever more the rule of men's faith and the guide of their lives. May it be- come the aim of all, diligently, day by day, to search the Scriptures; and by personal experience may they find that therein they have eternal life. It is this translation and others more or less intimately connected with it, of which we propose to treat in the follow- ing pages. Martin Luther. CHAPTER L MARTIN LUTHER. Luther was born November 10, 1483, in the town of Eisleben, Saxony. His parents were John and Margaret Luth- er. They were poor but intelligent and respectable people of the more well-to- do and better sort of the German Peas- antry. The father was a miner by oc- cupation, who, by his own industr}^ and the assistance of his diligent and frugal housewife, by degrees acquired a con- siderable amount of property and raised himself to an honored social po- sition amiong his fellow-townsmen. Ac- cordmg to the Reformer's own state- ment, all his ancestors were peasants. Both parents were strict disciplinar- ians, and in true German fashion, were not sparing of the rod in the training 31 32 History of the of their son. The boy, Martin, even in his early childhood, exhibited signs of unusual intellectual talents. For this reason his father destined him for pro- fessional life, in the sphere of the civil law. Having removed from Eisleben to Mansfeld, the parents here sent the boy to the public school so early that he often had to be carried in the arms of friends to reach the schoolhouse. In 1497, at the age of fourteen, he was sent to a higher institution in the city of Madgeburg, where, however, he remain- ed but one year, at the expiration of which time, he was transferred to Eis- enach. At this place he continued four years engaged in most diligent and un- interrupted study. At this time his father was still unable to give the boy more than a mere pittance of pecuniary assistance. The son, therefore, was un- der necessity of having recourse to a practice, then prevalent among impe- cimious youths in institutions of learn- Luther House (The Cotta Residence) in Eisenach. Lutheran Version of the Bible. 33 ing, to sing from door to door of the citizens for the necessaries of life. The boys would club together and thus pass through the town from day to day. They would also visit neighboring vil- lages on their piteous errand. By this means it happened that the young Mar- tin attracted the notice of good Frau Cotta of Eisenach. It was his sweet voice, his devout manner and his pleas- ant and intelligent countenance that won him the kind heart of this noble lady. She received him into her own home and treated him as she did her own children. Here all his wants were abundantly supplied, and he enjoyed the advantages of Christian influence and of cultivated and refined societv. The impressions he here received had a most salutary effect on his entire after- life. Nor can we doubt that he was guided to this home by the directing hand of an Allwise and Beneficent Providence. 34 History of the In 1501, at the age of eighteen years, he left Eisenach and went to Erfurt, where he entered the university of that city, which vv^as then the most celebrated of the learned institutions of Germany. Here he devoted himself assiduously to philosophy and the study of the classics. He also gave attention to the natural sciences, as far as they were then taught. One of his favorite pursuits now, as it had been before, was his prac- tice of music. To this he gave his leis- ure hours. Indeed it seems to have been his sole recreation. Music was to him an accomplishment and an art which he never ceased to love to the end of his days. In 1502 he took his first degree, and in 1505 his second, or master's de- gree. He was then in his 22nd year. He now took up the law, not so much from personal choice and inclination, as from obedience to his father's wish. But his studies in this department were unexpectedly interrupted, or rather en- Lutheran Version of the Bible. 36 tirely broken off, by a change in his inner religious life. As a consequence, he felt himself induced, without the knowledge and consent of his father, to enter the Augustinian Monastery of Er- furt in July, 1505. Here he distin- guished himself by further diligent study, and the severest ascetic practices. He had become conscious of his sinful and lost condition, and had sought but not found peace of soul by his own mi- aided efforts. By the advice of the pious Vicar General Staupitz he was led to the study of the Holy Scriptures, and the writings of the ancient Church Fathers, especially those of St. Augus- tine. In this pursuit, after a long and painful struggle, by the aid of Divine grace, he finally attained to peace of conscience, through faith in Jesus Christ as the only Mediator and Sav- iour of sinful man. In 1507 he was ordained a priest, and, owing to a sense of his unworthiness. 36 History of the much against his own inclination. The next year, in 1508, at the age of 25, he was called to a professorship in the re- cently established University of Wit- tenberg, where at first he taught philos- ophy, and later Scriptural Theology. In 1511 he was sent to Rome in the interest of his own monastic order, but remained there but one month. He remained long enough, however, to witness in all their hideous reality, the levity and immoral- ity w^hich prevailed at the papal court and which pained and distressed, be- yond measure, his pure and virtuous soul. In 1512 he was made a doctor of di- vinity, which at that time was not, as it is now, a meaningless title of honor, but the designation of a teacher of theology. Luther, instead of lecturing on the pe- culiar theology of the age, which w^as an unedifying and mystical scholastic- ism, began and continued by expound- ing the Holy Scriptures, an entirely Lutheran Version of the Bible. 37 new mode, which soon gained him a na- tional reputation, and attracted stu- dents from far and near. In 1515 he was appointed provincial vicar of his monastic order, ja position which re- quired him to oversee eleven convents and to perform the customary visita- tions, quite a burdensome vocation. From this office, however, he was soon again suffered to retire. About this time also, i. e., in 1512, his reading brought him under the influ- ence of the writings of some of the so- called Mystics, such as John Tauler, Thomas A. Kempis and others, v/hich produced a powerful effect on his views and on his whole after-life. In 1517 events transpired which led him in open conflict with the ecclesias- tical authorities. The Dominican Monk Tetzel came to Yuterbock, a town on the borders of Saxony and near Wit- tenberg, to push the sale of indulgences. Indulgences are written certificates. 38 History of the granting forgiveness of sin for the pay- ment of money, and are issued in the name and by the authority of the Pope. This was a scandalous proceeding and producd a most demoralizing effect. If forgiveness could be purchased vdth money, sin and crime might be commit- ted without fear or hesitation. The criminal law of the land became a nul- lity, and all civil authority was set at defiance. N'o one, neither God nor man, but the Pope alone, need to be feared. When Luther heard of Tetzel's pro- ceedings, his soul was stirred within him to its intensest indignation. He denomiced the nefarious practice from the pulpit, and this remaining fruit- less, he proposed a public discussion on the subject. For this purpose, on Oc- tober 31, 1517, he nailed to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg nine- ty-five theses, or short sentences, which were directed against the indulgence traffic. Though moderate in tone, their Lutheran Version of the Bible. 39 effect was as unexpected as it was im- portant. In fourteen days they were diffused throughout all Germany, and within a month more they were known throughout all Europe. They were ap- proved by some and condemned by others. Tetzel and his friends replied by speech and writing, in threatening and abusive language. Luther answer- ed their assaults with great mildness and forbearance. Thus the controversy, by which the Reformation was inaugur- ated, took its start. As it advanced and grew in warmth and interest, Luther's m.ind underwent a gradual change. His eyes were opened to the real character of the Papacy, and he receded ever further from, the principles of the Ro- man Church. Luther was no radical. He was by nature conservative. He was not able at once to break with the Pope. While contending against papal errors he retained for some time the utmost re- gard for the Roman Pontiff. He even 40 History of the addressed to Mm an humble apology for the agitation which he had uninten- tionally called forth, without, however, receding in the least from the position which he had assumed. Soon he was cited to appear in Rome to answer for his opposition to papal authority. Against this the Saxon Elector earnestly protested. He mis- trusted Rome. He demanded that if Luther must be tried, it be done on Ger- man and not Italian soil. This ended the persecution for the time being. The breach widened with several discus- sions, none of which were of Luther's seeking. One of these took place in Augsburg in 1518, and another at Leip- sic in 1519. Then came from Rome Lu- ther's ex-commimication, in which de- struction was declared against his writ- ings, and death against his person. Such documents at that time carried with them an omnipotent significance. No earthly power had ever dared to Lutheran Version of the Bible. 41 gainsay or resist them. But Luther treated this one with utmost scorn and contempt. In presence of his students and associate professors, near the Els- ter gate at Wittenberg, he committed the papal bull to the flames. This was a bold act and required the greatest courage. The defiance implied in it aroused the fiercest rage in the Pope and his adherents. But their anger was powerless, owing to the protection which the Elector extended to the bold Reformer within his ov/n territor}^ A great national diet was now an- nounced, to be held in the city of Worms, during the year 1521. Luther \yas cited to appear at this diet to an- swer to the charges preferred against him as a teacher of heresy and an agi- tator of sedition, and he complied with the citation. There were present at this diet, the Emperor, six electors, an Arch- duke, twenty-seven Dukes, two Land- graves, five Margraves and numerous 42 History of the Counts, archbishops and bishops. The galleries, doors and windows were crowded with a promiscuous multitude. The eyes of all this vast assembly were riveted on the Monk of Wittenberg as he entered the hall of the diet. And there in presence of this august body, Luther stood up to answer for the faith that v/as in him. It was a spectacle and a trial such as the world as ever witnessed but few. The date was April 17th and 18th, 1521, an epoch, we may term it, in the history of the world. Lu- ther offered a courageous and eloquent defense of himself, his teachings and his writings, maintaining above all the God-given freedom of conscience over against the tyrannical pretensions and unholy usurpations of the Papacy, and ending with the memorable words: ''Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise; So help me God!'' On his return from Worms, May 4th, 1521, he was seized by friends in dis- Lutheran Version of the Bible. 43 guise and carried to the Wartburg for security, where he employed his time in the preparation of various works for publication, but chiefly in the transla- tion of the New Testament, which he finished before he quitted his retreat in March, 1522. During his absence from Wittenberg religious fanatics had come to the town, and, by their perverted teachings, had created serious disturb- ances. Luther hastened to the rescue. In a series of sermons, which he deliv- ered daily during one entire Vv^eek, he completely quelled the disturbance. This done, he entered upon the revision of his Nevv^ Testament translation, call- ing to his assistance Melanchthon and other scholars of the university faculty. After this he began his labors on the Old Testament, which he finished in 1533. From 1522 forward his labors outside of the university were manifold and diversified. He answered the attack 44 History of the made on him by Henry VIII of En- gland, composed and published hymns for public worship, some thirty-six in number, and occupied himself in the suppression of the Peasant War which was being waged during 1524 and 1525. June 13th, 1525, at the age of 42 years, he entered into marriagel with Cath- arine Von Bora, who had previously been a nun, and with whom he lived in happy union until his death. In 1527, under the direction of the Saxon Elec- tor, he was engaged in visiting the churches of the Electorate. Discover- ing great ignorance in matters of relig- ion, both among clergy and laity, these visitations became the occasion of new works. He published sermons to serve as models to the preachers. He further composed his larger catechism for the instruction of the youth in both school and home. But as this was not adapted to the capacity of either parents or children, he prepared for their use the CoBURG Castle, Where Luther Resided While the Augsburg Diet was Convened and Where He Labored ox Hts Traxslattox of the Old Testa- ment, 1530. Lutheran Version of the Bible. 45 smaller catechism. Both catechisms ap- peared in print in 1529. In the same year was held a conference at Marburg between the Lutheran and Swiss Re- formers, with the object of forming a union btween them. This attempt proved a failure. In 1530, the historic diet of Augsburg convened, religiously the most eventful during the period of the Reformation. As the papal ban, sanctioned by the diet of Worms, still hung suspended over the head of Luther, his life was not safe outside the electoral dominions. For this reason he did not dare to appear at Augsburg. He came as near to it, however, as it was safe for him to do, to the city and castle of Coburg. Here he remained while the diet was in ses- sion, and here his friends found means to conmiunicate with him. From this place he co-operated with Melanchthon, who was in Augsburg engaged in the preparation of the Augsburg confes- 46 History of the sion. Every article of this document was laid before him, for his correctioii and approval, mitil it was finished and presented to the Emperor and the diet. While Melanchthon gave the confession its form and shape, and in one sense may be said to be its author, Luther furnished material and offered sugges- tions, which became substance and part of it, and therefore, in another sense the latter may be said to be its author. Justice demands, however, that the hon- or of its merits should be shared equally by both the Reformers. In succeeding years repeated negotia- tions were conducted and meetings held with Protestant divines, to compare views and to conciliate divergences, in w^hich Luther participated. One of these was that with Bucer, held at Wit- tenberg in 1536, in which the latter came to a full agreement with the Lu- theran theologians, from whom he had previously differed. Another was held Lutheran Version of the Bible. 47 in the same year also in Wittenberg, with the Anglican theologians, Fox, Heath and Barnes, which, while attain- ing no immediate results, greatly in- fluenced the confession and mode of worship of the Anglican church. In 1537 the Schmalkald articles were framed, mainly by Luther's hand. These proved of such a character as for- ever to expel all hope of reconciliation with the Papacy. For this reason they did not please Melanchthon, though he attached his name to them. Luther was active also in the preparation of church orders, exegetical and controversial treatises and in adjusting various church difficulties and disputes. The great man ended his days Febru- ary 18th, 1546, at Eisleben, his birth- place, where he had gone to adjust some difficulties which had arisen between the counts of Mansf eld. His last words were, ^^Into thy hands I commit my spirit ; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord 48 History of the God of truth." His remains were in- terred in front of the altar in the castle church at Wittenberg, where they have reposed in undisturbed rest to this day. LUTHER^S ACTIVITY AI AT Erfurt, 1505. Lutheran Version of the Bible. 101 with a copy of the Bible. It was the Latin Vulgate. In this book he found great delight, and from this time forth made it his chief study. It taught him theology, and nourished his spiritual life. He next applied himself to the acquisition of the original languages for the purpose of its better understanding. His first attempt at translating he made with portions of the Psalm^s, w4iich he published in March, 1517. After this he translated other sections, some taken from the New Testament and others from the Old. All these he accompanied by popular comments. This work w^as so well done, and met with such favor that his friends urged him to translate the whole Bible, which accordingly he resolved to do. With the needed leisure on hand at the Wartburg, he began with the New Testament, entering on his task in De- cember, 1521, and finishing his labor in March, 1522. Returning to Wittenberg 102 History of the about the same time, he applied himself to its thorough revision, employing for the purpose Melanchthon as his assist- ant. Sturz of Erfurt was consulted about coins and measures. The crown jewels, through Spalatin's intervention, were borrowed, in order that a better con- ception of the precious stones described in the book of Revelation might be formed. The translation was then hur- ried through the press, and made its ap- pearance in 1522. The first edition ap- peared without the name of its author. The title of it vv^as: Das Neue Testa- ment, Deutsch, Wittenberg. It had wood-cuts by the elder Cranach, one at the beginning of each book, and twenty- one in the Apocalypse. It retained the division into chapters of the Latin Bi- ble, originally devised by Cardinal Hugo. The division of chapters into verses was not yet known. It did not come into use until 1555, and therefore Lutheran Version of the Bible. 103 does not appear in this, and any of Lu- ther's editions published during his life- time. Luther changed the order of the epistles, in which order his version dif- fers from the English. A month later a second edition was required, and made its appearance, which contained many corrections and improvements. After completing his translation of the New Testament Luther at once proceeded to the more difficult task of translating the Old Testament, and published it in parts, as they were ready. In spite of munerous interruptions, the Pentateuch was completed within three months from the publication of the New Testa- ment, and appeared at the beginning of the next year. In 1524 two parts of the work were published, the former com- prising the historical books, and the lat- ter. Job, the Psalms, and the so-called writings of Solomon. Other important engagements frequently intervening de- layed the completion of the Canonical 104 History of the books until 1532, and the Apocrypha un- til 1534, when the first edition of the complete translation was published. COLLEGIUM PUBLICUM. As the work progressed Luther founded a Collegium Publicum, or Bi- ble Club, which was made up of himself and a number of his learned friends and associates. Of this company Mathesius speaks as follows : ' ' This is one of the greatest miracles which our Lord has caused to be performed, by Dr. Martin Luther before the end of the world, that he giveth us Germans a very beautiful version of the Bible, and explaineth to us his eternal divine nature, and his merciful will, in good intelligible Ger- man words.'' ^^When the whole German Bible had been completed. Dr. Luther began anew, to revise it with great zeal, industry and prayer. And as the Son of God had Luther's Publicum Coli.egii^m or Bip.le Ci.ub, 1533. Lutheran Version of the Bible. 105 promised, tliat where two or three were gathered together in his name, he would be in the midst of them, he caused a Sanhedrim, as it were, of the best people then about him, to assemble weekly, for a few hours after supper at his house, namely, Dr. Bugenhagen, Dr. Justus Jonas, Dr. Kreuziger, Melanchthon, Au- rogallus, and also George Rorer, the cor- rector. These were frequently joined by strange doctors, and other learned men. Dr. Bernhard Ziegier, Dr. For- stenius and others." ^^ After our doctor had looked through the published Bible, and consulted Jews and foreign philologists, and had in- quired among old German persons for fitting German words, he joined the above assembly with his Latin and New German Bible. He had also the He- brew text always with him. Melanch- thon brought the Greek text. Dr. Kreuz- iger, both the Hebrew and Chaldee Bi- bles. The professors had several tables 106 History of the besides them, and Dr. Pommer had also a Latin text before him. Everyone had previously prepared himself by study- ing the text. Then Luther as president proposed a passage and collected the votes, and heard what each one had to say on it, according to the peculiarity of the language, and the interpretation of the old doctors. ' ' Often the work became tedious, days being spent upon a few lines. Job being particularly difficult. Sometimes they scarcely mastered three lines of this book in four days, and hunted two, three and four weeks for one word. It is a cause of regret that no record has been kept of the discussions of this remarkable company. Mathesius, who evidently speaks from personal knowl- edge, tells us, that wonderfully beautiful and instructive speeches were made. At last the whole Bible, including the Apocrypha, as books not equal to the Holy Scriptures, yet useful and good to Lutheran Version of the Bible, 107 read, was completed in 1533, and pub- lished in 1534, with numerous wood- cuts. Meanwhile the New Testament was printed and circulated, by various unauthorized persons in numerous edi- tions. Some sixteen of these irrespon- sible editions appeared in a few years. The}^ were full of errors, which caused Luther to utter loud complaints. He continued unceasingly to amend and im- prove his translation. He corrected er- rors, improved the uncouth orthog- raphy, purged the vocabulary of ob- scure and ignoble words, and made the whole more symmetrical and melodious. He prepared five original editions or re- censions of the whole Bible, the last one in 1545, the year before his death. EDITIONS AND RECENSIONS, The printed text of Luther did not long remain in the condition in which it came from his hands. In that regard 108 History of the it met with the fate of the older trans- lations, the Itala and the Vulgate. It passed through innumerable changes, some of which were improvements, and others misimprovements. Obsolete words were removed, the inflexions and orthography were modernized, the di- vision into verses was introduced, the spurious clause of the three witnesses was added (I. John 5:7), and the third and fourth books of Ezra, and the third book of Maccabees were likewise added to the Apocrypha. Other changes be- sides these were made, some for better and some for worse. Gradually many recensions came into use, differing from one another in various minor points. The most carefully made of these was that of the Canstein Bible Institute, of which we will speak in detail on a sub- sequent page. Lutheran Version of the Bible. 109 THE SUCCESS OF LUTHER^S BIBLE. Luther's Bible met with a most en- thusiastic reception, and proved a great and effectual help to the Reformation. In ducal Saxony, in Bavaria, and in Austria, its sale was strictly prohibited by the ruling heads of these countries. But even here its spread could not be arrested. The people everywhere wanted Luther's Bible. Hans Luft, a Wittenberg publisher, in forty years, from 1534 to 1574 sold about one hmi- dred thousand copies, which was an enormous nrnnber for that age. It was read by millions. The actual number sold is beyond estimate, and the effects of its reading were marvelous. To this fact even the adversaries of the Refor- mation bear testimony. Cochlaeus, the zealous champion of Romanism, and bitter opponent of the Reformation, complainingly cries out, that Luther's Testament was so much multiplied and 110 History of the spread by printers, that even tailors and shoemakers, yea even women and ignorant persons, who had accepted the Lutheran gospel, and could read a little German, studied it with the greatest avidity as the fountain of all truth. Some, he says, committed it to memory, and carried it about them in their bos- oms. In a few months, he asserts, such people deemed themselves so learned that they were not ashamed to dispute about faith and the gospel, and this they did not only with Catholic laymen, but even with priests and monks, and with doctors of divhiity, and he owns, that they did it successfully. ROMAN EFFORTS AT TRANSLATING. Owing to the success of Luther ^s Bi- ble, and their o^m loss in prestige and influence as a consequence, the Papists found themselves forced in self-defense to issue rival translations. One by Lutheran Version of the Bible. Ill Emser in 1527, another by Dietenberger in 1534, and still another by Eck in 1537. These translations were accom- panied by annotations. They slavishly conformed to the Vulgate, were stiff and heavy, and were in large part lit- eral transcriptions of Luther's transla- tion. Luther could in truth say : ' ' The Papists steal my German, of which they knew little before, and they do not thank me for it, but rather use it against me.'' These early Catholic ver- sions have long since gone out of use even in the Roman church, while Lu- ther's still lives. CRITICAL ESTIMATE OF LUTHER'S VERSION* Luther's version is to be judged by the time in which, and the circum- stances under which, it was made. Let us look at these for a moment. At that time no good grammars, dictionaries, 112 History of the and concordances existed. Hebrew and Greek scliolarsliip was in a crude state. The German language was in a barbar- ous condition. Luther had to meet all these and other defects. Is it any won- der he felt much discouraged. On Jan- uary 13, 1522, he writes to his friend Amsdorf, that he had undertaken a work which was beyond his power, and that he could not succeed in it without the assistance of his friends. The great difficulty he met with was in Job and the Hebrew Prophets. He did not know how to make them speak in the barbarous German tongue. Walch re- ports him as saying : Ach Gott, wie ein gross und verdriesslich Werk ist es, die hebraeischen Schreiber su zwingen deutsch zu reden. Wie straeuben sie sich, und woUen ihre hebraeische Art gar nicht verlassen, und dem groben Deutschen nachfolgen, gleich als wenn eine Nachtigall soUte ihre liebliche Me- lodien verlassen und dem Kukuk nach- Lutheran Version of the Bible. 113 singen. He also jocosely remarked, that Job would have become more impa- tient at the blunders of his translators than at the long speeches of his miser- able comforters. There is this also to be added, that with all his labors and perplexities, Luther made no pecuniary gains. While publishers and printers made fortunes by the sale of his Bible, he himself never received nor asked a copper for this great work of his life. The Hebrew text was in fairly good condition, but not so the Greek. The science of textual criticism was not yet born. The materials for it were not yet collected from the manuscripts, an- cient versions and patristic quotations. Luther had to use the first printed edi^ tions, chiefly those by Erasmus. He had no access to manuscripts, the most important of which were not yet even discovered. They did not become available until the middle of the nine- teenth century. As for biblical geog- 114 History of the raphy and archaeology, they were yet in their infancy. Many names and phrases could not be understood at all. That under these circumstances a number of mistakes and inaccuracies should appear in Luther's version, should not surprise us. The only won- der is that they are as few as they are. They occur in greatest number in Job and the Prophets, who present even to the most advanced Hebrew scholars of our day many unsolved problems of text and reading. THE TEXTS USED BY LUTHER* On this part of our subject our chief authorities are Drs. Schalff and Krauth, both divines of vast erudition. Dr. Scha:ff is authority for the following: ^^The basis of Luther's version of the Old Testament was what is known as the Massoretic text, as published by G^rson Ben Mosbeh at Breccia in Liutheran Version of the Bible. 116 1494. He used also the Septuagint, the Vulgate of Jerome, the Latin transla- tion of the Dominican Sanctes Paguini of Lucca, 1527, also the Glossa Ordin- aria by the Franciscan, Sebastian Min- ister of 1534. The basis for the New Testament was the second edition of Erasmus, published at Basel, Switzer- land, in 1519. The first edition of the Greek Testament by Erasmus had ap- peared in 1516, just one year before the Reformation. He derived his text from a few mediaeval manuscripts. The sec- ond edition, though much more correct than the first, is disfigured by a large nmuber of typographical errors. He laid the foundation for the Textus Re- ceptus, which was brought into its ma- ture shape by Robert Stephans, in his Royal Edition of 1550, and which main- tained the supremacy till Lachman in- augurated the adoption of the older textual basis, 1831." Dr. Krauth makes these statements: 116 History of the ^* Luther did not translate from the Vul- gate, though he used that ancient and important translation with sound judg- ment. It was of right the most impor- tant aid, next to the sacred text itself. He used the Basel edition of 1519. There is no decisive reason for think- ing that Luther used any manuscripts of the Greek text. The Greek texts which had been published or at least printed when Luther was engaged in his translation of the N^ew Testament were : 1. The Complutensian, folio, print- ed in 1514, but not published till 1522- 1523. Doubts have been expressed as to Luther having used the Complutens- ian, to which some force is given by his nowhere citing it. Yet Melanchthon, his great coworker in the Kew Testa- ment, cites it during Luther's lifetime. The copy, which was sent to the Elector of Saxony, was placed in the library at Wittenberg, whence it was removed two r c H ffi w ?: ffi o C in n 5 in H ^ » H > H ^ fc C/5 z r c= > K H ?^ r. O :^ ^ o i-r' •^ K H ?^ a K w r td c *— ( w s r B w ?: h- ' n Or o ro :^ 1 H H- » H^ C^ 2 CO c CO R C > Z O ^ 5 , ^lii^-: Si iff II iilll iiiHI 111 1 »yn : - v;-iv \ri.J. p lljs'fiQ ^^TH'^r;, i w w B •4' III 'iii ill I'll! ijii III il' ^CT 1 1996 u&rtf n * GAYLORD PRINTED IN USA.