Martin Luther's Commentary Vol I - Romans

Luther's Commentary on Romans was one of the first to be published. He dictated the lectures that comprise it during the years 1515-1516, finishing them a year before publishing his famous 95 Theses. But this does not negate the fact that in his exposition of Romans, the fundamental features that would characterize his theology were already present: that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, that the righteousness of God is imputed or ascribed to the repentant sinner through faith, not works. But also something of paramount importance from an exegetical point of view: the conviction that the Bible is the sole foundation from which to draw our theology; and the historical-christological understanding of the Scriptures.

Today we have dozens of exegetical and expository commentaries on the Bible, verse by verse. But at the beginning of the 16th century, commentaries aimed at the common people were not only a display of biblical erudition but also an act of daring.

Therefore, Martin Luther's Commentaries constitute exceptional and obligatory reference material, not only for understanding his reformist activity, but also for understanding the change in the method of biblical exegesis and exposition that occurred after the Reformation.

Until then, the method employed by the Roman Church was allegorical interpretation, which subordinated the biblical text to the ecclesiastical or doctrinal system established by the Church's magisterium. Luther's hermeneutical principle starts from the premise that God reveals Himself in Scripture and not in the ecclesial structure, giving Scripture an incontestable authority. From a mere object, the biblical text is transformed into a subject; and the Bible, which was previously subjected to the doctrinal system, now begins to undermine its foundations.

Luther invigorates exegesis by inserting it into history and assigns it the role of an instrument for criticizing the system of doctrines. His exegetical works thus acquire a vibrant relevance. Exegesis understood in this way is an answer to many concrete situations affecting the Church today.

Pages: 469

Dimensions: 14x 21 x 2.7 cm

ISBN: 9788482673646