Fortress Press

Luther's Works, Volume 49: Letters II

Luther's Works, Volume 49

Letters II

Martin Luther (Author), Gottfried G. Krodel Th.D. (Editor)

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For Martin Luther, the period stretching from March 1522 to October of 1530 marked a time of tremendous change—ecclesiastical, political, and personal. Through the 117 letters presented here, the reader is given a well-rounded look at shaping forces and milieu of Luther's life and of the entire Reformation. Each letter in this volume, given in its entirety, unveils important aspects of Luther's complex personality. Historical introductions explain clearly the political and religious background of each letter.

  • Publisher Fortress Press
  • Format Hardcover
  • ISBN 9780800603496
  • Dimensions 9.31 x 6.5
  • Pages 480
  • Publication Date June 1, 1972

Excerpts

Letter from Martin Luther to Lazrus Spengler of Nuremberg who designed the Luther Rose ring.

Grace and peace in Christ!

Honorable, kind, dear Sir and Friend! Since you ask whether my seal has come out correctly, I shall answer most amiably and tell you of those thoughts which [now] come to my mind about my seal as a symbol of my theology.

There is first to be a cross, black [and placed] in a heart, which should be of its natural color, so that I myself would be reminded that faith in the Crucified saves us. For if one believes from the heart he will be justified. Even though it is a black cross, [which] mortifies and [which] also should hurt us, yet it leaves the heart in its [natural] color [and] does not ruin nature; that is, [the cross] does not kill but keeps [man] alive. For the just man lives by faith, but by faith in the Crucified One. Such a heart is to be in the midst of a white rose, to symbolize that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace; in a word it places the believer into a white joyful rose; for [this faith] does not give peace and joy as the world gives and, therefore, the rose is to be white and not red, for white is the color of the spirits and of all the angels. Such a rose is to be in a sky-blue field, [symbolizing] that such joy in the Spirit and in faith is a beginning of the future heavenly joy; it is already a part [of faith], and is grasped through hope, even though not yet manifest. And around this field is a golden ring, [symbolizing] that in heaven such blessedness lasts forever and has no end, and in addition is precious beyond all joy and goods, just as gold is the most valuable and precious metal.

May Christ, our dear Lord, be with your spirit until the life to come. Amen.

From Luther's Works, Volume 49. Copyright © 1972 by Fortress Press.

Table of Contents

General Editor's Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction to Volume 49
Luther's Letter to:
George Spalatin: March, 1522
George Spalatin: May 1522
An Anonymous Addressee: May, 1522
George Spalatin: June, 1522
John von Staupitz: June, 1522
George Spalatin: September, 1522
Henning Teppen: November, 1522
George Spalatin: December, 1522
Wenceslas Link: December, 1522
The Couuncil of the City of Stettin: January 1523
The Council of the City of Leisnig: January, 1523
Eobanus Hessus: March, 1523
Elector Frederick: May, 1523
John Oecolampadius: June, 1523
Elector Frederick: August, 1523
John von Staupitz: September, 1523
Gregory Bruck: October, 1523
Nicholas Hausmann: October, 1523
Elector Frederick: mid-November, 1523
Margrave Albrecht: 1523
George Spalatin: end of 1523
George Spalatin: January, 1524
George Spalatin: March, 1524
Elector Frederick: March, 1524
Erasmus of Rotterdam: April, 1524
Nicholas Gerbel: May, 1524
Wolfgang Stein: September, 1524
The Council of the City of Zerbst: October, 1524
Nicholas Hausmann: November, 1524
George Spalatin: November, 1524
The Christians in Strasburg: December, 1524
Lazarus Spengler: February, 1525
Theobald Billicanus: March, 1525
George Spalatin: April, 1525
John Ruhel: May, 1525
Nicholas von Amsdorf: June, 1525
George Spalatin: June, 1525
Nicholas von Amsdorf: June, 1525
John Briessmann: August, 1525
Elector John: September, 1525
Elector John: October, 1525
Elector John: November, 1525
Michael Stifel: December, 1525
Gabriel Zwilling: January, 1526
George Spalatin: March, 1526
Caspar von Schwenckfeld: April, 1526
John Agricola: May, 1526
John Ruhel, June, 1526
Michael Stifel: August, 1526
Wenceslas Link: January, 1527
Nicholas Hausmann: January, 1527
Nicholas Hausmann: March, 1527
Wenceslas Link: May, 1527
Wenceslas Link: July, 1527
Nicholas Hausmann: July, 1527
Elector John: September, 1527
Justus Jonas: November, 1527
John Brenz: November, 1527
Justus Jonas: December, 1527
Justus Jonas: December, 1527
Nicholas von Amsdorf: April, 1528
Elector John: May, 1528
Duke John Frederick, May, 1528
John Hess: June, 1528
Nicholas Gerbel: July, 1528
Nicholas Huasmann: August, 1528
Lazarus Spengler: August, 1528
Elector John: September, 1528
John Agricola: September, 1528
Nicholas von Amsdorf: November, 1528
Wenceslas Link: March, 1529
Nicholas von Amsdorf: May, 1529
Wenceslas Link: May, 1529
Elector John: May, 1529
Landgrave Philip of Hess: June, 1529
Thomas Loscher: August, 1529
Mrs. Martin Luther: October, 1529
Nicholas von Amsdorf: October, 1529
Elector John: November, 1529
Landgrave Philip of Hess: December, 1529
Elector John: December, 1529
Some Pastors of the City of Lubeck: January, 1530
Nicholas Hausmann: February, 1530
Hans Luther, February, 1530
Elector John: March, 1530
Nicholas Hausmann: April, 1530
Philip Melanchton: April, 1530
George Spalatin: April, 1530
Elector John: May 1530
Landgrave Philip of Hesse: May 1530
Elector John: May, 1530
Mrs. Martin Luther: June, 1530
Philip Melanchthon: June, 1530
Philip Melanchthon: June, 1530
John Luther: June, 1530
Philip Melanchthon: June, 1530
George Spalatin: June, 1530
John Agricola: June, 1530
Philip Melanchthon: July, 1530
Nicholas Hausmann: July, 1530
Conrad Cordatus: July, 1530
Lazarus Spengler: July, 1530
Elector John: July, 1530
Justus Jonas: July, 1530
Justus Jonas, George Spalatin, Philip Melanchthon, John Agricola: July 15, 1530
Philip Melanchthon: July, 1530
Gregory Bruck: August, 1530
Mrs. Martin Luther: August, 1530
Mrs. Martin Luther: August, 1530
Elector John: August, 1530
George Spalatin: August, 1530
Mrs. Martin Luther: September, 1530
Nicholas Hausmann: September, 1530
Mrs. Martin Luther: September, 1530
Lois Senfl: October, 1530
The Electoral Saxon Government: October, 1530
Landgrave Philip of Hesse: October, 1530

Indexes
2