Commentary on Peter and Jude

p. 1The argument of this first Epistle of S. Peter, by M. Luther.

¶Before wee fall in hande with the interpretation of this Epistle, it shall bee verie requisite, first to laye downe vnto the Reader some briefe admonition, whereby he may knowe, bothe how it is to bee esteemed, and also how to attaine to the certaine knowledge thereof.

FIrst of all is to bee noted, that all the Apostles doe handle one and the self same doctrine, and therfore is it not well done of some, in that they say there bee onely fower Euangelistes, and fower Gospels, whereas all is one Gospell, what so euer the Apostles haue left in writyng.

Now, the Gospel signifieth nothing els then the preaching and publishing of the grace and mercie of God through Christ our Lorde, purchased for vs by his death. And to take it properly, it is not that whiche is contained in bookes and comprehended in letters, but rather the vocall preachyng, and the liuely worde and voyce, whiche soundeth in the whole worlde, and is so openly vttered, that it maie euery where bee heard. Neither is it a booke that containeth the Lawe, wherein are many points of good doctrine, as it hath bin hitherto commō ly beleeued. For it draweth vs from all confidence and hope of any woorke of our owne, whereby to become righteous: and declareth vnto vs the riche graces of God, freely and without any our owne merite giuen vnto vs: teachyng vs also Christ, who hauing by his intercession appeased ye wrath of God, and satisfied for our sinnes, hath quite abolished and blotted out our iniquities and by his works, iustified and made vs righteous.

Now, whosoeuer either preacheth or writeth these thynges, he teacheth the true Gospell in deede, whiche all the Apostles, but especially S Paule and S. Peter haue done in their Epistles, Whatsoeuer then is preached or published concerning Christe, is one Gospell, although one handle it after one sorce, and in one kinde of wordes, an other after an other sorce, and in an other kinde. For a thing may be handled either in many wordes or in fewe and may be described either briefly or at large. Howbeit seeyng all tendeth vnto no other ende but to teache vs that Christ is our Sauiour, and that we through faith in hym, without any our owne workes, are iustified and saued, it is al one Word, and one Gospell, as there is one onely faith, and one Baptisme in the whole Churche of Christ.

Thou readest then nothing written by any of the Apostles, whiche is not also contained in the writynges of others that were as it were penners of the Scripture: but thei that haue handled this poynt especially and with greater endeuour and studie then the rest, namely that onely faithe in Christe doeth iustifie, euen thei are the best Euangelistes of all. Hereupon thou maiest more rightly call the Epistles of Paule the Gospell, then those thinges whiche Matthewe, Marke, and Luke haue written. For thei describe not muche beside the Historie concernyng the doinges and miracles of Christe: as for the grace whiche Christe hath purchased for vs, none doeth more fully and fitly entreate therof then S. Paule, especially in his Epistle to the Romans. Now, seing the Word is of more importance then the actions and doynges of Christe, and that if we should want the one of them, it were farre better to be with out the deedes and Historie, then the Wordes and Doctrine, it followeth that those bookes are most highly to be esteemed, whiche entreate especially of the doctrine and wordes of our Lorde Iesus Christe. For asmuche as if there were no miracles of Christ, and that we were altogether ignoraūt of them, p. 2yet were his wordes sufficient for vs, and without which wee can not so muche as liue.

Hereupon therefore it followeth, that this Epistle of S. Peter is to bee accompted among the moste excellent bookes of the newe Testament, and is the true and pure Gospell, in asmuche as the Apostle herein teacheth nothyng els, then that whiche Paule and the rest of the Euangelistes doe: namely sincere faith, and that Christe is freely giuen vnto vs, who hauyng taken awaie our sinnes, is our onely Sauiour, as in the processe of this Epistle we shall see. By this that is here saied, wee maie likewise iudge of all bookes and doctrines, what is the Gospell, & what is not. For whatsoeuer is not either preached or written after this sorte, and to this ende, that maie wée boldly iudge not to bee the Gospell, haue it neuer so faire and goodly a shewe. This power to iudge haue al Christians, and not the Pope or Councels alone, whiche face and crake that thei and none but thei haue authoritie to iudge of doctrines. And thus muche maie suffize for the argument: let vs now heare the Epistle.

The first Epistle generall of Sainct Peter.

The first Chapter.

PEter an Apostle of Iesus Christe, to the straungers that dwell here and there throughout Pōtus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,

Elect accordyng to the foreknowledge of GOD the Father vnto sanctification of the Spirit, through obedience and sprinckling of the bloud of Iesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied vnto you.

Blessed be GOD, euen the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ, whiche according to his aboundant mercie hath begotten vs againe vnto a liuely hope by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead,

To an inheritaunce immortall and vndefiled, and that fadeth not awaie, reserued in heauen for you,

Whiche are kept by the power of God through faithe vnto saluation, whiche is prepared to bee shewed in the last tyme.

Wherein ye reioyce, though now for a season (if neede require) ye are in heauinesse, through manifolde tentations,

That the triall of your faith, beyng much more precious then gold that perisheth (though it be tried with fire) might be founde vnto your praise, and honour and glorie, at the appearyng of Iesus Christ: