For For anyone about to read Romans, or wanting Luther's gospel in one sitting: what law, sin, grace, faith and flesh mean in Paul. The preface John Wesley heard read at Aldersgate.
Length About 6,500 words, under an hour.
Should I read this?
For the general reader
5 of 5essential
For the researcher
4 of 5important
Difficulty
2 of 5moderate
A short guide to reading Romans that defines law, sin, grace, faith, flesh and spirit as Paul uses them. Wesley's heart was 'strangely warmed' hearing it read.
How it proceeds
Philosophic2 of 5
Scriptural5 of 5
Experiential3 of 5
Sociological0 of 5
Historical0 of 5
Independent intensities, 0–5 — what the work is made of, not how good it is.
Luther's preface to his German translation of Romans stands as one of the most influential pieces of biblical interpretation in Christian history. Written in 1522 for his September Testament, this brief introduction emerged from Luther's conviction that ordinary believers needed guidance to understand Paul's dense theological argument. Having wrestled with Romans during his own spiritual crisis years earlier, Luther crafted this preface to unlock what he considered the heart of Christian doctrine for German readers encountering Paul's letter in their native tongue for the first time.
The preface moves systematically through Paul's central concepts, defining faith not as mere intellectual assent but as living trust that transforms the believer. Luther explains justification as God's declaration of righteousness apart from works, emphasizing that this righteousness comes through faith alone and produces good works as natural fruit rather than meritorious cause. He walks readers through Paul's argument about the universality of sin, the inadequacy of the law to save, and the role of faith in grafting believers into God's salvation. Throughout, Luther maintains that Romans reveals the distinction between law and gospel that he considered fundamental to understanding all of Scripture.
This preface shaped Protestant biblical interpretation for centuries, establishing interpretive principles that influenced everything from Puritan sermons to Wesleyan revival preaching. Its clear, pastoral tone made complex theological concepts accessible to non-scholars while maintaining doctrinal precision. The work's explanation of faith, justification, and Christian liberty became standard teaching in Lutheran and Reformed traditions.
Who should read this: Those studying the development of Protestant theology, pastors seeking to understand Reformation approaches to Paul's letter, and anyone interested in how Luther's personal spiritual struggles informed his biblical interpretation. Readers unfamiliar with basic Reformation concepts may find the theological vocabulary challenging without additional context.
Editions
Localexchanged.education
Read free online
OTHERExchanged editionPD
Trans. Andrew Thornton
Source: Exchanged
Read it here on Exchanged: Brother Andrew Thornton’s modern translation, set for reading on screen, with his short translator’s note first. Half an hour’s reading, and the best preparation for reading Romans itself.
OTHERVorrede auf die Epistel S. Pauli an die Römer (Projekt Gutenberg-DE)PDGerman
Luther's preface to Romans in his own German, from the prefaces to his New Testament, at Projekt Gutenberg-DE in modernised spelling. For readers of German.
Much harder than the work: The original German, with no translation.
OTHERVorrede auf die Epistel S. Pauli an die Römer (CCEL (Thornton))PD
Trans. Andrew Thornton
Brother Andrew Thornton’s modern translation for Project Wittenberg (1983), read online, with his short note on “just” and “faith” and his explanations in square brackets. Plain contemporary English; the complete preface.
Preface to the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans
by Martin Luther
For For anyone about to read Romans, or wanting Luther's gospel in one sitting: what law, sin, grace, faith and flesh mean in Paul. The preface John Wesley heard read at Aldersgate.
Length About 6,500 words, under an hour.
Should I read this?
A short guide to reading Romans that defines law, sin, grace, faith, flesh and spirit as Paul uses them. Wesley's heart was 'strangely warmed' hearing it read.
How it proceeds
Independent intensities, 0–5 — what the work is made of, not how good it is.
Luther's preface to his German translation of Romans stands as one of the most influential pieces of biblical interpretation in Christian history. Written in 1522 for his September Testament, this brief introduction emerged from Luther's conviction that ordinary believers needed guidance to understand Paul's dense theological argument. Having wrestled with Romans during his own spiritual crisis years earlier, Luther crafted this preface to unlock what he considered the heart of Christian doctrine for German readers encountering Paul's letter in their native tongue for the first time.
The preface moves systematically through Paul's central concepts, defining faith not as mere intellectual assent but as living trust that transforms the believer. Luther explains justification as God's declaration of righteousness apart from works, emphasizing that this righteousness comes through faith alone and produces good works as natural fruit rather than meritorious cause. He walks readers through Paul's argument about the universality of sin, the inadequacy of the law to save, and the role of faith in grafting believers into God's salvation. Throughout, Luther maintains that Romans reveals the distinction between law and gospel that he considered fundamental to understanding all of Scripture.
This preface shaped Protestant biblical interpretation for centuries, establishing interpretive principles that influenced everything from Puritan sermons to Wesleyan revival preaching. Its clear, pastoral tone made complex theological concepts accessible to non-scholars while maintaining doctrinal precision. The work's explanation of faith, justification, and Christian liberty became standard teaching in Lutheran and Reformed traditions.
Who should read this: Those studying the development of Protestant theology, pastors seeking to understand Reformation approaches to Paul's letter, and anyone interested in how Luther's personal spiritual struggles informed his biblical interpretation. Readers unfamiliar with basic Reformation concepts may find the theological vocabulary challenging without additional context.
Editions
Local exchanged.education
Read free online
External off-site sources
Free downloads