Luther and Romans 3:28

De Maria | 04/22/2016

Luther admits adding the word alone to Romans 3:28 saying:
“I know very well that in Romans 3 the word solum is not in the Greek or Latin text — the papists did not have to teach me that. It is fact that the letters s-o-l-a are not there.....Because Dr. Martin Luther will have it so!".... (Translated from "Ein sendbrief D. M. Luthers. Von Dolmetzschen und Fürbit der heiligenn" in Dr. Martin Luthers Werke, (Weimar: Hermann Boehlaus Nachfolger, 1909), Band 30, Teil II, pp. 632-646. Revised and annotated by Michael D. Marlowe, June 2003.)

To me that offends in two ways, first off, it contradicts Scripture which says:

James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

And we know that Luther knowingly did so, unless you want to say that he did not actually call the Epistle of St. James an "epistle of straw."

Secondly, he admittedly adds a word to Scripture which isn't there and thus violates the rule often quoted by Protestants:

Rev 22:18For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

Now, although he justifies his action by claiming that this is the gist of St. Paul's meaning, he must be wrong for St. Paul said previously, Romans 2:13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Therefore St. Paul says that unless one works and keeps the Law, one will not be justified by God. Therefore faith "alone" can not be what St. Paul meant. Because the idea directly opposes Scripture in James 2 and Romans 2.

More Stories By De Maria:

The Apostles' Creed - a short Catechism

The faith and works of St. Dismas

Scripture alone, a tradition of men

Five facts that will make you a more effective apologist

The Justification of the sinner according to the Catholic Church

Who is that woman Babylon?

Where do we find the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Bible?

Just do good and we'll find a meeting point

About the Author

De Maria

website

My name is not, De Maria. But De Maria is who I am. About 30 years ago, the internet was new. And many of us, including my wife and I, considered it the Beast of Revelations. Therefore, we stayed off of it. But, one day, after experiencing a very powerful conversion back to the Catholic Church and the Spirit, being strong within me, made me yearn to teach the Faith. Little did I know, how little I knew about the Faith I practiced.

Becoming a Catechism teacher took me back to the days when I was young and hungry for knowledge. But in those days, no one wanted to be bothered answering my questions. And I believe that is one of the reasons why I fell away. No one could explain the Faith to me in a manner that was satisfactory. I didn't want to be that type of Catechist. I wanted to understand so that I could pass on my understanding. But it soon became obvious to me, that I didn't understand very much at all.

Then, one day, someone said, "why don't you ask for explanations on the Internet? There are lots of knowledgeable people there." So, I investigated. And, thanks be to God, I found a now defunct website for Catechists. I learned so much from them. I can't ever repay them.

But, back to my pen name, De Maria. Back then, most of us distrusted the Internet. And this forum for Catechists did not permit us to use our real names. They required pen names. So, since I love Our Lady, I took her name. (I am a guy, by the way.) In the grand tradition of male Saints who have adopted Our Lady's name, for instance, St. Louis "Marie" de Montfort and St. Alphonsus "Marie" de Liquori. And that's who I am. I believe that I belong to Mary and that I am sent by her to preach about her Son.

Besides this website, I have two more. Washed, justified and sanctified in the Sacraments of the Catholic Church and CatholicBibleTalk.