Obscure Luther Quotes

Bondage of the Will Quote
"Both good and evil men, though by their actions they fulfill the decries and appointments of God, yet are not forcibly constrained to do anything but act willingly."

Careful Where You Find Your Quotes...
"Luther's use of the word "allein" was deliberate, NOT to make the passage clearer, but to advance his own personal doctrine. No wonder that he disliked the epistle of James, and rejected it's APostolic origin and wanted to expunge it from the Bible, because he saw that James 2:29 contradicted his addition of "allein" to Romans 3:28."

Careful Where You Find Your Quotes #2

Deacons, Elders, and...Luther
A Catholic apologist has been attempting to justify his blunder that Protestants hold "...bishops, elders, and deacons are all synonymous terms for the same office." This apologist dug up a Martin Luther quote to justify his error: "According to the New Testament Scriptures better names [for priests] would be ministers, deacons, bishops, stewards, presbyters . . ."

Finding Contexts in Peter F. Wiener's "Martin Luther: Hitler's Spiritual Ancestor" A look at the quotes, "What is good in us Christians, they ignore; what is wrong in us Christians the Jews take advantage of." "The breath of the Jews reeks.""Their rabbis teach them that theft and robbery is no sin."

From The Beggars Mailbox: The Wise Turk
"I was listening to the KFUO broadcast IssuesEtc and the host says he wished some Luther scholar would point him to where Luther is believed to say that he would rather be ruled by a competent Turk than an incompetent Christian. Or something to that effect. I thought of you since you are such a scholar."

Jehovah's Witnesses Citing Luther
"For my part, I am sure that the day of judgment is just around the corner. It doesn't matter that we don't know the precise day ... perhaps someone else can figure it out. But it is certain that time is not at an end." (Reformation Principles and Practice: Essays in Honor of Arthur Geoffrey Dickens, page 169)"

John Henry Newman Misquotes Luther

Justification: The doctrine upon which the church stands or falls

Luther, "Are You Alone Wise"?
“(On the Misuse of the Mass) he (Luther) confessed that he had often asked himself, “Are you alone wise” Can it be that everyone else is in error and has been in error for so long? What if you are wrong and lead into error so many people who might then be eternally damned?” James M. Kittelson, “Luther the Reformer, the Story of the Man and His Career.”, pg 170, Augsburg Publishing House, 1986

Luther: Addendum: Luther, Are You Alone Wise?

Luther And The Jews Quote
"If I had to baptise a Jew, I would take him to the bridge of the Elbe, hang a stone round his neck and push him over with the words `I baptise thee in the name of Abraham” – Martin Luther 'The Facts About Luther, TAN Books, 1987, p. 290. [36] Grisar, “Luther”, Vol. V. pg. 413."

Luther as an "infallible, unquestionable theological / spiritual guide or authority"--Against all the sayings of the Fathers, against all the arts and words of angels, men and devils I set the Scriptures and the Gospel . . . Here I stand and here I defy them . . . The Word of God I count above all else and the Divine Majesty supports me; hence I should not turn a hair were a thousand Augustines against me, and am certain that the true Church adheres with me to God's Word. (Against Henry VIII, King of England, 1522; in Grisar, Vol. IV, 391 / from Werke [Weimar], Vol X, II, p. 256 ff.)

Whoever teaches differently from what I have taught herein, or condemns me for it, he condemns God, and must be a child of Hell. (Ibid., from O’Connor, 15)

Luther: Evangelicals are now seven times worse than they were before..having learnt the Gospel, we steal, tell lies, deceive, eat and drink to excess
"We deserve that our Evangelicals (the followers of the new Gospel) should now be seven times worse than they were before. Because after having learnt the Gospel, we steal, tell lies, deceive, eat and drink (to excess), and practice all manner of vices." [Walch. III. 2727]

Luther: I am unable to pray without at the same time cursing-
The Catholic Encyclopedia records Luther's words as, "For I am unable to pray without at the same time cursing. If I am prompted to say: 'hallowed be Thy name', I must add: 'cursed, damned, outraged be the name of the papists'. If I am prompted to say: 'Thy Kingdom come', I must perforce add: 'cursed, damned, destroyed must be the papacy.' Indeed I pray thus orally every day and in my heart without intermission" (Sammtl. W., XXV, 108)

Luther: "I burn with a thousand flames in my unsubdued flesh"
"I burn " said Luther " with a thousand flames in my unsubdued flesh: I feel myself carried on with a rage towards women that approached madness. I, who ought to be fervent in spirit, am only fervent in impurity." (Table Talk)

Luther: "I confess that I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict the Scripture"
"I confess that I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict the Scripture." (Martin Luther, De Wette II, 459).

Luther: I have so much to do that I shall have to spend the first three hours in prayer
A recent email asks,I know you love chasing sources for Luther quotes. I know he's widely quoted as saying "I have so much to do that I shall have to spend the first three hours in prayer", but I can't find a source for it. I thought I'd flick you an email to see if you've ever tried tracking a source for this one down. Have you?

Luther: “Mary….We Can Never Honor Her Enough”
A look at this quote which is used as proof that Luther was “devoted” to Mary: [She is the] highest woman and the noblest gem in Christianity after Christ . . . She is nobility, wisdom, and holiness personified. We can never honor her enough. Still honor and praise must be given to her in such a way as to injure neither Christ nor the Scriptures. (Sermon, Christmas, 1531).

Luther: "My Teaching is not mine, but God's"
"I have said repeatedly: Assail my person if you will, and in any way you will; I do not claim to be an angel. But I will allow no one to assail my teaching with impunity, since I know that it is not mine, but God’s. For on this depends my neighbor’s salvation and my own, to God’s praise and honor." Martin Luther, (Reply to the Answer of the Leipzig Goat, 1521; from PE, Vol. III, 293-294; translated by A. Steimle)

Luther: Noblemen, townsmen, peasants, all classes understand the Evangelium better than I or St. Paul
"Noblemen, townsmen, peasants, all classes understand the Evangelium better than I or St. Paul; they are now wise and think themselves more learned than all the ministers." (citation: Walch XIV, 1360. quoted in O'Hare, Ibid, 209.)

Luther on Wittenberg: "Away from this Sodom"
"Away from this Sodom (Wittenberg)... I will wander about, and sooner beg my bread than allow my poor old last days to be martyred and upset with the disorder of Wittenberg" (Luther's Letter to his Wife, July, 1545)

Luther tells us that it was Satan who convinced him that the Mass was not a true sacrifice
Statements from a Traditionalist Catholic article in which the author quotes from "Audin's Life of Luther" to prove that " Luther tells us that it was Satan who convinced him that the Mass was not a true sacrifice, and that in worshipping bread, he was guilty of idolatry" and "Luther acknowledged at the close of this conference that he was unable to answer the arguments of Satan, and he immediately ceased saying Mass."

Luther, the Prophet: Context, Context, Context
"Do we not read in the Old Testament that God commonly raised up only one prophet at a time? Moses was alone in the Exodus, Elijah was alone in King Ahab’s day, Elisha, after him, was alone, Isaiah was alone in Jerusalem, Hosea alone in Israel, Jeremiah alone in Judaea, Ezekiel alone in Babylon, and so forth. Even though they had many disciples, called “children of the prophets,” God never allowed more than one man alone to preach and rebuke the people.........I say not that I am a prophet, but I do say that the more they despise me and esteem themselves, the more reason they have to fear that I may be a prophet . . .If I am not a prophet, yet for my own self I am certain that the Word of God is with me and not with them, for I have the Scriptures on my side, and they have only their own doctrine. This gives me courage, so that the more they despise and persecute me, the less I fear them.(An Argument in Defense of All the Articles of Dr. Martin Luther Wrongly Condemned in the Roman Bull, 1521; from: Works of Martin Luther [PE], Vol. III, 12-14; translated by C. M. Jacobs)

Luther: “There Are Almost As Many Sects and Beliefs As There Are Heads”: A look at the Luther quote, There are almost as many sects and beliefs as there are heads; this one will not admit baptism; that one rejects the Sacrament of the altar; another places another world between the present one and the day of judgment; some teach that Jesus Christ is not God. There is not an individual, however clownish he may be, who does not claim to be inspired by the Holy Ghost, and who does not put forth as prophecies his ravings and dreams."-

*Luther Said: Christ Committed Adultery?* A quick look at an outrageous quote from Luther: "Christ committed adultery first of all with the woman at the well about whom St. John tells us...."

Luther said, "To the gallows with Moses!"
“All who consort with Moses, will eventually sell out to the Devil. Let Moses be hanged!" “Alle, die mit Mose umgehen, müssen zum Teufel fahren, an Galgen mit Mose.”"Let Moses be hanged" (“an Galgen mit Mose”), literally, "to the gallows with Moses!"

Luther's Imaginary Letter to Pope Leo X, January 6, 1519
"I never approved of a schism, nor will I approve of it for all eternity . . . That the Roman Church is more honored by God than all others is not to be doubted . . . It is not by separating from the Church that we can make her better." (Letter to Pope Leo X, January 6, 1519)

Luther's Letter to Pope Leo: " I acknowledge your voice, as the voice of Christ"
"Wherefore, Most Blessed Father, I offer myself, prostrate at the feet of Your Holiness, with all that I am and have. Bid me live, slay me, call, recall, approve, condemn, as it may please you. I acknowledge your voice, as the voice of Christ, presiding and speaking in you." (Luther's letter to Pope Leo, May 30, 1518)

Luther: Sola Scriptura Had a "Devastating Effect"?
"There are almost as many sects and beliefs as there are heads; . . . There is not an individual, however clownish he may be who does not claim to be inspired by the Holy Ghost, and who does not put forth as prophecies his ravings and dreams" - Martin Luther

Luther's Statement Concerning Roman Catholic Authorities: "Why do we not rather assault them with arms and wash our hands in their blood?" (Part One)


Luther's Statement Concerning Roman Catholic Authorities: "Why do we not rather assault them with arms and wash our hands in their blood?" (Part Two)


Luther's Statement Concerning Roman Catholic Authorites: "Why do we not rather assault them with arms and wash our hands in their blood?" (Part Three)


Luther: The History of Jonah Is So Monstrous That It Is Absolutely Incredible:

Allegedly, "The history of Jonah is so monstrous that it is absolutely incredible ... " according to Luther. In this brief snippet, the implication may be that Luther denied the historical account of Jonah and the whale, and therefore denied the miraculous, and is also probably like one of those liberal scholars who interprets the Bible as fictional literature rather than history. Or quite possibly, he just said awful things about Holy Scripture.

Luther: "The veneration of Mary is inscribed in the very depths of the human heart"

Luther: We have no wish either to see or hear Moses
Father O'Hare states, "But even for the books [Luther] chose to retain, he showed little or no respect. Here are some examples of his judgments on them. Of the Pentateuch he says: 'We have no wish either to see or hear Moses.'

Luther: "Whoever possesses a good (firm) faith, says the Hail Mary without danger!"

Luther: "Zwingli's death proved I'm right and he's wrong"- Luther hated Zwingli so much that when Zwingli was killed in battle he said, "he got what he deserved.... His death proved I'm right and he's wrong."'

New Series: Helping Matthew Bellisario Do Research #1- "As for pope, cardinals, bishops, "and the whole brood of Roman Sodom", why not attack it "with every sort of weapon and wash our hands in its blood" (Walch, XVIII, 245).

Proof of Luther's "pathetic spiritual condition"-"His last sermon in Wittenberg (17 Jan., 1546) is in a vein of despondency and despair. "Usury, drunkenness, adultery, murder, assassination, all these can be noticed, and the world understands them to be sins, but the devil's bride, reason, that pert prostitute struts in, and will be clever and means what she says, that it is the Holy Ghost" (op. cit., XVI, 142-48). The same day he pens the pathetic lines "I am old, decrepit, indolent, weary, cold, and now have the sight of but one eye" (De Wette, op. cit., V, 778). Nevertheless peace was not his."(1) [Sources (1) Catholic Encyclopedia].

References from Boettner to The Bondage of the Will
James, I am reading Loraine Boettner's book, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination. The section on "the doctrine of reprobation" is interesting in regard to the emotional resistance to the doctrine of election. He states a quote from Luther saying, "This mightily offends our rational nature". But I don't understand the book source of the quote: In Praefat, and Epist. ad Rom., quoted by Zanchius, Predestination, p. 92. I tried asking others in the chat room, they sent me to you...

References That Miss The Mark
"Imputed righteousness led Luther to say such absurd, ridiculous things as the following: "One and the same act may be accepted before God and not accepted, be good and not good." "The gospel is a teaching having no connection whatever with reason, whereas the teaching of the law can be understood by reason . . . reason cannot grasp an extraneous righteousness." [in Hartmann Grisar, Luther, vol. 1 of 6 (tr. E.M. Lamond, ed. Luigi Capadelta, London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 2nd ed., 1914, pp. 216-217; from Commentary on Romans]"

Revisiting Luther's Outrageous Statements on Being a "Prophet"
I say not that I am a prophet, but I do say that the more they despise me and esteem themselves, the more reason they have to fear that I may be a prophet . . . If I am not a prophet, yet for my own self I am certain that the Word of God is with me and not with them, for I have the Scriptures on my side, and they have only their own doctrine. This gives me courage, so that the more they despise and persecute me, the less I fear them. (An Argument in Defense of All the Articles of Dr. Martin Luther Wrongly Condemned in the Roman Bull, 1521; from: Works of Martin Luther [PE], Vol. III, 12-14; translated by C. M. Jacobs)

The "ineffable joy" of Predestination to Hell (Part One)
"Luther thought that men should have an "ineffable joy" if they discovered that they were damned, because they were resigned to God's will" "He even dares to say to those who are affrighted by predestination to hell, that resignation to eternal punishment is, for the truly wise, a source of `ineffable joy' " "His assurance to souls, affrighted by their inevitable predestination to Hell, that for the truly wise acceptance of eternal punishment is a source of "ineffable joy", seems more a mockery than anything else".

The "ineffable joy" of Predestination to Hell (Part 2)
A Roman apologist: "It gets even more bizarre than that, for those who are interested in the history of doctrine and theology. Luther thought that men should have an "ineffable joy" if they discovered that they were damned, because they were resigned to God's will: If men willed what God wills, even though He should will to damn and reject them, they would see no evil in that [in the predestination to hell which he teaches]; for, as they will what God wills, they have, owing to their resignation, the will of God in them."

"There can be no doubt that the Virgin Mary is in heaven. How it happened we do not know. And since the Holy Spirit has told us nothing about it, we can make of it no article of faith."

Weekly “wisdom” from Martin Luther = Propaganda #1 - “Snakes and monkeys are subjected to the demon more than other animals. Satan lives in them and possesses them. He uses them to deceive men and to injure them.”


Obscure Luther Quoters: Steve Ray and Spy Vs. Spy

Below are many blog posts about the follwoing Luther quote:

"If the world lasts for a long time, it will again be necessary, on account of the many interpretations which are now given to the Scriptures, to receive the decrees of councils, and take refuge in them, in order to preserve the unity of faith." Epis. ad. Zwingli (ap. Balmes, p. 423)" - Martin Luther

I caught Steve Ray misusing and misciting this quote. The following blog posts document how far these guys will go to avoid admitting they misquoted Luther.

When Footnotes Attack!

Mailbox

A Response To Steve Ray On "When Footnotes Attack!" .

More On Steve Ray's Luther Quote and Luther's Letter To Zwingli

The Chase Goes On....

Context:

The Wild Goose Chase Continued...

Never Mind.

Quote Hunting...Continued.

Quote Update #1

Quote Update 2

On Roman Catholic Research

Overview Of Luther's Writings About Zwingli


Spy Vs Spy: The Evidence Is In

Spy vs. Spy...Continued.

Luther's Preface To The Swabian Syngramma

The "Luther Quote" Via Leibniz (revised)

Leibniz Jenga

The Helping Hands of Turretinfan

Chasing Luther Quotes