Luther: "For, where God built a church, there the devil would also build a chapel…In such sort is the devil always God's ape."

 From the depths of cyberspace...

Would the devil ever attempt to beget in Roman Catholic persons a regard to the divine Word of God?

Of course. One of the wise statements made by Luther...

For, where God built a church, there the devil would also build a chapel…In such sort is the devil always God's ape.
Colloquia Mensalia (1566) ch. 2 (tr. H. Bell as Martin Luther's Divine Discourses, 1652)

The question in italics was asked by a non-Roman Catholic. The answer was from a Roman Catholic. Reading between the lines, I suspect the answer may either be a simple nod to an agreement with the statement attributed to Luther... or more insidiously, Luther is that person in which the devil beget "a regard for the divine Word of God."  If the later, that notion has precedent in Roman Catholic evaluations of Luther going all the way back to Luther's contemporary nemesis, Johannes Cochlaeus. 

When a participant pointed out that Luther died in 1546, not 1566, Rome's defender responded, "That's a direct Luther quote from the first English addition of Martin Luther's Divine Discourses (1652). His "Table Talk" discourses." Let's take a closer look at this quote. We'll see it's not a direct quote from Luther, and in context, Luther isn't being properly utilized to answer the question being asked.

Documentation

The reference provided was, "Colloquia Mensalia (1566) ch. 2 (tr. H. Bell as Martin Luther's Divine Discourses, 1652)."  Typical of many of Rome's defenders, I suspect this quote is a cut-and paste, since the same form and reference is found on this webpage, and also here.

The reference is accurate... to a point. "Colloquia Mensalia (1566)" refers to the first edition of Luther's Tischreden, or Table Talk (Tischreden oder Colloquia Doct. Mart. Luthers (Eisleben: Urban Gaubisch, 1566) compiled by John Aurifaber. What's being cited though is not this 1566 German edition, but rather a 1652 English edition translated by Captain Henry Bell. No page number is cited by Rome's defender, only that the quote is found in chapter 2.  On page 35 of the 1652 edition, the text reads: 

The 1566 German translation reads: 

The same German can be found in WA TR 4: 612. WA cites FB 1, 91 (92). Unfortunately, for me the trail ends here. I was unable to determine if this was a recollection from Aurifaber or if he relied on another source.  LW points out that Aurifaber is less trustworthy than other manuscripts of Luther's recollected sayings. Aurifaber also presented his material topically. With his presentation of this quote, it's weaved together with a 1540 recollection from John Mathesius (#5010) about what God was doing before creation.  For the context below, I utilized this English translation of Aurifaber. 

Context

When one asked, where God was before heaven was created? St. Augustin made answer thereunto and said, He was in himself. And as another (said Luther) asked me the same question, I said, He was building of hell for such idle, presumptuous, fluttering spirits and inquisitors. After he had created all things, he was everywhere, and yet he was nowhere; for I cannot fasten nor take hold of him without the Word. But he will be found there where he hath bound himself to be. The Jews found him at Jerusalem by the throne of grace, Exodus, xxv. We find him in the Word and faith, in baptism and sacraments; but in his majesty he is nowhere to be found.

It was a special grace in the Old Testament, when God bound himself to a certain place where he would be found, namely, in that place where the tabernacle was, towards which they prayed; as first, in Silo and Sichem, afterwards at Gibeon, and lastly at Jerusalem in the temple.

The Greeks and heathens in after times (said Luther) did imitate the same, and did build temples for their idols in certain places, as at Ephesus for Diana, at Delphos for Apollo, &c. For, where God built a church there the devil would also build a chapel. They imitated the Jews also in this, namely, that as the most holiest was dark, and had no light, even so and after the same manner did they make their places dark where the devil made answer, as at Delphos, and elsewhere. In such sort is the devil always God’s ape. 

But (said Luther) whereas the most holiest must be dark, the same did signify that the kingdom of Christ no other way was to be taken hold of and fastened, but only by the Word and by faith.

Conclusion

Probably half of my Roman Catholic Luther studies involve tracking down obscure Luther quotes, and more often than not, these quotes find their way back to the Table Talk. It often falls on deaf ears when I point out to the defenders of Rome that Luther didn't write the Table Talk. Since the statements contained therein are purported to have been made by Luther, they should serve more as corroborating second-hand testimony to something Luther is certain to have written.  

In the context above, Luther's point is that the "Greeks and heathens" were imitating the Jews by building temples to their gods. When Luther is recorded saying, "where God built a church there the devil would also build a chapel." this has nothing to do with the devil attempting to "beget in Roman Catholic persons a regard to the divine Word of God." Typical of Rome's defenders, many do not bother to look up what they cite from Luther. In this instance, even a truncated second-hand Table Talk comment doesn't support their polemical attacks.