… my post was in reply to your comment on Faith Alone, …
Luther did not teach Faith Alone. That is a Catholic myth that stems from misunderstanding.
When asked about using the word “alone” in Romans, Luther explained in the German language the word “only” needed to be added for clarity and didn’t mean “faith only” is required.
below is an excerpt of his actual words:
“I wanted to speak German since it was German I had spoken in translation - not Latin or Greek. *But it is the nature of our language that in speaking about two things, one which is affirmed, the other denied, we use the word “solum” only along with the word “not” (nicht) or “no” (kein). *For example, we say “the farmer brings only (allein) grain and no money”; or “No, I really have no money, but only (allein) grain”; I have only eaten and not yet drunk”; “Did you write it only and not read it over?” *There are a vast number of such everyday cases…
In all these phrases, this is a German usage, even though it is not the Latin or Greek usage.
It is the nature of the German tongue to add “allein” in order that “nicht” or “kein” may beclearer and more complete. *…
We do not have to ask about the literal Latin or how we are to speak German - as these asses do. *Rather we must ask the mother in the home, the children on the street, the common person in the market about this. *We must be guided by their tongue, the manner of their speech, and do our translating accordingly. *Then they will understand it and recognize that we are speaking German to them.
*… So, as the traitor Judas says in Matthew 26: “Ut quid perditio haec?” and in Mark 14: “Ut quid perditio iste unguenti facta est?” Subsequently, for these literalist asses I would have to translate it: “Why has this loss of salve occurred?” *But what kind of German is this? *What German says “loss of salve occurred”? *And if he does understand it at all, he would think that the salve is lost and must be looked for and found again; … *But a German would say “Ut quid, etc…” as “Why this waste?” or “Why this extravagance?” Even “it is a shame about the ointment” - these are good German, in which one can understand that Magdalene had wasted the salve she poured out and had done wrong. *That was what Judas meant as he thought he could have used it better." - Martin Luther
Following this reasoning, the word “only” is appropriate in the German, but would not be appropriate in English translationst.
Since Protestant Bibles do not use the word “alone” in the English translations of Protestant Bibles, it is obvious Luther didn’t start a new doctrine. If he had that word would be found in Protestant Bibles which it is not.
