Commentary on Galatians

Luther's Commentary on Galatians stands as one of the most influential biblical commentaries ever written. Luther considered Galatians his "Katherine von Bora"—his beloved—because its message of justification by faith alone was central to his understanding of the gospel. This expanded commentary, based on his 1531 lectures, became a manifesto of Reformation theology and has shaped Protestant understanding of Paul ever since.

Luther interprets Galatians as Paul's battle against those who would add works to faith as necessary for salvation. The Judaizers in Galatia insisted that Gentile converts must be circumcised and keep the Mosaic law. Paul responded with perhaps his most passionate letter, defending the sufficiency of Christ's work. Luther saw the same battle being fought in his own day against Roman Catholic teaching on merit and works.

Central to Luther's exposition is the distinction between law and gospel. The law commands what we cannot perform, revealing our sin and driving us to despair. The gospel announces what God has done in Christ, offering free forgiveness to all who believe. Confusing these two—treating the gospel as a new law or the law as a path to salvation—corrupts Christianity at its core.

Luther's treatment of Galatians 2:20 ("I have been crucified with Christ...") is particularly memorable. He expounds the believer's union with Christ, arguing that through faith Christ's righteousness becomes ours. We are simultaneously sinners in ourselves and righteous in Christ. This "alien righteousness" received through faith alone sets us free from the burden of earning salvation.

The commentary addresses practical questions of Christian living. If salvation is by faith alone, does this encourage sin? Luther answers that true faith necessarily produces love and good works—not as the cause of salvation but as its fruit. The freedom of the Christian is not license to sin but liberation to serve God and neighbor from a willing heart.

For modern readers, Luther's Commentary on Galatians remains remarkably fresh. Its central message—that we are saved by God's grace through faith in Christ apart from our own works—continues to challenge both religious moralism and secular self-improvement schemes. Luther's passionate, personal style makes ancient theological debates feel urgently relevant.