About this Volume

"Upon reflection, it is obvious that a preface by Martin Luther would be a much sought-after addition to any volume coming out of his wing of the Reformation. Fortunately, not only for the authors who merited one of these paratexts, but for modern scholars as well, the reformer did take on the mantle of a 'writer of prefaces.' The results, collected in volumes 59 and 60 of Luther's Works, are strongly recommended reading for Reformation scholars, especially for those interested in his thoughts, activities, and acquaintances as well as his reading list during the quarter century after the Diet of Worms (1521), as he and many for whom he wrote prefaces were engaged in building the Lutheran church." -Andrew Villalon, in Sixteenth Century Journal 44, no. 3 (2013): 849.

This volume contains Luther's prefaces to the works of others from 1532 to 1545. Amid the outpouring of print in the wake of the Reformation, Luther-especially in the prefaces to his own works-sometimes expressed the wish that his own books might disappear and give place to the Bible alone. In his prefaces to the works of others, however, Luther developed the opposite rhetorical strategy, hailing their books as faithful guides to the Scriptures or as edifices that, because of their confession of Christ, would "surely stand secure on the Rock upon which they are built."

Although Luther complained of the many "useless, harmful books" that the Gospel's opponents flooded the world with, the multiplication of "good books" in print was a sign of God's present blessing on the church in restoring the light of the Gospel.

Luther was pleased to encourage the works of faithful colleagues and friends. He wrote prefaces for many works that he declared superior to his own for their insights, style, and more refined approach. Luther was grateful for help in the shared work of Evangelical literary production in all its genres, in constructive work as well as in polemics. His prefaces give a broad survey of the Reformation's literature.

About the Series

The twenty planned new volumes are intended to reflect both modern and sixteenth-century interests and to expand the coverage of genres underrepresented in the existing volumes, such as Luther's sermons and disputations. The primary basis for the translation is the comprehensive Weimar edition.