Introduction
Martin Luther regarded his Commentary on Galatians as one of his most important works. He famously said, “The Epistle to the Galatians is my epistle … it is my “Katherine” (i.e. my wife).” Through this commentary—drawn from lectures he delivered around 1531—Luther expounds the gospel of justification by faith, attacks legalism, and shows how Christ frees the believer from the bondage of sin and the Law. This summary restates Luther’s exposition in fresh language, organized thematically for clarity and application.
1. Historical & Theological Context
Luther’s lecture course on Galatians was delivered at Wittenberg, captured in notes by his assistants George Rörer, Veit Dietrich, and Caspar Cruciger. The manuscript was later edited and translated (e.g. by Theodore Graebner) to make Luther’s Latin commentary more accessible in English. ntslibrary.com+2media.sabda.org+2
Galatians was a fitting subject for Luther because of its clarity regarding justification by faith and its sharp contrast with Judaizing legalism. In his preface, Luther identifies that central doctrine—salvation by faith alone through Christ—as the pulsing heart of his theological vision. media.sabda.org+2Christian Classics Ethereal Library+2
2. Paul’s Argument and False Teachers
Luther begins by summarizing the argument of Galatians: Paul addresses false teachers in Galatia who insisted that Gentile converts must adopt Jewish legal practices (particularly circumcision and observance of the Law). Paul defends both his apostolic authority and the purity of the gospel against these distortions. media.sabda.org+2Christian Classics Ethereal Library+2
These opponents had “darkened” the gospel of Christ by adding works. Luther sees Paul’s key task as preserving the gospel that justifies sinners by faith, not by earned merit under the Law. Through his commentary, Luther repeatedly shows how the Law and the gospel have different roles: the Law reveals our sin and drives us to Christ; the gospel assures forgiveness and new life. media.sabda.org+2Christian Classics Ethereal Library+2
3. Justification by Faith Alone
This is the central theme in Luther’s commentary. He insists that no human work, no obedience to the Law, and no accumulation of merit can justify a sinner before God. Justification is a divine act: through faith in Christ, God counts the sinner righteous because of Christ’s righteousness imputed to them. Christ’s death and resurrection are the sole basis for this justification. media.sabda.org+2Christian Classics Ethereal Library+2
Luther emphasizes that this faith is not a dead intellectual assent, but a living trust that works through love. True faith produces life and fruit. He also warns against antinomianism (the idea that believers are freed from all moral obligation), explaining that the Law still guides Christian living—not for justification but for sanctification. media.sabda.org+3media.sabda.org+3Christian Classics Ethereal Library+3
4. The Role of the Law
Luther discusses the Law in multiple dimensions:
- The Law as mirror: It reveals human sin, showing us that we fall short of God’s standards.
- The Law’s limitations: It cannot impart righteousness or change the heart.
- The Law and the believer: After justification, the Law guides Christian life—though not as a way to earn salvation.
He repeatedly argues against conflating Law and gospel, and insists that the Law’s legitimate use is to drive us to Christ. The misuse of the Law (legalism) becomes a source of bondage and despair. media.sabda.org+2Christian Classics Ethereal Library+2
5. Freedom in Christ
One of the key consequences of justification is Christian freedom. Luther sees that in Christ, the believer is released from the bondage of sin and the demands of the Law. This freedom is not license to sin but empowerment to live in love, guided by the Spirit.
He draws from Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,” applying it to the believer’s life: not to retreat into permissiveness, but to walk in the Spirit, bearing fruit such as love, joy, peace, and self-control. media.sabda.org+2Christian Classics Ethereal Library+2
6. The Spirit and the New Creation
Luther highlights that justification is intimately connected with new life in the Spirit. The works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19–21) contrast with the fruit of the Spirit. The Christian life is one of ongoing transformation—salvation is not just a forensic declaration but an actual renewal.
He also interprets Paul’s phrase “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20) as essential: the believer’s identity is now rooted in Christ. The old self is crucified; the new life is lived by faith in the Son of God. media.sabda.org+1
7. Galatians’ Structure and Key Passages
Luther walks through each chapter of Galatians, often pausing on challenging or pivotal passages:
- Galatians 1: Paul’s apostolic authority, the gospel as divine revelation, and the need to reject a different gospel.
- Galatians 2: The confrontation with Peter, justification by faith before the Law, and the new life in Christ.
- Galatians 3: Abrahamic promise, the curse of the Law, and the child/ heir imagery.
- Galatians 4: Sonship, adoption, allegory of Hagar and Sarah, and freedom vs. slavery.
- Galatians 5: Freedom, walking in the Spirit, contrast with works of the flesh.
- Galatians 6: Bearing burdens, sowing to the Spirit, and final exhortations. media.sabda.org+2Christian Classics Ethereal Library+2
At each stage, Luther digs into Greek terms, rhetorical structure, theological tension, and pastoral application. He often warns readers not to skip over the entire letter but to read it in its flow, comparing passages to one another for deeper insight. media.sabda.org+2Christian Classics Ethereal Library+2
8. Pastoral and Experiential Dimensions
Luther did not treat Galatians as an abstract theological treatise. He believed it had deep application for troubled consciences. He wrote in his Preface that his commentary is designed especially for those burdened with guilt, wrestling with assurance, or trapped by legalism. media.sabda.org+1
He counsels humility, repentance, and trust. He often frames doctrinal arguments in the language of comfort and pastoral care, making clear that the gospel is both truth and solace.
9. Critique of Reason, Works, and Human Confidence
Luther is critical of confidence in reason, human merit, or moral achievement when used apart from Christ. He often contrasts “reason’s wisdom” with the “foolishness of the cross,” reminding readers that rational attempts to justify oneself ultimately stumble over human sin.
He warns against trusting in works—as if they earn God’s favor—and against treating theology as a rational sport divorced from spiritual life. For him, theology must lead one to Christ.
10. Legacy and Impact
Luther’s Galatians commentary became a foundational text for Protestant theology. It advanced the doctrine of justification by faith alone, shaped later Reformers’ preaching, and influenced figures like John Bunyan—who said that reading Luther’s Galatians commentary brought him great comfort in his own spiritual anguish. ntslibrary.com+2Christian Classics Ethereal Library+2
Luther regarded it as the doctrinal core of his work—and he suggested that if he had his way, that is the only work of his that would always be published. ntslibrary.com+1
Conclusion
Luther’s Commentary on Galatians calls believers to rediscover the freedom of the gospel. His explication of Paul’s letter unmasks works-dependency, affirms justification by faith, underscores the role of Christ in new life, and grounds Christian freedom in the Spirit.
It remains not only a historical artifact but a living word to those who struggle under legalism, guilt, or an enslaved conscience. Its doctrinal clarity and pastoral power continue to challenge Christians to rest in Christ, walk in the Spirit, and uphold the gospel as the only foundation of salvation.