The Argument of the First Epistle of St. Peter, by M. Luther

Before we fall in hand with the interpretation of this Epistle, it shall be very requisite, first to lay down to the Reader some brief admonition, whereby he may know, both how it is to be esteemed, and also how to attain to the certain knowledge thereof.

First of all is to be noted, that all the Apostles do handle one and the self same doctrine, and therefore is it not well done of some, in that they say there be only four Evangelists, and four Gospels, whereas all is one Gospel, whatever the Apostles have left in writing.

Now, the Gospel signifies nothing else than the preaching and publishing of the grace and mercy of God through Christ our Lord, purchased for us by his death. And to take it properly, it is not that which is contained in books and comprehended in letters, but rather the vocal preaching, and the lively word and voice, which sounds in the whole world, and is so openly uttered, that it may everywhere be heard. Neither is it a book that contains the law, wherein are many points of good doctrine, as it has been commonly believed. For it draws us from all confidence and hope of any work of our own, whereby to become righteous: and declares to us the rich graces of God, freely and without any our own merit given to us: teaching us also Christ, who having by his intercession appeased the wrath of God, and satisfied for our sins, has quite abolished and blotted out our iniquities and by his works, justified and made us righteous.

Now, whoever either preaches or writes these things, he teaches the true Gospel indeed, which all the Apostles, but especially Saint Paul and Saint Peter have done in their Epistles. Whatever then is preached or published concerning Christ, is one Gospel, although one handles it after one [reconstructed: sort], and in one kind of words, another after another [reconstructed: sort], and in another kind. For a thing may be handled either in many words or in few and may be described either briefly or at large. However, seeing all tends to no other end but to teach us that Christ is our Savior, and that we through faith in him, without any our own works, are justified and saved, it is all one Word, and one Gospel, as there is one only faith, and one Baptism in the whole Church of Christ.

You read then nothing written by any of the Apostles, which is not also contained in the writings of others that were as it were penners of the Scripture: but they that have handled this point especially and with greater endeavor and study than the rest, namely that only faith in Christ does justify, even they are the best Evangelists of all. From this you may more rightly call the Epistles of Paul the Gospel, than those things which Matthew, Mark, and Luke have written. For they describe not much besides the history concerning the doings and miracles of Christ: as for the grace which Christ has purchased for us, none does more fully and fitly treat of it than Saint Paul, especially in his Epistle to the Romans. Now, seeing the Word is of more importance than the actions and doings of Christ, and that if we should want the one of them, it were far better to be without the deeds and history, than the words and doctrine, it follows that those books are most highly to be esteemed, which treat especially of the doctrine and words of our Lord Jesus Christ. For as much as if there were no miracles of Christ, and that we were altogether ignorant of them, yet were his words sufficient for us, and without which we cannot so much as live.

Therefore it follows, that this Epistle of Saint Peter is to be accounted among the most excellent books of the New Testament, and is the true and pure Gospel, inasmuch as the Apostle herein teaches nothing else, than that which Paul and the rest of the Evangelists do: namely sincere faith, and that Christ is freely given to us, who having taken away our sins, is our only Savior, as in the process of this Epistle we shall see. By this that is here said, we may likewise judge of all books and doctrines, what is the Gospel, and what is not. For whatever is not either preached or written after this sort, and to this end, that may we boldly judge not to be the Gospel, have it never so fair and goodly a show. This power to judge have all Christians, and not the Pope or Councils alone, which face and boast that they and none but they have authority to judge of doctrines. And thus much may suffice for the argument: let us now hear the Epistle.