FOOTNOTES
[1]1 Cor. 7; 7, 8, 26, 28.
[2]1 Tim. 3; 2, 12. Tit. 1; 6. 1 Cor. 9; 5, 6. Matt. 8; 14. Mark 1; 1. Luke 4; 38.
[3]The passage 1 Cor. 9; 5, 6, speaks of Christian married women, who accompanied the apostles on their travels. From this and other passages it is undeniable that most of the apostles, and that, too, during their apostleship, were married men. John probably lived unmarried; and Paul seems to say the same of himself. 1 Cor. 7; 7, 8, compare ch. 9; 5, 6. The idea that in Phil. 4; 3, he is speaking of his own wife, conflicts with the connection of the verse.
[4]Melanchthon married (Nov. 25, 1520,) Anna Krappe, daughter of the burgomaster of Wittenberg; Carlstadt, (Dec. 26, 1521,) Anna von Michael. Soon after, he gave his reasons for this step in a letter to the Elector, in which he says, “I have learned from the Scriptures that there is no condition of life more pleasing to God, more blessed and more consistent with Christian liberty than the married state, if we live in it agreeably to God’s design.” Luther highly approved of the measure.
[5]He thus expressed himself in one of his tracts: “I hope I have come so far that by the grace of God I may remain as I am, although I have not yet got over the difficulty.”
[6]His brother and predecessor, Frederick the Wise, had died May 5, 1525.
[7]Dr. Jerome Scurf, Professor of Theology at Wittenberg, among others, said, “If this monk should marry, the whole world, yea, the devil himself would laugh, and he would thereby spoil all his previous works.”
[8]His annual compensation did not amount to more than about $160, but the Elector, John Frederick, supplied him with wheat, wood, free house, clothes, &c. &c., to some extent. He inherited only 250 guilders from his father. The King of Denmark, Christian III., gave Luther towards the end of his days a pension of $50 a year. A man who was executed for murder in Leipzig in 1537, with a vain hope probably of reconciling heaven, bequeathed Luther $530, and Melanchthon $300.
[9]In 1529 he wrote to Link, “I am daily buried in books, so that windows, chairs, benches, &c. &c., are full.” As early as 1516 he said to Lang, “I have full employment for two secretaries. I do scarcely anything all day but write letters.”
[10]Luther was aided in this work by several of his learned friends, as Melanchthon, Cruciger, Jonas, Bugenhagen, and others. He submitted his work to their review, and adopted such alterations as his judgment approved. Various sections or books were published from time to time, until finally, in 1534, the complete Bible was published. His work superseded all other previous translations, for it excelled them all in fidelity, force, and distinctness; and even now, 300 years after its appearance, with all the modern progress in criticism and biblical interpretation, and the improvements of the German language which are displayed in many more recent translations, Luther’s Bible still maintains the ascendency in private and public use.
[11]Jerome Weller von Wolsdorff, Luther’s intimate friend, has said, “I remember hearing Luther often say that he always regarded himself extremely happy that God had given him such a prudent and thrifty wife, who cherished him so tenderly in sickness, &c. Whenever Dr. Luther was depressed, she, like a sensible wife, always consulting his welfare, secretly invited Dr. Jonas to her table, so that he might cheer him by his interesting conversation. She knew that no one could so well entertain him as Dr. Jonas.”
[12]This was during the Peasants’ War.
[13]This property was obtained by gifts from the benevolent.
[14]The Elector had presented him with a house.
[15]He was born in Eisleben on the 10th of November, 1483.
[16]All the property he ever owned was received from his father, his friends, and the Elector. He never accumulated any by his own savings.
[17]This son, John, afterwards studied law at Wittenberg, and subsequently filled responsible offices under several successive Electors.
[18]Sons of Melanchthon and Jonas.
[19]See a translation in Hymn 907 of our Hymn-Book.