Luther, Martin. Ein Betbüchlin, mit eym Calender und Passional, hübsch zugericht [A prayer booklet, with a calendar and Passional, nicely arranged]. Wittenberg: Hanns Luft, 1529. [Reprint. Kassel: Bärenreiter, 1929]
- Final part of the book containing the Passional
(i.e., 50 illustrated Bible texts for children and simple folk):
Source: Google Books
(entire book in full color)
English translation of Luther’s preface
[p. 1] I thought it best to add the old “Passional” Booklet to the Prayer Booklet, primarily for the sake of children and simple folk, who are more effectively moved to remember the divine stories through images and parables than through mere words or teaching. St. Mark testifies that Christ, too, preached to the simple using nothing but parables. I have included all of this for the greater good and as an example, in case anyone wishes to follow it—and if they are skilled enough to improve upon it.
I do not consider it wrong [p. 2] to paint such stories, along with the [biblical] sayings, in living rooms and bedrooms as well, so that God’s work and Word are before our eyes everywhere and at all times. Thereby, we can exercise reverence and faith in God. What harm would there be if someone were to have all the principal stories of the entire Bible depicted one after another in a booklet, so that such a book would be—and be called—a layperson’s Bible? Truly, one cannot set the words and works of God before the commoner too much or too often. Even when one sings and speaks of them, proclaims and preaches them, writes and reads them, paints and draws them, Satan remains all too strong and vigorous in his efforts to hinder and suppress them together with his angels and members. Thus, our undertaking and diligence are not only good but also absolutely necessary.
[p. 3] Whether the iconoclasts will condemn and despise this does not matter to me. They have no need of our teaching, and we do not want theirs. Thus, we shall soon part ways. I have always condemned and punished the misuse of and false confidence in images, just as I have in all my other works. But whatever is not misused, I have always left and have commanded that it remain and be preserved, so that it can be put to useful and blessed use. This is how we teach our own people and the simple-minded. The know-it-alls shall be neither our students nor our teachers.
May Christ be with all who believe in him and love him. Amen.
[Paragraph breaks added]
Notes
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Cross-references
» Barth’s Bible Stories in Amharic, ed. Flad. 4th ed., 1892.
(1st print ed., 1867)
» Barth’s Bible Stories in Oromo, ed. Greiner (1881)
» Barth’s Bible Stories in Oromo, ed. Onesimos (1899)