Brief and Clear Confession: Objections

I have shown and confessed to you the firm foundation of the incarnation of the Lord, that he did not become flesh of Mary, but that he became flesh in Mary; and I have also in part brought forward the reasons and Scriptures which compel us to this belief. Therefore I will now briefly reply to the Scriptures and arguments you have so far advanced, by which you teach and undertake to prove that he did not simply become flesh in Mary, but of Mary.

First, you ask, “Is he not the seed of the woman?” We answer, Yes, Genesis 3, verse 15.

From this you conclude that if he is the seed of the woman, he is also a man born of a woman. We answer by asking: Did not the deceiving serpent have a body? You must answer, Yes. For God said, “Upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.” Again, was not the deceived woman bodily? Doubtless she was. If the natural and bodily seed of the deceived woman is bodily, then the seed of the serpent must also be a natural, bodily seed, of which God himself has spoken and testified in Genesis. Or else you must admit and confess that the one should be understood spiritually and the other literally. Not at all, beloved brothers. But the bodily serpent represents the spiritual serpent, namely Satan, Revelation 12, verse 14, and he has his spiritual seed, which is falsehood, John 8, verse 44. So also the woman, who is the mother of all mankind, a likeness of Adam, flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone, subject to her husband after she had sinned, is the image of the new spiritual bride, namely, of the church of Christ, which is the image of Christ, Romans 8, verse 29, flesh of Christ’s flesh and bone of his bone, subject to Christ, Ephesians 5, verse 30. If the bride is spiritual, then the seed must be spiritual, namely, the eternal truth, which truth is Christ himself, John 14, verse 6. See, most beloved, in this way the serpent is spiritual and his seed is spiritual, from which he begets all his children of accursed falsehood. On the other hand, the bride is spiritual and her seed is spiritual, from which she begets all her children of the saving truth. Between these there is constant opposition, as may plainly be seen. Yet truth triumphs and falsehood is vanquished, although falsehood opposes with all its power. O brothers, do understand the Scriptures rightly, lest through misunderstanding or pernicious obstinacy we deceive ourselves, and many souls with us. If you are not satisfied with the clear explanation of these Scriptures, but still maintain that both the woman and the seed must be bodily, then we know and confess that this same woman conceived in her womb the seed mentioned before, which is God’s Word, John 1, verse 1; not from her body nor of her body, but of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 1, verse 18, through faith, Luke 1, verse 34.

Secondly, you ask, Is he not called the seed of Abraham? We answer: Yes, Galatians 3, verse 16. From this you conclude that, according to the flesh, he must be descended from the flesh and blood of Abraham. In confirmation you cite the saying of Paul, “For truly he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham; therefore in all things it behooved him to be made like his brothers,” Hebrews 2, verses 16 and 17. To this we reply, in the first place, that your conclusion is according to the flesh and not according to the word of God. John says, “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us”; and it is of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 1, verse 25; therefore it was not Abraham’s natural flesh and blood. But by grace it was promised to the beloved father Abraham that he, that is, the true blessing of all nations, should not come of the seed of his brothers, nor of the Gentiles or the uncircumcised, but of his seed, that is, of his line, as it is written, “In you shall all families of the earth be blessed,” Genesis 12, verse 3. So Christ Jesus was promised to Abraham and born of his seed according to the promise, as Christ himself says, “Salvation is of the Jews,” John 4, verse 22; and so he is called the seed and son of Abraham, Galatians 3, verse 16; Matthew 1, verse 1. For without doubt, according to his blessed flesh, which is conceived of the Holy Spirit, he has come of Abraham’s seed and been born for the salvation of us all. [Note 1]

Again, the saying of Paul which you bring forward to support your cause was not taught and spoken by the Holy Spirit in the sense you claim. But Paul says, “Both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one (that is, you say, ‘of one Adam’; but we say they are of one, that is, of one God), for which cause he (the Savior) is not ashamed to call them (the sanctified) brothers, saying, I will declare your name to my brothers; in the midst of the church will I sing praise to you,” Hebrews 2, verses 11 and 12. For as Christ Jesus was born from above of the Father, and is therefore called God’s child or Son, having God as Father, so also all who receive Christ, “to them gave he power to become the sons of God,” John 1, verse 12. Such also have God as their Father. Since the regenerated are born, together with Christ Jesus, of one God, and have one Father, therefore he calls the sanctified, who are born of God with him, his brothers; not because of the flesh, but because of the new birth. If it were otherwise, you would have to agree and admit that all wicked, unbelieving and perverse men and women were brothers and sisters of Christ Jesus, as well as the believing, sincere and pious ones. Not so; for Christ Jesus says, “Whoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother,” Matthew 12, verse 50. Read and understand it rightly. Further, Paul says, “Behold I and the children which God has given me,” Hebrews 2, verse 13. Since then the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself partook of the same (that is, became mortal as a consequence), that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage; these were the seed and line of Abraham, subject, by the terrible threat, to the heavy burden and intolerable yoke of the law of Moses. For truly he took not on him the nature of angels: if you understand this as meaning the good angels, then you should know that they did not sin; but if you take it as meaning the evil ones, then you should know that he rejected them and keeps them in the bondage of eternal darkness until the great judgment day. Therefore Paul says, “For truly he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Therefore in all things it behooved him to be made like his brothers (namely, weak and mortal), that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered, being tempted, he is able to succor those who are tempted,” Hebrews 2, verses 16 to 18. Now judge for yourselves whether this is not the right meaning of this Scripture of Paul. In the third place, you declare and say this: Paul plainly teaches that Christ Jesus is born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and is proven to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of sanctification. Therefore, you conclude, he is of the seed or loins of David according to the flesh, and born of God according to the Spirit alone.

To this we reply: It is true that in the common course of nature it would follow that Christ was born of the seed or loins of David; but it is not in accordance with the testimony of Scripture. The reason is this: the Scripture teaches that the “Word was made flesh,” and that it came forth from the Holy Spirit, John 1, verse 14; Matthew 1, verse 20; Romans 1, verse 2. Therefore, beloved brothers, this is the true meaning of Paul in this and similar Scriptures. The consoling promise of the coming Savior was given to Abraham: that he should be born of his seed or line. Abraham’s offspring were Ishmael, Isaac, and the children of Keturah. The promise of the patriarch was given again to Isaac, and not to the others. Isaac begot Esau and Jacob. Not Esau, but Jacob received again the promise given to father Abraham and to Isaac. Jacob multiplied into twelve tribes; and so that the promised Savior might not be looked for from the tribe of Reuben, Dan, Gad or any of the eleven tribes, the Holy Spirit points to Judah and not to any of the other tribes, Genesis 49, verse 10. When Judah multiplied into many branches, the promise was renewed in David, Second Kings 7, verse 12. So the merciful Father has always testified and shown beforehand, from one patriarch to another and from one generation to another, so that all men might know from which patriarchs and generations the promised Savior and Deliverer of all mankind should be born according to the flesh; as the Jews well knew from this showing of Scripture, saying, “Has not the Scripture said that Christ comes of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem?” John 7, verse 42. “He came to his own, and his own received him not.” He has come of the seed or line of David, according to the promise; but they did not receive him. Yes, the appointed hour has come. Gabriel was sent from God to a virgin named Mary, who was promised to a man. Mary believed the word of the Lord; the Holy Spirit overshadowed her, and so on. The Word became flesh in her, John 1, verse 14. It is conceived and brought forth of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 1, verse 20; and according to this same flesh, or with this same flesh, which was conceived and brought forth of the Holy Spirit, he is born of Mary, the pure virgin, who was of the seed and line of David. David was of Judah; Judah of Jacob; Jacob of Isaac; Isaac of Abraham. And so the divine promise was fulfilled which God, through grace alone, had promised and given to the patriarchs mentioned above; and so he was born, according to the flesh, as was said above, of the seed or line of David, and by his saving Spirit he is proven to be the living Son of God, Romans 1, verse 4. For if he was to prove or declare himself to be the Son of God, it must without doubt be according to his sanctifying Spirit, since he could not be so declared according to the flesh, because he had humbled himself, and was forsaken of the Father, weak, despised, hungry, thirsty, capable of suffering, mortal, and like us in all things, yet without sin. Beloved brothers, take heed. The Scripture of Paul that you bring forward is very clear, and has a scruple everywhere, Romans 1, verse 13. [Note 2]

In the fourth place, you say, Christ is called a fruit of the loins of David; therefore he must be the natural and pleasing seed of David.

Answer. According to the letter, these words were spoken of Solomon and not of Christ; and Solomon was naturally born of the loins of David. So Nathan spoke to David: “And when your days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, which shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish your kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son (now note of whom it is spoken). If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men,” Second Samuel 7, verses 12 to 14. Now, Christ never committed iniquity; for he knew no sin, nor was guile found in his mouth, First Peter 2, verse 22. Again, in the Psalms: “The Lord has sworn in truth to David; he will not turn from it: Of the fruit of your body will I set upon your throne. If your children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon your throne forevermore,” Psalm 132, verses 11 and 12. That this is literally spoken of Solomon, he himself testifies in plain words, First Kings 3, verse 6; First Kings 8, verse 20. Without doubt this Solomon represented Christ Jesus in figure, as in his glory, wisdom, building of the temple and so on. See, most beloved, so we should not take the letter for the spirit, and the spirit for the letter. But that the promise according to the Spirit referred to Christ cannot be denied; for the holy prophets of God plainly show this, particularly Isaiah 9, verse 6; Jeremiah 23, verse 5; Jeremiah 33, verse 15.

In the fifth place, you ask, Is he not a fruit of the womb of Mary?

Answer. Yes, Luke 1, verse 38. From this you conclude:

If he is a fruit of the womb of Mary, then he is also brought forth of her flesh and blood by the power of the Holy Spirit. For if he were not of her flesh and blood, then he could not be called a fruit of her womb. But because he is of her flesh, he is called the fruit of her body, as an apple is called the fruit of a tree because it grows on the tree and partakes of its nature through the strength of the earth.

Answer. According to the course of nature your conclusion is partly right, but according to the testimony of Scripture it is quite wrong. For the Scriptures say that Mary, the pure virgin, by faith conceived the eternal Word of God, which in the beginning was with God and was God; that it became flesh, John 1, verse 14; conceived and brought forth of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 1, verse 20; that it was human and natural, nourished in her, and in due time born as a natural child is born of its mother. So Christ Jesus remains the precious, blessed fruit of the womb of Mary, according to the words of Elizabeth; a fruit which was conceived not of her womb but in her womb, wrought by the Holy Spirit through faith, of God the omnipotent Father, from high heaven, as we have frequently shown.

You bring forward a natural reason concerning the tree and its fruits in proof of your assertion. Since you do so, I will reply to your reasoning according to nature, namely: I have a well-prepared field, finely worked and manured, bearing an abundance of wheat, corn or rye. I say, Ah, that is a beautiful crop! Yet this field could not produce this fruit of itself, however well tilled and rich it was, and however much it was stirred to do so by the heat of the sun and the moisture of the air, until the seed was sown in it by the sower. Once sown and grown up, it is called the fruit of the field, although it was first sown on it. An apple is called the fruit of the tree, although it is produced and grown by the soil in which the tree grows.

In the same way the heavenly seed, namely, the Word of God, was sown in Mary, and by her faith, being conceived in her by the Holy Spirit, it became flesh; and so it is called the fruit of her womb, just as a natural fruit or offspring is called the fruit of its natural mother, John 1, verse 14. For Christ Jesus, in his origin, is no earthly man, that is, a fruit of the flesh and blood of Adam; but he is a heavenly fruit or man. For his beginning or origin is of the Father, John 16, verse 28; he is like the first Adam, yet without sin; given to Adam and his children, if they hear and receive him in his holy word, for their everlasting salvation and deliverance, by God the merciful Father alone, through grace and mercy, without price and without any previous mention on our part.

In the sixth place, you say, God could not suffer. If Christ’s flesh were not of earth or of Adam, but from heaven, then he could not have been capable of suffering, and consequently he could not have died.

Answer. Be impartial and judge rightly. Your meaning is that Christ Jesus is of the Father according to the Spirit alone, in which Spirit he was incapable of suffering and immortal, as you say, but that he was not of the Father according to the flesh. But according to the flesh, in which he suffered and died, you teach that he is of earth; so that the law (by which earthly man was cursed because of his disobedience) might be fulfilled concerning the earthly man, namely Christ, and that he by obedience might save, and we in him, by the communion of his human nature and blood, by which he has fulfilled the righteousness of the Father in our flesh. This foundation is implied in your Latin syllogisms. We will not dispute it with subtle syllogisms or sharp human quibbling, for we do not have them; but we dispute it by the plain testimony of the word alone, which cannot be twisted by flattery nor broken by human reason.

First, we confess and agree before all the world that God, the Almighty, eternal Father, is wholly incapable of suffering and immortal; for with him there is no change, James 1, verse 17. Ego Deus, inquit Propheta, et cetera, non mutor. But God the Son, the eternal Word, is humbled, has denied himself, and became less than the angels, miserable, mortal flesh or man, John 1, verse 14. [Note 4]

You say, God cannot suffer; but the Scripture says otherwise, that God the Son has suffered. For he himself says, I am the first and the last; I am he that lives and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore, Revelation 1, verse 18; Revelation 22, verse 13. Adam’s flesh was not the first and the last; but he who was before every creature, by whom all things were created, Ephesians 3, verse 9, whose goings forth were from the beginning and from eternity. This is the first and the last; this same one has become flesh; he has suffered, he died, he came to life again, and he shall live forever. Take heed, lest you willfully oppose the Scriptures. Christ cannot be divided into two parts, as you think.

I repeat, the Father is incapable of suffering, immortal and unchangeable; but for our sakes the Son was humbled and became capable of suffering and mortal, according to the testimony of the Scriptures, Philippians 2, verse 7; Hebrews 2, verse 14; First Peter 1, verse 19, and many other Scriptures. Therefore he prayed his beloved Father that he might receive again the glory which he had with the Father, which he had lost in becoming man, John 17, verse 5. If he remained unchanged in his divine form, and suffered in what he took from the earth, as you say, then tell me, beloved, what had he lost that he desired to receive again from his Father? Examine the Scriptures rightly and pray, and by the grace of God your eyes will be opened to see the truth of Christ.

Again, in the second place, we answer that the whole Christ Jesus went forth from his Father, John 1, verse 14; John 3, verse 31; John 6, verse 27; John 8, verse 42; John 14, verse 24; John 16, verse 28; John 17, verse 8; that the Word of God became flesh in Mary, the Lord himself from heaven, First Corinthians 15, verse 47; and that he was afflicted and oppressed in the flesh, soul and spirit, according to the testimony of the Scriptures. In the flesh, because he was crucified. In his soul, because he himself says, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. In the spirit, as he said, John 13, verse 21, Turbatus est Jesus Spiritu, “He was troubled in spirit.” This Christ Jesus (that he might be an offering to God) suffered the judgment of the unrighteous; he died according to the flesh, but was made alive according to the Spirit.

Again, in the third place, we reply to your syllogisms in this way: The commandment was not given to the heavenly Christ, but to the earthly Adam and his seed, through Christ, that is, through the Word. Adam, transgressing, was condemned to death through the Word, Christ, Genesis 3, verse 19. Since the righteousness of God is unchangeable and eternal, as you yourselves say, therefore disobedient Adam had to die according to the immutable righteousness of God. Since Adam was earthly and of earth, and was cursed by the Word because of his disobedience and had to die, therefore nothing could be expected or taken from earth but earth, from curse nothing but curse, and from death nothing but death, as Paul plainly shows, Romans 5, verse 12. Adam, being disobedient to the Word which created him, by not heeding it and by eating what it had forbidden, had to die against his will, with his seed, the death which the Word had promised him. Since it was for righteousness’ sake that Adam and his descendants had to die, he having sinned and having nothing with which to repay, it is solely of grace, mercy and love that he should live. But how? Through the righteousness of Adam’s flesh? Not at all; but through the Word which had made Adam a living being, which gave him the commandment and promised him death if he should commit iniquity, as was said above. This same Word (since death had to be the consequence, according to righteousness, as truth had spoken), which God promised again to Adam, was to become flesh; so that, as he had been deceived by the liar and therefore, according to the justice of God, had to die, he might be delivered again by the promised truth, and so by grace and mercy alone inherit eternal life. Adam believed it and was consoled; and as a sign of the truth of the promised favor and love, God made coats of skins for Adam and his wife, and clothed them, Genesis 3, verse 21.

So it is not the earthly, guilty, transgressing, accursed and mortal flesh of Adam that has satisfied the righteousness and appeased his wrath, as you claim, but only the heavenly, innocent, obedient, blessed and life-giving flesh of Christ, as the Scriptures testify: that he bore our sins, First Peter 2, verse 24; Isaiah 53, verse 8; by his wounds we are healed. For the promised Word, Christ Jesus, has become man and has fulfilled the righteousness required by the law, as Paul says, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,” Romans 8, verses 3 and 4.

From this it follows that all those who are born of Adam and remain his, by not receiving the promised seed by faith (I am speaking of those of the age of understanding), must, by the immutable righteousness of God, inherit the curse of Adam, that is, death, as the reward of sin. Christ himself says, “He that believes not shall be damned,” Mark 16, verse 16. Again, Paul says, “The wages of sin is death,” Romans 6, verse 23. For they have no communion in the most holy flesh and blood of Christ Jesus; nor can they ever enjoy his deliverance, kindness, merits and blessing, unless they are truly converted from the shameful darkness of unbelief and sin to the eternal, clear, heavenly light, Christ Jesus, First John 1, verse 7. But those who, with Adam, truly receive the promised seed, and so are renewed and consoled in God; who are born anew by this same seed; who are changed or converted from the disobedient nature of Adam into the obedient nature of the Word, Christ Jesus; these he calls flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. These he gives to himself by mere grace, and makes them partakers of his righteousness, merits, cross, blood and bitter death, yes, of his whole life, love and Spirit; for they are one body and one Spirit with him. So by this spirit of love which they have received from him (for God is love), they willingly fulfill all that the merciful Father has commanded by his saving truth, Christ Jesus, as John testifies, saying, “And whatever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight,” First John 3, verse 22. Again, Paul says, “Love is the fulfilling of the law,” Romans 13, verse 10. Again, Christ says, “He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me,” John 14, verse 21.

Besides, you say, What is born of the Spirit is spirit. Just brothers, we do not say that Christ is born of the Spirit, but we do say with the Scripture that he was made flesh and conceived by the Spirit. Now, as you know, it is one thing to be born of the Spirit and another to be made flesh and conceived by the Spirit. Who doubts, moreover, that to be born of the Spirit is regeneration? I beseech you therefore, through the Lord, as not being led rightly by the Scriptures, if you hold these things, you are ready to defend your cause. With this, beloved lords, friends and brothers, I conclude this my confession of the incarnation of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ. I write this to you in accordance with your desire, and set it before you in all clearness, as one who is not ashamed of his faith; although I do not go so deeply into the matter in my admonitions to the brothers, but only, in an apostolic manner, admonish them to regeneration and love. I desire, by the grace of the Lord, that you will see rightly into all things and rightly observe who has sinned, and on the other hand who has made satisfaction for sin; so that we may lay on Adam and his descendants their unrighteousness, darkness, sin and shame, and give to Christ Jesus his righteousness, brightness, praise and honor. I pray you, I say, not to follow human wisdom in this and other matters, but the wisdom of God; not intelligence, but Scripture; not flesh, but Spirit; not the writings and opinions of the learned, but only the testimony of Christ and his apostles; fearing God in purity of heart from your inmost souls, as I also should myself, so that we may not be like those who are always learning and never come to the knowledge of the truth. Take good care that you do not ask, hear and answer otherwise than with sincere zeal. Before God, faith and works avail. In all things be prepared to do the will of God, and not the will of your idle, vain, unwilling flesh.

I know there are many who are inclined to nothing but searching, inquiring and disputing, and who have never once confessed and received the most necessary things, without which no one can be saved, namely, the piercing, regenerating and sanctifying faith, the urging fear of the Lord, and the burning love of God and of their brothers. Do not be like them. But, beloved brothers, seek and strive after true wisdom; open to her; she stands before your door; see her beauty; taste of her fruits; search out her strength; and you will love, embrace and gladly receive her. Your flesh will go under and the Spirit will rise and go before you in the word and truth of the Lord, until Adam dies in you and Christ prevails. May God give us all his divine grace. Amen.

“Take heed, watch and pray,” Mark 13, verse 33.

Beloved sirs, friends and brothers, since at your own request I have disclosed to you the foundation of my faith and feelings concerning the very consoling incarnation of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, although I do not teach it so deeply before the church, I will now briefly set out my foundation and feeling as to how the teachers and the church who can rightly be called Christians should be disposed and minded before God and before all the world, according to the showing of the Scriptures, as far as we can by the grace of God comprehend and understand it from his word. Yet I will not dwell on this matter long, lest I become tedious.

First, I would speak of the preachers and bring forward this Scripture: “As my Father has sent me, even so I send you,” John 20, verse 21. This remains forever unchangeable in the church of God. Since all true teachers and preachers are sent by Christ Jesus as he was sent by his Father, we should rightly consider how and who this Christ Jesus was, and how and what he taught when the Father sent him. He is without doubt the Son and image of God, the Teacher of righteousness, who has taught and testified nothing but the truth, namely, the word of his Father. He taught it in the power of the Spirit, and was moved by the Holy Spirit, through an unquenchable fire of love, to the service of all mankind. Besides, he was the burning, shining light of the world, the true pattern of all virtue, who could truly say, “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.” Again, “For I have given you an example,” and so on. And therefore he gloried by the true testimony of his Holy Spirit, saying, “I am the good Shepherd,” John 18, verse 37; John 7, verse 16; John 1, verse 9; John 3, verse 19; John 8, verse 12; John 12, verse 36; Matthew 11, verse 29; John 13, verse 15; John 10, verse 11.

This Christ Jesus, the Bishop of bishops and the Shepherd of shepherds, who was faithful in all things for which he was sent by his heavenly Father, never sends any other bishops, teachers, shepherds and laborers in his vineyard to his members, children and sheep, to care for them, to pasture and protect them, than those who are of one body, Spirit and mind with him, as he is one with his Father; who by the divine Word, which is Christ, are so renewed, converted and changed in him and in his heavenly nature that he may truly say of them, Behold, these are the children which God has given me. Whoever shall hear you shall hear me; as the Father testified of Christ, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear him,” Matthew 17, verse 5. Again, those who are of one spirit with Christ Jesus are members of his holy body, full of the love of God and of their brothers, who with Christ Jesus, their Bishop, seek nothing but the eternal gain, honor, glory and praise of God, and the inward conversion, regeneration and eternal salvation of those whose brotherly care is entrusted and commended to them by God. Yes, he sends such as are blameless both in doctrine and life; such as are moved by the Holy Spirit; who sincerely lament with Christ over those who do not recognize the gracious time of their temptation; who rejoice with all the angels of God over the conversion of a sinner; who thirst after the salvation of all mankind as a hungry person hungers after bread; who handle the word and truth of the Lord in such a way that they dare not teach or practice a word otherwise than Christ Jesus himself has taught, practiced and commanded, namely, the pure, unadulterated, biblical word in the true sense and meaning of Christ and of his holy apostles; who practice the sacramental signs in keeping with the gospel of Christ, namely, the baptism of believers (and not of infants), and the Supper in both kinds, in such a church as is flesh of Christ’s flesh and bone of his bone, such as are outwardly blameless and inwardly of one heart, spirit, soul and body in Christ Jesus. Yes, he sends such whose doctrine is a salt; whose life is like a shining light; long-suffering, meek, lowly, merciful, hospitable, not greedy or selfish, not desirous of shameful gain, not puffed up, of good report among those of the world, ruling his own house well, having a well-minded wife, if they have the gift of cleanliness, and obedient children. Yes, in all things chaste, sober, blameless, having the Spirit, fear and love of God. Again, so minded in all things that they can truly say with Paul to the sheep entrusted to them, “Be followers of me, even as I am of Christ.” “Be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity,” Hebrews 3, verse 2; John 17, verse 11; Hebrews 2, verse 13; Matthew 28, verse 19; Mark 16, verse 15; Ephesians 5, verse 30; Matthew 5, verse 14; First Timothy 3, verse 2; Titus 1, verse 6; First Corinthians 4, verse 2; First Corinthians 11, verse 1; First Timothy 4, verse 12; Philippians 2, verse 17. [Note 5]

See, most beloved, this is how the teachers who are to serve the Lord’s church should be minded, so that they may not hear from the obstinate and rebellious: “Why do you teach others and not yourselves?” Nor can they otherwise teach to the glory of God; for the ministry of the New Testament is a ministry of the Spirit and not of the letter, Second Corinthians 3, verse 6. Therefore Christ never chooses as laborers in his vineyard, as servants and builders, such as are greedy, drunkards and idlers; so that the kingdom of God, which is spiritual, may be taught in purity of heart, and the sheep of Christ pastured, not by force but willingly, not with an eye to shameful gain but out of affection, not as those who seek dominion over others but as examples to the flock of Christ; not serving for a fixed benefice, pension or stipulated salary, as your teachers do, but solely for the gain of the souls which Christ Jesus has so dearly bought with his precious blood. They entrust and commend the care of their temporal necessities of life to the God who by his grace created, delivered and regenerated them and sent them to his ministry; they diligently support themselves, by the grace of the Lord, from their own or their rented lands, or from the labor of their hands, as far as possible, so that they do not sell the free word of God, which was given them without price, and so live on shameful gain, robbery and theft. Let all sincere and pious servants of Christ beware of this; and whatever they cannot obtain by due prudence and diligence will doubtless be provided for them by the begotten brothers who fear the Lord, for whom they sow spiritual things; and not by unconvertible heathen, drunkards, usurers, whoremongers and the like. For such teachers are the oxen which tread out the corn, which should not be muzzled, First Corinthians 9, verse 9; First Timothy 5, verse 18; Deuteronomy 25, verse 4. They are those who are worthy of double honor, with whom all things should be shared, and who shall live by the gospel according to the Lord’s own ordinance, as the priests under the law lived by the altar. These are the true laborers, worthy of their reward, as Christ says. Such teachers we shall acknowledge, honor and maintain in love, and for their work’s sake keep peace with them, as Paul teaches, “For they watch for your souls, as they that must give account,” Hebrews 13, verse 17.

See, most beloved sirs, friends and brothers, in this way God, the merciful Father, has sent his blessed Son, who was in his own form and minded like him in all things, namely, Christ Jesus; and he has sent such as were of one spirit, soul and body with him, without staff, purse, shoes, scabbard, money, gold and silver, that is, without all anxious care and greed. The apostles ordained, in all places where they had begotten churches, such bishops and teachers as were blameless both in doctrine and in life, and never mentioned annual incomes, benefices or rents. For they were men of God, servants of Christ, full of the love of God and of their beloved brothers, who labored, taught, sought, pastured and watched out of pure love, moved by the Spirit, not only for one, two or three hours a week in the synagogue, but at all hours and in all places, in synagogues, streets, houses, mountains and fields. And as they had received the knowledge of the kingdom of God, the truth, love and Spirit of God without price, so they were prepared in turn to dispense it diligently and to teach it without price to their needy brothers. And as for the temporal necessities of life, the begotten church was sufficiently moved by love, through the Spirit and word of God, to give such faithful servants of Christ and watchers over their souls all the necessities of life, to help them, and to provide for them all such things as they could not obtain themselves. O brothers, flee from greed!