Agony of Scripture Misinterpretation

Good Shepherd Community Church

In a sense we could say that the spiritual renewal of gospel that happened in the 16th century with the Protestant Reformers was sparked by a discovery of a correct translation and interpretation of two verses of Scripture. Luther came to see that Matthew 4:17 which had been mistranslated by Jerome as penance( From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say: Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.,Douay) should read, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." It was not telling people to do a performance of penance but calling them to a change of mind.The second verse is Romans 1:17-18 " For in it (gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people.." Luther had thought the phrase was speaking of God's direct total holiness and righteousness by which we are judged and damned. But one day by God's grace he saw the verse was referring to a passive righteousness God grants, donates, gives to the one believing in Jesus. This credited righteousness of Jesus is put to the believers account and thus we have acceptance with the righteous God. When this truth came to Luther's understanding he was born again. Quotes from Luther Preface to the Complete Edition of Luther's Latin Writings. It wa written by Luther in Wittenberg, 1545.via REFORMATION INK (www.markers.com/ink)