Luther's Works, Volume 20: Commentaries on Minor Prophets III

The year 1525 was perhaps one of the most tumultuous for Luther and his Reformation. It was the year of the break between Luther and a number of forces heretofore presumed to be on his side. The ultra-radical reformers alienated the lower classes from the Lutheran Reformation with the charge that Luther was only a halfway reformer. Luther responded with Against the Heavenly Prophets. In May Luther tried to avert a peasant uprising by an appeal both to the princes and to the peasants. But the Peasant Revolt broke out nevertheless, and Luther responded with Against the Robbing and Murdering Hordes of Peasants. 1525 was also the year when world famous scholar Erasmus declared himself against Luther, provoking him into responding with On the Bondage of the Will. This, plus the death of friends, his protector prince, and rumor of an assassin coming for Luther from Poland, was still not enough to prevent Luther from continuing his lectures on the minor prophets. This volume demonstrates Luther's perseverance and triumph against all odds. Luther's commentary on Zechariah points to Zechariah as "an outstanding model" in comforting people not to despair when the promises of Christ's kingdom do not seem to come true. This comfort is for all time.

General Introduction vii
Introduction to Volume 20 ix
LECTURES ON ZECHARIAH
From the Latin Text
CHAPTER ONE 6
CHAPTER TWO 24
CHAPTER THREE 34
CHAPTER FOUR 42
CHAPTER FIVE 53
CHAPTER SIX 62
CHAPTER SEVEN 74
CHAPTER EIGHT 82
CHAPTER NINE 89
CHAPTER TEN 105
CHAPTER ELEVEN 116
CHAPTER TWELVE 130
CHAPTER THIRTEEN 143
From the German Text
CHAPTER ONE 158
CHAPTER TWO 181
CHAPTER THREE 204
CHAPTER FOUR 222
CHAPTER FIVE 233
CHAPTER SIX 247
CHAPTER SEVEN 259
CHAPTER EIGHT 270
CHAPTER NINE 282
CHAPTER TEN 299
CHAPTER ELEVEN 310
CHAPTER TWELVE 323
CHAPTER THIRTEEN 331
CHAPTER FOURTEEN 337
Indexes 349