Revised edition of Luther's Large Catechism
9 May, 2022
"These new editions reveal an increasing awareness that the translation of a text must not only be accurate, but also appropriate to the character and style of the original. This is of particular importance for the translation of Luthers catechisms, which were after all written for the benefit of children and ordinary people, as Luther puts it in his Preface to the Large Catechism in 1529, and which were based on his sermon series on the catechism in Wittenberg. Luthers German is direct and colourful. It flows from his pen with dynamism, reflecting the living situation of the preacher addressing a congregation. Luther is not afraid to use the occasional colloquialism, or even to disregard the normal rules of grammar. Some sentences suddenly change direction, and thoughts are not always completed. Often a variety of ideas crowd in on one another within a single sentence. Above all, Luther is inventive and authentic, as far as linguistic expression is concerned." - Author, Friedemann Hebart