# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S274
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

274 . Publication Matters

' Translation of Complete Works of Luther into English
. (Memorial: 713) ot
Wuergas, We believe that the Lutheran Church of today owes

a debt of gratitude to Dr. Martin Luther’s memory, to the Church:

in general, and to the world at large; and
Wuergas, We believe that the basic principles underlying ‘the --

present world struggle for freedom have their ‘roots directly or .

indirectly in the Reformation; and .

Wumrgas, There is a definite revival in research in the history

pertaining to the Reformation period, and since the research stu- -

dent is at a disadvantage, since the works of Dr. Martin Luther
are to a large extent locked up ‘in the German language, forcing
him to rely on predigested comments and prejudiced opinions; and *:

Wnuereas, The theological students of today — as well as many
younger pastors—no longer use Luther’s works because of the
barrier of language and hence are denied the use of some of the
best literature of the Church; and

Wuereas, The many free translations (translations made to
serve the purpose of the moment) create confusion and doubt as

‘to what Luther really said and meant at a given time and in given —
circumstances, and the constant repetition of the available quota-
tions tends to render Luther stereotype and stale; and

Wnereas, At the present time we have only a portion of Lu-
ther’s works translated and many of these portions not in their

‘entirety; and .

Wuereas, The works of other Reformers are available in the
English language and Luther still remains to a large extent the
“forgotten man”; and

Wuereas, We have in our circles the men who have the schol-
arly talents and the linguistic ability required for such a task,’
a situation which will be, no doubt, perceptibly altered within the
next twenty-five years; —

Therefore since a definite need exists and the obligation is ap--
parent, we humbly petition Synod to seriously consider the feasi-
bility and the. possibility of preparing for publication a complete
and authoritative translation of the Complete Works of Dr. Martin
Luther; to study the necessary financial aspects involved; to study
the means of securing: permission to use the copyrights on existing
translations with a view to the embodiment of acceptable transla-
tions in a complete work. of translation.

In support of the above petition, we ask Synod to consider

carefully the following suggestions: