Luther taught “faith alone,” Paul did not!
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I’ve read the original Greek.
Paul sets up the sentence structure to place ‘faith’ and ‘works’ in a strong dichotomy. You might say ‘faith NOT works’ with the word ‘not’ in 48 point font.
“Faith alone” is therefore an accurate translation, unless you’re going to claim that salvation comes by something other than works or faith.
As have I.
Paul sets up the sentence structure to place ‘faith’ and ‘works’ in a strong dichotomy. You might say ‘faith NOT works’ with the word ‘not’ in 48 point font.
But "works" here means "works of the Law," i.e. circumcision and the Mosaic Law. It does not mean that we are free from the requirement to follow the moral law. This is clear in what Paul writes in Chapter 2:
By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God, who will repay everyone according to his works: eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works, but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness. Yes, affliction and distress will come upon every human being who does evil, Jew first and then Greek. But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and then Greek. There is no partiality with God. (Romans 2:5-11)The whole point of Romans is a refutation of the claims of the Judaizers. We can see this in Paul's opening statements:
Circumcision, to be sure, has value if you observe the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Again, if an uncircumcised man keeps the precepts of the law, will he not be considered circumcised? Indeed, those who are physically uncircumcised but carry out the law will pass judgment on you, with your written law and circumcision, who break the law. One is not a Jew outwardly. True circumcision is not outward, in the flesh. Rather, one is a Jew inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, not the letter; his praise is not from human beings but from God. (Romans 2:25-29)Everything that follows is an explanation of this. To try to expand Paul's statements to say that we are not required to follow the moral law is to misuse him.Does God belong to Jews alone? Does he not belong to Gentiles, too? Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through faith. (Romans 3:29-30)