[This is a postscript of Luther to Melanchton's letter to Brenz on justification. M's letter with P.S. is in Budeus. The P.S. alone is in De Wette. The translators have left "qualitas" in brackets after "Eigenschaft" which is usually translated "quality" but I was thinking that here "virtue" might be better in this context but I'm leaving "Quality". Truly a remarkable letter regarding the nuances (?) of justification.]
Also I, my dear Brenz, am accustomed so as to better comprehend the matter to posit that within my heart there is no quality which might be called faith or love but instead I place there Jesus Christ and say: this one is my righteousness, He is the quality (Eigenschaft) and (as one calls it) my formal righteousness, so that I am free of regard for the law and works and also of regard of the objective Christ who is regarded as either teacher or giver (donator).However, I want that He to me Himself be the Gift and Teaching so that I have everything in Him. So He says "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life"; He does not say: I give you the way, the truth,and the life as though He stands outside of me and such works in me. He must be in me,remain,live, speak not through me or toward me (?) (ML adds Gk: eis eme), 2 Cor.5:21, " for that righteousness which prevails before God", not by love or through
the consequent gifts.
NOTES: Hard to distinquisch between the dative "in me " and the genitive "in me" as ML says the former is a must and not the latter. Thus, auf Deutsch "in mir" rather than "in mich"-the latter I translated "toward" for want of a better distinction. Will have to check this with the expert. Are you reading, Agnes?
This letter is thought to be in June of 1531. Brenz' reply on June 30, Friday after Peter and Paul, follows.
De Wette thinks the quote is from 2 Cor.6 rather than ML's citing of 2 Cor.5.
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