In December a second edition was required, which contained many corrections andimprovements.^429
He at once proceeded to the more difficult task of translating the Old Testament, and
published it in parts as they were ready. The Pentateuch appeared in 1523; the Psalter, 1524.
In the progress of the work he founded a Collegium Biblieum, or Bible club, consisting of
his colleagues Melanchthon, Bugenhagen (Pommer), Cruciger, Justus Jonas, and Aurogallus. They
met once a week in his house, several hours before supper. Deacon Georg Rörer (Rorarius), the
first clergyman ordained by Luther, and his proof-reader, was also present; occasionally foreign
scholars were admitted; and Jewish rabbis were freely consulted. Each member of the company
contributed to the work from his special knowledge and preparation. Melanchthon brought with
him the Greek Bible, Cruciger the Hebrew and Chaldee, Bugenhagen the Vulgate, others the old
commentators; Luther had always with him the Latin and the German versions besides the Hebrew.
Sometimes they scarcely mastered three lines of the Book of Job in four days, and hunted two,
three, and four weeks for a single word. No record exists of the discussions of this remarkable
company, but Mathesius says that "wonderfully beautiful and instructive speeches were made."
At last the whole Bible, including the Apocrypha as "books not equal to the Holy Scriptures,
yet useful and good to read," was completed in 1534, and printed with numerous woodcuts.
In the mean time the New Testament had appeared in sixteen or seventeen editions, and in
over fifty reprints.^430
Luther complained of the many errors in these irresponsible editions.
He never ceased to amend his translation. Besides correcting errors, he improved the uncouth
and confused orthography, fixed the inflections, purged the vocabulary of obscure and ignoble
words, and made the whole more symmetrical and melodious.
He prepared five original editions, or recensions, of his whole Bible, the last in 1545, a year
before his death.^431 This is the proper basis of all critical editions.^432
The edition of 1546 was prepared by his friend Rörer, and contains a large number of
alterations, which he traced to Luther himself. Some of them are real improvements, e.g., "Die
Liebe höret nimmer auf," for, "Die Liebe wird nicht müde" (1 Cor. 13:8). The charge that he made
the changes in the interest of Philippism (Melanchthonianism), seems to be unfounded.
Editions and Revisions.
The printed Bible text of Luther had the same fate as the written text of the old Itala and
Jerome’s Vulgate. It passed through innumerable improvements and mis-improvements. The
glosses are added on the margin. It contained many typographical errors, a very curious one in Gal. 5:6: "Die Liebe, die durch den Glauben
thaetig ist," instead of "Der Glaube, der durch die Liebe thätig ist."
A copy of this rare edition, without the full-page Apocalyptic pictures, but with the error just noticed, is in the Union
Seminary Library, New York. It has the famous preface with the fling at the "rechte stroern Epistel" of St. James, which was
afterwards omitted or modified.(^429) The woodcuts were also changed. The triple papal crown of the Babylonian woman in Rev. 17 gave place to a simple crown.
(^430) Fritzsche (l.c., p. 549): "Vom N. T. sind von 1522-1533 ziemlich sicher 16 original Ausgaben nachgewiesen ... Die Nachdrucke
belaufen sich auf ungefähr 54, wobei Augsburg mit 14, Strassburg mit 13, und Basel mit 12 vertreten ist."
(^431) Under the title: Biblia, das ist die gantze Heilige Schrift, Deutsch. Auffs neu zugericht. D. Mart. Luther. Wittemberg. Durch Hans
Lufft, M.D.XLV. fol. with numerous woodcuts. A copy in the Canstein Bibelanstalt at Halle. The Union Theol. Seminary in New York
has a copy of the edition of 1535 which bears this title: Biblia das ist die /gantze Heilige /Schrifft Deutsch./ Mart. Luth./ Wittemberg./
Begnadet mit Kür-/ furstlicher zu Sachsen /freiheit. /Gedruckt durch Hans Lufft./ M. D. XXXV. The margin is ornamented. Then follows
the imprimatur of the Elector John Frederick of Saxony, a preface of Luther to the O. T., and a rude picture of God, the globe and paradise
with Adam and Eve among trees and animals.
(^432) Republished with the greatest care by Bindseil & Niemeyer. See Lit., p. 340.