Kneading Bread

#4

As long as hatred of self abides (i.e. true inward repentance) the penalty of sin abides, viz., until we enter the kingdom of heaven.

Manet itaque pena, donec manet odium sui (id est penitentia vera intus), scilicet usque ad introitum regni caelorum.

Latin? What’s he doing quoting this in latin? Well, the reason why I’m quoting Luther’s latin text is because this thesis is a little rough to take—I’ve dreaded posting about this since I read through all of them with an eye towards writing these posts.

Well, because I’m a punk (with a measly semester of college latin), I decided to look into this and attempt my own translation:

And so remain penalized, all the while hating one’s self (truly penitent on the inside), so that we may know continuously until we enter the kingdom of heaven.

Penalized, pena, it is a medieval noun… is talking about the penalty of having an old self (sin is nice and vague—and in a world that no longer understands what a sin is, it lacks power, and the use of it here avoids the power of Luther’s argument structure) and a fallen nature. Why does Luther believe we must fight this? The reason is not to be made righteous, we cannot do that. Luther’s stipulation is that it is in the penitent despising of the old self we KNOW God, and that this preserves us in constant comforting knowledge until we enter his kingdom. Be comforted in your struggle, for the Kingdom awaits (and is known more through struggle in the meanwhile.)

Peace.