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Martin Luther: Letter on the Art of Translating (1530). On translation, biblical hermeneutics and the dogmatic option of the Reformation

Authors

PENA BÚA, MARÍA DEL PILAR

External publication

No

Means

Teol. Vida

Scope

Article

Nature

Científica

JCR Quartile

SJR Quartile

SJR Impact

0.221

Publication date

01/10/2021

ISI

000712261100001

Abstract

The Open Letter on Translating has been considered a classic of translation studies. Some say that, in it, Luther presented in a new and original way a method to interpret biblical texts and analyze the translator's work. However, our reading suggests that the primary reason of the Letter is not philological but theological, motivated by a precise theological and political context: the Augsburg Confession. This paper aims to: (I) analyze Luther's contribution to biblical translation studies. Then, (II) the hermeneutics applied by the reformer to the biblical texts, (III) determined by his dogmatic option on justification by faith, (IV) an option that underlies the content of the Letter. (V) We conclude with an analysis of the abilities and merits of Luther as a writer and translator.

Keywords

Luther; biblical hermeneutics; translation theory; humanism; Augsburg Confession; justification by faith alone; worship of the saints