“Usury and avarice have burst in like a flood and have been made lawful … [and yet] are contrary to God.” (SA Preface 12)

As mentioned in the previous part of our series, Luther took his 1519 Short Sermon on Usury and reworked it into a much-expanded sermon, published early the following year and now known as his Long Sermon on Usury (LW 45:273–310). Four years later, this sermon was revised once more and published together with his extensive treatise on trade, translated in the American Edition under the title Trade and Usury. Before turning to this text, however, it is necessary to outline certain events that transpired between 1519 and 1524.

One of the interesting things in Eusebius concerns the genealogies of Jesus. While modern scholars often argue that one genealogy is for Joseph (our Lord’s legal line through adoption), while the other is Mary’s genealogy, (showing our Lord’s biological descent). Eusebius, however, citing a letter from an earlier scholar named Julius Africanus (c. 160-240 AD), whom Eusebius considers to be “no ordinary historian,” makes the case that both genealogies are for Joseph.

 “Lutherans continued to use the five ancient liturgical colors as well as the liturgical vestments in the service and for sacramental acts; this usage lasted amazingly long, partly up to the brink of the nineteenth century…