Translating the Apology of the Augsburg Confession: (Art. XI) De Poenitentia (viii)

Check out the eighth part of Translating the Apology of the Augsburg Confession: On Confession. As always you’ll find the Latin text with notes, a listing of the Latin words which have not appeared in the previous sections, and an English translation.

Et deinde in Colossensibus, 2, 14, inquit,[1] Christum delere chirographum, quod per legem adversatur nobis. Hic quoque duae sunt partes, chirographum et deletio chirographi. Est autem chirographum conscientia arguens et condemnans[2] nos. Porro lex est verbum, quod arguit et condemnat peccata. Haec igitur vox, quae dicit: Peccavi Domino, sicut David ait 2 Sam. 12, 13, est chirographum. Et hanc vocem impii et securi homines non emittunt serio. Non enim vident, non legunt scriptam[3] in corde sententiam legis. In veris doloribus ac terroribus cernitur haec sententia. Est igitur chirographum ipsa contritio, condemnans[4] nos. Delere chirographum est tollere hanc sententiam, qua pronuntiamus,[5] fore ut[6] damnemur, et sententiam insculpere, qua sentiamus[7] nos liberatos esse ab illa condemnatione. Est autem fides nova illa sententia, quae abolet priorem sententiam et reddit pacem et vitam cordi.

Quamquam quid opus est multa citare testimonia, quum ubique obvia sint in Scripturis. Psalmo 118, 18: Castigans[8] castigavit me Dominus, et morti non tradidit me. Psalmo 119, 28: Defecit anima mea prae angustia; confirma me Verbo tuo. Ubi in priore membro continetur contritio, in secundo modus clare describitur, quomodo[9] in contritione recreemur, scilicet Verbo Dei, quod offert gratiam. Id sustentat et vivificat corda. Et 1 Reg. 2 (1 Sam. 2, 6): Dominus mortificat et vivificat, deducit ad inferos et reducit. Horum altero significatur contritio, altero significatur fides. Et Es. 28, 21: Dominus irascetur, ut[10] faciat opus suum. Alienum est opus eius, ut[11] operetur opus suum. Alienum opus Dei vocat, quum terret, quia Dei proprium opus est vivificare et consolari. Verum ideo terret, inquit, ut[12] sit locus consolationi et vivificationi, quia secura corda et non sentientia[13] iram Dei fastidiunt consolationem.

Ad hunc modum solet Scriptura haec duo coniungere, terrores et consolationem, ut[14] doceat[15] haec praecipua membra esse in poenitentia, contritionem et fidem consolantem et iustificantem.[16] Neque videmus, quomodo[17] natura poenitentiae clarius et simplicius tradi possit.

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[1] Introduces an indirect statement

[2] Present active participles

[3] A perfect passive participle

[4] A present active participle

[5] Introduces an indirect statement

[6] Introduces a result clause

[7] Introduces an indirect sentence

[8] A present active participle

[9] Introduces an indirect question

[10] Introduces a purpose clause

[11] Introduces a purpose clause

[12] Introduces a purpose clause

[13] A present active participle

[14] Introduces a purpose clause

[15] Introduces an indirect statement

[16] Present active participles

[17] Introduces an indirect question

Vocabulary
Angustia, ae, f.- difficulty	Deficio, ere, defeci, defectus- to fail, falter; grow weak
Castigo, are, avi, atus- to chastise; correct	Emitto, ere, emisi, emissus- to expel; let go; send out
Condemnatio, condemnationis, f.- condemnation; verdict	Insculpo, ere, insculpsi, insculptus- to carve, engrave
Deduco, ere, deduxi, deductus- to lead down, draw down	Reduco, ere, reduxi, reductus- to restore; bring back

And then in Colossians 2:14, he says that Christ has removed the writing which is turned against us through the law. Here also there are two parts: the writing and the removal of the book. However, the writing is the conscience charging and condemning us. Rather the law is the writing which charges and condemns sins. Therefore, this voice which says, I have sinned against the Lord, as David says in 2 Samuel 12 and 13, is the writing. And impious and secure men do not seriously discharge this voice. For they do not see it, and they do read the writing of the law which has been written on the heart. In true griefs and terrors this writing is discerned. Therefore, contrition itself, condemning us, is the writing. To remove the writing is to destroy this sentence by which we pronounce that it would happen that we are condemned and to inscribe this sentence with which we know that we are freed from that condemnation. Moreover, that sentence is new faith which abolishes the prior sentence and restores life to the heart.

Although why is it necessary to cite more testimonies when everywhere they are obvious in the Scriptures. Psalm 118:18 says, “Chastening, the Lord chastised me, and He did not give me to death.” Psalm 119:28 says, “My spirit fails in view of difficulties; strengthen me with your Word.” When in the prior section contrition is maintained, the manner is clearly described in the second how we are restored in contrition, certainly by the Word of God which offers grace. It sustains and restores hearts to life. And in 1 Samuel 2:6, it says, “The Lord kills and makes alive, and He leads to the grave and leads back from it.” By the first of these contrition is meant, and by the other faith is meant. And Isaiah 28:21 says, “The Lord will become angry so that he does His work.” He calls this work of God strange, when He terrifies, because the proper work of God is to make alive and console. But, therefore, He terrifies, he says, so that there is a place for consolation and making alive because secure hearts, while they do not know the wrath of God, disdain consolation.

For this reason Scripture is accustomed to join these two things, terror and consolation, so that it teaches that these two particular parts are in repentance: contrition and faith which console and justify. And we do not see how the nature of repentance is able to be taught more clearly and simply.

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