Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2: Luther on Sin and the Flood

In Short

This volume presents Martin Luther’s exposition of Genesis chapters four through nine, tracking humanity's journey from Cain’s tragic fratricide to the catastrophic Great Flood and Noah’s subsequent renewal. Luther interprets early biblical history not as distant myth, but as an ongoing spiritual conflict between true believers and self-righteous hypocrites. Through detailed verse-by-verse analysis, he uses the lives of the patriarchs to explain core Protestant doctrines, such as original sin, justification by faith, and the authority of the Word. The work has endured because it pairs deep theological instruction with Luther's characteristic pastoral urgency, applying ancient scriptural narratives directly to the spiritual and institutional struggles of his own era.

The Story

The volume opens with the immediate aftermath of the fall, focusing on Cain’s murder of Abel and his subsequent trial before God. Luther illustrates how Cain exemplifies the ultimate hypocrite: rather than confessing his guilt, Cain defends himself, denies responsibility, and points his spear back at God. Banished from the rights of the family altar, Cain and his descendants forfeit the divine promise that the Messiah would spring from their bloodline. Though they build cities, invent ceremonies, and establish worldly power, they remain spiritually destitute, living without a secure promise of mercy. Meanwhile, the righteous lineage of Seth preserves true worship through severe afflictions, holding fast to the promise of the coming seed.

Luther then moves to the primeval age before the deluge, depicting a lost world populated by long-lived patriarchs like Methuselah, Enoch, and Lamech. Contrary to viewing these figures as mere names, Luther presents them as the greatest heroes and spiritual leaders the world has ever seen, standing against a corrupt culture. However, human nature's inherent depravity continuously asserts itself. As Cain’s offspring and the degenerate sons of God intermarry, the primeval world falls into spiritual pride, despising God’s Word and abandoning the true faith. Powerful "giants" and renowned men dominate society, maintaining outward displays of holiness and authority while harboring deep malice.

When God's patience is exhausted, he decrees the end of all flesh, withholding his Spirit from an unrepentant world. Noah, standing virtually alone as a preacher of righteousness, spends centuries warning his contemporaries, only to face mockery and persecution as a fanatic. Commissioned to build the ark, Noah obeys God's precise directions, embodying steadfast faith amid universal hostility. The deluge follows, utterly destroying the ancient world while preserving Noah’s small family upon the waters.

After the waters abate, God establishes the rainbow covenant with Noah, promising never to destroy the earth again by flood and instituting civil order regarding the preservation of human life. Yet human depravity persists even after this immense judgment. The narrative concludes with Noah’s drunkenness and the sin of his youngest son, Ham, who mocks his father's vulnerable state. Noah pronounces prophetic curses and blessings upon his sons: Ham’s lineage is relegated to servitude, while Shem and Japheth receive spiritual and territorial inheritances. The story closes with Noah mentoring the young Abraham, passing down the divine promises before dying as the last survivor of the primeval world.

How It Unfolds

The rise and exile of Cain Cain murders his brother Abel and responds to divine questioning with hardened pride and self-justification. Cast out from God's presence, he forfeits the covenant promise, leaving his lineage to build an earthly civilization devoid of true faith.

The heritage of the patriarchs The lineage of Seth preserves the Word of God, led by long-lived patriarchs who endure constant trials from the wicked world. Figures like Enoch offer comfort by demonstrating that eternal life awaits those who trust in God's promises.

The universal apostasy Human nature's innate corruption causes the primeval world to degenerate into rampant pride and spiritual blindness. Renowned leaders and tyrants despise the preaching of the patriarchs, leading God to declare that his Spirit will not strive with man forever.

The preservation of the ark Noah alone finds grace in God's sight, standing as a solitary preacher of righteousness against a mocking society. He obeys the divine command to build the ark, providing refuge for his family and the animal kingdom while the world perishes in the flood.

The post-diluvian order and fall Following the flood, God establishes a covenant sealed by the rainbow and ordains civil government to protect human life. However, Noah falls into drunkenness, prompting Ham's irreverent mockery, which yields lasting prophetic consequences for their descendants.

The People

• Martin Luther: The author and commentator who frames the entire biblical narrative. He wants to demonstrate that the free Evangelical faith is as old as Genesis, using the text to challenge papal authority and urge his readers toward genuine repentance and faith.
• Cain: Adam's eldest son, whose desire to maintain an appearance of sanctity overrides his repentance. What stands in his way is his own pride and hatred, leading him to murder Abel and become a wandering exile who forfeits the covenant promise.
• Noah: A righteous patriarch and preacher who wants to preserve God's Word and guide humanity through judgment. Despite enduring overwhelming isolation and societal scorn, he survives the deluge, though his later lapse into drunkenness reveals the enduring fragility of human nature.
• Ham: Noah's youngest son, whose desire for self-exaltation and lack of reverence leads him to mock his father's exposure. His insolence results in a curse of servitude upon his lineage, contrasting sharply with the blessings given to his brothers.

In Its Own Voice

"When you see God point his spear at you, flee not from him; but, on the contrary, flee to him with a humble confession of your sin, and with prayer for his pardon."

Luther uses this image to emphasize that true safety comes from immediate repentance rather than self-defense when faced with divine judgment.

"To forfeit the promise was no trifle; still, even that curse was so mitigated as to secure for them the privilege of beggars, so that heaven was not absolutely denied them, provided they allied themselves with the true Church."

Here Luther discusses how Cain's descendants lost their ancestral rights yet remained eligible for God's uncovenanted mercy.

"If I were the only one on the face of the earth to keep the Word, I should be the Church, and rightfully pass judgment upon all the rest of the world that they were not the Church."

In this passage, Luther defends his Reformational stance, asserting that the true Church is defined entirely by adherence to Scripture rather than by institutional power.

What It's Really About

At its core, this commentary is an investigation into the nature of true faith versus religious hypocrisy. Luther uses the primeval history of Genesis to argue that human nature is fundamentally corrupted by original sin, making human beings their own worst enemies. He asserts that external works, lofty titles, and formal ceremonies are meaningless without genuine trust in God's Word. The text repeatedly contrasts the "wicked church"—which relies on human wisdom, institutional authority, and worldly pride—with the "true church," represented by a small, suffering remnant that holds fast to divine promises despite universal opposition. Ultimately, the book addresses how the righteous must live by faith when surrounded by societal decay, finding assurance in God's grace rather than human merit.

Why Read It Today

This volume appeals to readers interested in Reformation history, biblical theology, and historical scriptural interpretation. Reading Luther feels like sitting across from a passionate, unyielding teacher who speaks with direct vigor and intense personal conviction. His style is raw, conversational, and entirely unconcerned with polished diplomatic nuances; he freely interjects personal anecdotes, German proverbs, and scathing critiques of his sixteenth-century theological opponents into his analysis of ancient Hebrew texts.

However, modern readers must navigate notable difficulties throughout the work. Luther's prose is lengthy and digressive, often abandoning the primary biblical narrative for extended theological polemics. Readers will encounter period-typical polemical language, rigid medieval assumptions regarding institutional authority, and occasional anti-Jewish rhetoric. Moreover, his strict insistence on reading his contemporary ecclesiastical battles directly into the Genesis text requires a reader willing to engage with the sharp, contentious atmosphere of the Protestant Reformation. What stays with the reader is the sheer gravity of Luther's worldview, where every line of Scripture carries eternal weight and every human soul stands in immediate relation to God.

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