This doctrine of Christ and of the apostles, from which the true faith of the primitive church was received, the apostles at first delivered orally, without writing, but later, not by any human counsel but by the will of God, they handed it on in the Scriptures.

The quote by Martin Chemnitz discusses the transmission of the doctrine of Christ and the teachings of the apostles as the foundation of the true faith in the primitive church. Chemnitz explains that these core teachings were initially passed down orally, reflecting the early Christian practice of sharing faith through spoken word and personal instruction. Over time, however, these teachings were recorded in the Scriptures, not by human decision but through the divine will of God, preserving the faith for future generations.

The origin of this quote lies in Chemnitz’s role as a 16th-century theologian and a key figure in the Protestant Reformation. Known as the "Second Martin" after Martin Luther, Chemnitz focused on clarifying and defending Lutheran doctrine. His writings often emphasized the importance of Scripture as the authoritative source of Christian teaching, rooted in the original apostolic message.

This quote highlights a central belief in Christianity about the development and preservation of faith: that the apostles' oral teachings were divinely inspired and eventually committed to writing in the Bible. It stresses the sacred and unchanging nature of these teachings, which form the basis for Christian belief and practice.

In essence, Martin Chemnitz’s words remind believers of the divine origin and careful transmission of Christian doctrine. They underscore the significance of both oral tradition and Scripture in maintaining the integrity of the faith as handed down from the apostles.