Table Talk (German:Tischreden) is a collection ofMartin Luther's sayings around the dinner table atLutherhaus, Luther's home, but also at other times and locations, such as walks in the garden or notes taken while on journeys. It is based on notes taken by various students of Luther between 1531 and 1546. It was compiled byJohannes Mathesius, J. Aurifaber, V. Dietrich, Ernst Kroker, and several others, and published atEisleben in 1566.[1]
Mathesius spoke enthusiastically of the privilege of eating with Luther and hearing him converse.[2] Earlier notetakers had written down only the serious remarks of Luther, but Mathesius also wrote down the facetious or even damaging remarks, a sign of the increasing reverence in which Luther was held.
Nr. 5676–5749: Tischreden aus der Handschrift "Clm. 943".
Nr. 5750–5790: Tischreden aus der Handschrift "Clm. 939".
Nr. 5791–5824: Tischreden der Handschrift "Bav." und "Oben."
Nr. 5825–5889: Tischreden aus der Handschrift "Luth.-Mel."
Nr. 5890–5941: Tischreden aus der Handschrift "Wolf. 3232"[6]
Nr. 5942–5989: Tischreden ausGeorg Rörers Handschriftenbänden.
Nr. 5990–6507: Tischreden aus Anton Lauterbachs Sammlung "B."
WA TR 6. Tischreden aus verschiedenen Jahren, ausJohannes Aurifabers Sammlung (i.e. from various years from the collection made by Johannes Aurifaber)
Nr. 6508–7075: Tischreden aus Johannes Aurifabers Sammlung (Abkürzung: FB) (i.e. Table talks from the collection made by Johannes Aurifaber (abbreviation: FB))
^This collection was previously only published in its entirety inGeorg Rörer's edition.
^A manuscript with table talk fromKonrad Cordatus which was found in a library inBerlin.
^A manuscript with table talk which was found in a school library inZwickau.
^abA manuscript with table talk which was found in a library inWolfenbüttel.
^"Math." means Johannes Mathesius and "L." meansLeipzig, because the manuscript was found in a library in Leipzig. These table talks are possibly from the 1530s.
^Manuscripts 'Clm.' are in the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich.
