Hysteron Proteron

Luther speaks of Hysteron Proteron, meaning latter before. What does this mean? An example would be from Aeneid written by Virgil, "Let us die, and charge into the thick of the fight."

So what does this mean for Luther and what is the context?

In his Genesis Lectures, Chapter 38 verses 1-5, (AELW7:3) Luther states...

"On several occasions above I have suggested that the historical order should be observed in the narrative about the death of Isaac and the selling of Joseph. For Moses has used the figure which men call hysteron proteron, after the custom of other historians. At the end of chapter 35 he said that Isaac, having fulfilled his days, died at the age of 180 (vv. 28–29). Later on, in chapter 37, he says that his father Isaac wept for Joseph (cf. v. 35). Therefore this chapter, too, should be considered carefully, and it should be noted that the events it embraces were enacted long before Isaac died or Joseph was sold."

In his Genesis Lectures, Chapter 25, verses 1-4, (AELW 4:300), Luther stated

"In the previous chapter Abraham concluded his span of life, drew up his testament, and made Isaac the heir of all his goods. Now however, after his son’s wedding, he himself also takes a wife. It is not sufficiently evident what one’s reaction should be, and I am altogether uncertain whether there is a hysteron proteron or, on the other hand, a proteron hysteron. But if we follow the order of the text, a strange question arises. Paul himself explains in Rom. 4:19 that “Abraham’s body was as good as dead and unfit to procreate, because he was now 100 years old.” Hence it seems somehow that this part of the chapter should have been inserted earlier and that Abraham married the girl Keturah before he begot Isaac. Perhaps it would be possible to answer that pressing question in this manner. But I am not making a positive statement."

In addition, Note 1 on AELW 4:300 also states,

"In his Computation of the Years of the World (WA LIII, 69) Luther considered the possibility that many of the accounts in the Pentateuch had been written per hysteron proteron, but he was inclined to reject it."

One important lesson here is that while one may speculate as to occurrences in the Bible, if definitive conclusions may not be drawn from scripture...at the end of the day one must fill very comfortable not filling in the blanks.