His preface is a real cry of joy at his great discovery.

He did, indeed, interpret everything in a double sense, literal and spiritual, and placed the emphasis rather on the latter, but this did not prevent a genuine effort to read the words as they were written.

Three years later he published in like manner the Epistles of St.Paul, with commentary.
Though he spoke of the apostle as a simple instrument of God, he yet did more to uncover his personality than any of the previous {53} commentators.

Half mystic as he was, Lefevre discovered in Paul the doctrine of justification by faith only.

To I Corinthians viii, he wrote: "It is almost profane to speak of the merit of works, especially towards God.