Whether or not Luther derived his existential way of interpreting Scripture from the medieval four-fold interpretive method, the German mystics, his love of Augustine, or his own passionate nature, what translated his tentative inklings into definitive spiritual prescriptions was the assignment by his mentor Johan Von Stauptiz: to teach students. His first serious attempt (1513-15) involved reading the Psalter as a living oracle. This was not an easy task given the obscure, vindictive, lament-like nature of many Psalms. Luther filtered his reading of the Psalms through his understanding of Christ. He read them christologically. He also applied the tropological or