Martin Luther
Before God, the human will is not free: without grace it wills evil; with grace it wills the good; but it never chooses its master. It is "bound".
Life
Martin Luther (1483-1546), a German monk and theologian, set off the Protestant Reformation in 1517 by publishing his 95 Theses against the sale of indulgences. He taught that salvation comes by faith alone and by grace, and translated the Bible into German. In On the Bondage of the Will (1525), replying to Erasmus, he denies that the human will can by its own power turn toward the good: a central debate on freedom and grace.
Main works
Criticizes the sale of indulgences and opens the Reformation.
The Christian is free through faith and servant of all through love.
Reply to Erasmus: without grace, the human will is captive to sin.
In his own words
« Thus the human will is placed between the two like a beast of burden: if God rides it, it wills and goes where God wills. »
Sic humana voluntas in medio posita est, ceu iumentum, si insederit Deus, vult et vadit, quo vult Deus
« God foresees nothing contingently, but foresees, purposes and does all things by an unchangeable, eternal and infallible will. This thunderbolt throws down and utterly crushes free will. »
quod Deus nihil praescit contingenter, sed quod omnia incommutabili et aeterna infallibilique voluntate et praevidet et proponit et facit. Hoc fulmine sternitur et conteritur penitus liberum arbitrium
« Free will without God's grace is not free at all, but unchangeably captive and servant of evil. »
liberum arbitrium sine gratia Dei prorsus non liberum, sed immutabiliter captivum et servum esse mali
Positions
click a row to see the evidenceGod is sovereign and all-powerful, and salvation depends on his grace alone.
Luther, De servo arbitrio (1525)
Before God the will is bound: without grace it wills evil, and it never chooses its own master.
Luther, De servo arbitrio (1525)
Faith is placed above reason, which he calls the devil's whore when it judges divine things.
Luther, dernier sermon de Wittenberg (1546)
Since the Fall, human nature is corrupt and cannot do good by its own strength.
Luther, De servo arbitrio (1525)