Three Treatises

by Martin Luther

Martin Luther posted his Ninety-five Theses on the church door at Wittenberg in 1517. In the three years that followed, Luther clarified and defended his position in numerous writings. Chief among these are the three treatises written in 1520. In these writings Luther tried to frame his ideas in terms that would be comprehensible not only to the clergy but to people from a wide range of backgrounds. [i]To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation[/i] is an attack on the corruption of the church and the abuses of its authority, bringing to light many of the underlying reasons for the Reformation. The second treatise, [i]The Babylonian Captivity of the Church[/i], contains Luther's sharp criticism of the sacramental system of the Catholic church. [i[The Freedom of a Christian[/i] gives a concise presentation of Luther's position on the doctrine of justification by faith. The translations of these treatises are all taken from the American edition of Luther's Works. This new edition of [i]Three Treatises[/i] will continue to be a popular resource for individual study, church school classes, and college and seminary courses.

Genres: Theology, Religion, History, Nonfiction, Classics, Christianity, Christian

290 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1943

About the author

Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a German monk, theologian, university professor and church reformer whose ideas inspired the Protestant Reformation and changed the course of Western civilization.

Luther's theology challenged the authority of the papacy by holding that the Bible is the only infallible source of religious authority and that all baptized Christians under Jesus are a spiritual priesthood. According to Luther, salvation was a free gift of God, received only by true repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, a faith given by God and unmediated by the church.

Luther's confrontation with Charles V at the Diet of Worms over freedom of conscience in 1521 and his refusal to submit to the authority of the Emperor resulted in his being declared an outlaw of the state as he had been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. Because of the perceived unity of the medieval Church with the secular rulers of western Europe, the widespread acceptance of Luther's doctrines and popular vindication of his thinking on individual liberties were both phenomenal and unprecedented.

His translation of the Bible into the vernacular, making it more accessible to ordinary people, had a tremendous political impact on the church and on German culture. It furthered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the translation of the English King James Bible. His hymns inspired the development of congregational singing within Christianity. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage within Protestantism.

Much scholarly debate has concentrated on Luther's writings about the Jews. His statements that Jews' homes should be destroyed, their synagogues burned, money confiscated and liberty curtailed were revived and used in propaganda by the Nazis in 1933–45. As a result of this and his revolutionary theological views, his legacy remains controversial.

Reviews

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a *Baptist* with an affinity for Catholic doctrine, this resonated for sure-- Luther's doctrine is obviously pretty tight or we'd all be Catholics right now lol. The third treatise: "On Christian Liberty" is personally helpful in navigating a healthy balance between a submitted faith and diligent obedience. Luther argues you cannot work (fast, pray, meditate, serve, etc.) your way into righteousness, but these good works display loving obedience and help you to understand your own condition with sin-- through the good works you begin to understand your limits and requirements for a holy life

EDIT Nov. 2025: LOL-- almost a year later, full of deeper prayer, more contemplation, more reading, more seeking, more experiencing the Holy Spirit... and I'm no longer a Baptist... instead I'm entering full communion with the Catholic Church this Easter :) what a turn!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martin Luther wrote Three Treatises in 1520. The Three Treatises are: To The Christian Nobility of the German Nation, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and The Freedom of A Christian. While I suppose you could read them individually, I think they are best read together sequentially. But. After saying that, if you read only one book in your entire life by Martin Luther, make it The Freedom of a Christian.

In To The Christian Nobility of the German Nation, Luther breaks down the "three walls" protecting the Roman Catholic church from criticism, actual dialogue, and reform. The temporal (national, secular) powers have no jurisdiction over the church in any way. The church is the only judge of the church. The only person who can interpret Scripture is the pope, so it doesn't matter how many people--priests, or whomever--use Scripture to argue for reform--the pope is the only one allowed to be right. No one is allowed to call council meetings except the pope, and the pope, of course, would control what was talked about. So people were locked out--blocked out--from discussion or dialogue. There would be no 'reasoning together' or healthy dialogue. So Luther's reckoning that the church was corrupting Scripture had no official outlet. Luther sets out to break down the walls. The church--the pope--are not infallible. And reform is sometimes essential to staying healthy and pure. One by one, Luther starts knocking down the walls.

When the pope acts contrary to the Scriptures, it is our duty to stand by the Scriptures, to reprove him and to constrain him, according to the word of Christ. (Matthew 18:15-17) (22)

It doesn't take Luther long to knock down the walls. He then spends the rest of the treatise sharing with readers what he would discuss freely and openly in a council meeting if he were allowed to call for one. These are his discussion points. There are many, many, many things he would call to the Pope's attention, the church's attention. These are the issues that demand REFORM.

These sections might prove a tiny bit tedious for the casual reader. But the context they give readers shouldn't be underestimated. If one is to appreciate the Reformation, one must know a great deal about why the reformation was necessary, and why reform was worth fighting for and dying for. It is essential that readers--that believers--know why Luther was protesting so courageously, so loudly, so boldly. These weren't "little" "insignificant" matters.

Favorite quotes from this first treatise:

Nobody wants to walk in the straight path of God's commandments common to all of us. Everybody invents new ways and vows for himself as if he had already fulfilled all of God's commandments. (60)

O dear Christians, God does not care for much praying, but for true praying. (71)

How can we prosper when we behave so wrongly and give the Bible, the holy word of God, a back seat? (97)

The number of books on theology must be reduced and only the best ones published. It is not many books that make men learned, nor even reading. But it is a good book frequently read, no matter how small it is, that makes a man learned in the Scriptures and godly. Indeed, the writings of all the holy fathers should be read only for a time so that through them we may be led into the Scriptures. As it is, however, we only read them these days to avoid going any further and going into the Bible. We are like men who read the sign posts and never travel the road they indicate. Our dear fathers wanted to lead us to Scriptures by their writings, but we use their works to get away from Scriptures. Nevertheless, the Scripture alone is our vineyard in which we must all labor and toil. (98)

I would advise no one to send his child where the Holy Scriptures are not supreme. Every institution that does not unceasingly pursue the study of God's word becomes corrupt. (100)

I greatly fear that the universities unless they teach the Holy Scriptures diligently and impress them on the young students, are wide gates to hell. (100)

The second treatise is about church sacraments. Luther discusses the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic church. Noting the ways they need reform. Or in some cases noting that they need to be abolished completely. Luther argues that the church needs but two--possibly three--sacraments: communion (The Lord's Supper) and baptism. (The third possible being confession.) He goes through the sacraments one by one, and this book is surprisingly easy to follow.

Favorite quotes from this treatise:

It is one thing to misapply the Scriptures and another to understand them in their proper sense. (133)

No violence is to be done to the words of God, whether by man or angel. They are to be retained in their simplest meaning as far as possible. Unless the context manifestly compels it, they are not to be understood apart from their grammatical and proper sense, lest we give our adversaries occasion to make a mockery of all the Scriptures. (146)

The authority of God's word is greater than the capacity of our intellect to grasp it. (151)

We must be careful to give more heed to the Word of God than to all the thoughts of men and of angels. (156)

God does not deal, nor has he ever dealt, with man otherwise than through a word of promise. We in turn cannot deal with God otherwise than through faith in the Word of his promise. (160)

Where there is a divine promise, there every one must stand on his own feet; his own personal faith is demanded, he will give an account for himself and bear his own load. (168)

You have the utmost certainty of the gospel, and by relying on it, you may well disregard the belief and opinions of men. (175)

What is the whole gospel but the good tidings of the forgiveness of sins? (176)

The sinner does not so much need to be washed as he needs to die, in order to be wholly renewed and made another creature, and to be conformed to the death and resurrection of Christ, with whom he dies and rises again through baptism. (191)

It is far more forceful to say that baptism signifies that we die in every way and rise to eternal life, than to say that it signifies that we are washed clean of sins. (191)

You need continually to be baptized by faith, continually to die and continually to live. (192)

It is enough if we lament the sins which distress our conscience at the present moment, as well as those which we can readily call to mind. Whoever is in this frame of mind is without doubt ready to grieve and fear for all his sins, and will grieve and fear whenever they are brought to his knowledge in the future. (211)

The third premise is The Freedom of a Christian. Written in 1520, this little gem of a treatise is all about the Christian life, how to walk with Christ, how to journey through our earthly pilgrimage. It is a GREAT book and should be required reading!!!

My favorite quotes:

I have neither the power nor the will to deny the Word of God. (268)

A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all. (277)

One thing, and only one thing is necessary for Christian life, righteousness and freedom. (279)

Let us then consider it certain and firmly established that the soul can do without anything except the Word of God and that where the Word of God is missing there is no help at all for the soul. If it has the Word of God it is rich and lacks nothing, since it is the Word of life, truth, light, peace, righteousness, salvation,joy, liberty, wisdom, power, grace, glory, and of every incalculable blessing. (279)

As the soul needs only the Word of God for its life and righteousness, so it is justified by faith alone and not any works; for if it could be justified by anything else, it would not need the Word and consequently it would not need faith. (280)

True faith in Christ is a treasure beyond comparison which brings with it complete salvation and saves man from every evil. (281)

The promises of God give what the commandments of God demand and fulfill what the law prescribes so that all things may be God's alone, both the commandments and the fulfilling of the commandments. He alone commands, he alone fulfills. (283)

Faith works truth and righteousness by giving God what belongs to him. (285)

Christ is full of grace, life, and salvation. The soul is full of sins, death, and damnation. Now let faith come between them and sins, death, and damnation will be Christ's, while grace, life, and salvation will be the soul's for if Christ is the bridegroom, he must take upon himself the things which are his bride's and bestow upon her the things that are his. (286)

Rather ought Christ to be preached to the end that faith in him may be established that he may not only be Christ, but be Christ for you and me, and that what is said of him and is denoted in his name may be effectual in us. Such faith is produced and preserved in us by preaching why Christ came, what he brought and bestowed, what benefit it is to us to accept him. This is doen when that Christian liberty which he bestows is rightly taught and we are told in what way we Christians are all kings and priests and therefore lords of all and may firmly believe that whatever we have done is pleasing and acceptable in the sight of God. (292-3)

So the Christian who is consecrated by his faith does good works, but the words do not make him holier or more Christian, for that is the work of faith alone. And if a man were not first a believer and a Christian, all his works would amount to nothing and would be truly wicked and damnable sins. (297)

A man does not live for himself alone in this mortal body to work for it alone, but he lives also for all men on earth; rather, he lives only for others and not for himself. (301)

From Christ the good things have flowed and are flowing into us. (309)

[Russell Sigler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luther, in a style only he can, dismantles the unbiblical church practices of his day. Also, plenty of spectacular insults thrown in for you to try on your friends. Worth the read for anyone seeking a better idea of the environment from the Reformation arose.

[StephenM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only read "To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation." I read "Freedom of a Christian" last year, but I haven't gotten to "The Babylonian Captivity" yet, which is Luther's attack on the Romanist sacramental system. I'll get to it eventually.

The selling point of "To the Christian Nobility" is Luther's looong list of wrongs and corruptions in the papacy and canon law, with more specifics than I had ever encountered before. Luther sounds intemperate at times in his sweeping condemnations and calls for abolishment, but he has plenty of good reasons to back his radicalism up, and on several occasions he disarmingly admits he's not an expert on certain issues and there may be better ways to go about it. Apparently Luther had corresponded and coordinated with some other reform-minded officials before writing this, so you can see the overall treatise as a list of grievances for all Germans against the tyranny of Rome going back several centuries, and in a sense a call for independence. While there are plenty of sharp Biblical references throughout his argument, and many of his points depend on a rejection of Rome's ecclesiology, the overall treatise is light on theology compared to most of his other best-known writings.

[Stuart Gunner · Rating 4 out of 5]

'When you have learned this you will know that you need Christ, who suffered and rose again for you so that, if you believe in him, you may through this faith become anew man in so far as your sins are forgiven and you are justified by the merits of another, namely, of Christ alone' (281).

I really enjoyed Luther's Three Treatises. It was interesting to read straight from the source on some aspects that drove the Protestant Reformation. By breaking down the corruption of the papacy and Roman church, the misuse and abuse of the sacraments, and writing to the Pope on justification by faith, this book can give the reader a lot of insight into the state of the church. The corruption of the church made me quite sad. It was sad to hear how people were being spiritually oppressed by those who claimed to have their best interests in mind. However, it's also encouraging to read church history to see how God combats these times through his people.

One thing that is needed before reading this book is a relatively solid grasp of the sacramental system of the Catholic church. There are helpful footnotes to explain some smaller terms, but I had to spend a decent amount of time reading and learning about the sacraments from other sources.

[Dane Radigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

also did not read this one in full, just letter to Pope Leo X and Freedom of a Christian. First piece I've read by Luther. What a whirlwind it is to see him praised growing up and then actually read what he said. Not sure if we are quite hitting his mark he aimed for (we aren't). Life goes on. I still enjoyed what he had to say and at times it made my protestant pride swell. Heck yea faith alone (there are problems with the limitedness of his views, just ignore it rn and be happy).

[Benjamin Cervantes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good apologetic for the Biblical doctrines rediscovered during the reformation. Papists have no excuse with their exegetical fallacies and eisegesis of numerous texts. The last treatise was pure gold. Felt like I was reading the apostle Paul.

[Flynn Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was striking to me how gospel-centered Luther truly was from the beginning of his theological transformation. The total sufficiency of the person and work of Christ for the salvation of mankind and personal faith therein shone through in its full radiance in these foundational works. A needed reminder of what the Reformation, among so many other things, positively offered for the good of the church.

[Genni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luther was a deeply flawed human (as are we all). Before reading this, I was aware through heresay that he expressed some pretty strong racist views in some of his writings and that he was involved in various controversies (aside from the obvious one with the Catholic Church). However, there is not a lot of that in these particular treatises. It is filled with all of the passion of newly found freedom and the desire that others have the chance to experience that as well.

[wyclif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Luther's foundational writings, and the obvious place to start in any study of the German Reformer.

[Zecchaeus Jensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This made me want to convert from Protestantism, even though I already had. If I hadn't already then I would have wanted to as soon as I finished this book!

[Hector Barrowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Includes 3 books so will review separately below:

1. To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation: 5/5 found it really prophetic actually for the collapse of Christian Nationalism, despite being so deep into it at the time Luther could see the implications of the rejection of God's word.
2. The Babylonian Captivity of the Chruch: 4/5 Very specific to the Catholic Church at the time but shed important light not only on issues of the time but also issues which the Church still struggles with to this day. Was very interested in his talk about transubstantiation and how it was only introduced as a teaching in the 1200s (300 years before Luther's writings).
3. The Freedom of a Christian: 5/5 by far the most famous book, it failed to disappoint! Really enjoyed his clarity and I took many a quote from the work.

[Trevor Schaefer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most famous of the treatises in this book, The Freedom of a Christian (1520) is the source of a number of Luther quotes on the internet:
"God does not need your good works, but your neighbour does."
Luther actually says:
“The good things we have from God should flow from one to the other and be common to all, so that everyone should “put on” his neighbour and so conduct himself toward him as if he himself were in the other’s place.”
It begins with one of the best-known quotes by Martin Luther:
"A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all."

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great set of writings from Martin Luther, all three composed in 1520. These treatises show that Martin Luther was fully Lutheran by this date. The documents make it clear that he was using the doctrine of sola scritptura in his arguments.
For maximum comprehension, the reader should know something about the Holy Roman Empire and late medieval Roman Catholicism.

[Paul Wichert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating reading, especially to see the development of his thought and the relationship of his theology to the German nation and the Papacy. A Treatise on Christian Liberty (1520) is a short, but full discussion of grace and law/works.

[Joel Zartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luther is lively.

[Peter Stonecipher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important series of early treatises by Luther in 1520.

[Brady Sabolik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in THEO 210 - HIST DEV OF THE CHRIST CHURCH.

Read 2 of 3 treatise (Babylonian Captivity of the Church and Freedom of a Christian)

[meera · Rating 2 out of 5]

the girls are fightingggg

[Kari]

I got more out of this than I expected.

[Clara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super interesting, although probably more so if I had any religious knowledge. Crazy revolutionary and essentially just like a big fuck you to the Catholic Church -- in subtler terms.

[Harrison DeWalt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of works. Footnotes very heavy at times, but helpful at others. Makes me want to receive the eucharist in both parts.

[kristen tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5
less interesting than the prince. got bored a lot while reading. lots of socialist vibes off of this tho

[Nicholas Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

god always makes the fools tools.

he annoys me. he is important. like all prophets, in over his head and treading water that is deeper than he could've known.

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

need credit for reading most of this, just why

[anastasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

read the 1st and 3rd treatise

[Sooho Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considered as Luther's three essential treatises of 1520, these were written only a few months apart and not long after the Leipzig Debate with Johann Eck (1519).

"To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation" was written in vernacular German. Luther spells out the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers and the separation between the Roman Church and the State (Nation) using two kingdoms imagery.

"On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church" was written in vernacular German and Latin. Luther brings the seven sacraments of the Roman Church under heavy scrutiny with his newly formed justification-by-faith lens.

"On the Freedom of a Christian" was written to Pope Leo X and in Latin. This is probably my favorite treatise in this collection -- maybe one of my favorite Luther writings ever. Luther differentiates between the "inner man" and "outer inner" and their corresponding freedoms. The inner freedom is justification by faith -- she is completely free from all obligations because of Jesus. The outer freedom is the freedom to love -- she is completely bound to her neighbors in love because of Jesus.

[Kevin Choate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating based solely on the Third Treatise: “Freedom of the Christian”

In his defense of the doctrine “faith alone,” Luther demonstrates a high view of God and a low view of man in his soteriology. This treatise will make you fall in love more with your savior and inspire you to love your neighbor. We, as Christians are lords over all, while at the same time servants to all. This, of course, is in a spiritual sense. Luther asserts that the saved man is given a spiritual liberty, free of all man-made authority, including the old law (which reveal sin) and are instead set free through faith in Christ Jesus. This idea, the fulfillment of the New Covenant, with God “writing His Word on our hearts” demonstrates that through Jesus we are free in the ultimate sense. Lastly, through this freedom it implores us for good works. Loving God, loving neighbor become reactionary to the saving power from sin that Jesus brings to all who repent and believe in Him.

Read. This.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a requirement for my Reformation History class.

I enjoyed the book. Luther writes with an easy, readable style, understandable to even a casual reader. This contrasts what one might expect from the man most identified with the Reformation. In fact, through a reading of these treatises one comes away with an image of a man who with a bit of humor, isn't afraid to tell it like it is and let you have it if you're in the wrong.

I enjoyed the book and learned a lot from it while I was at it.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank God for Luther. In the first two treatises, he kicks all the right teeth in. The last treatise (which includes a kind letter to the pope) proves that he isn't just a jerk and is as good a presentation of the gospel as any. In fact, it shows that Luther wasn't primarily a negative whiner. He had the positive freedoms of Christians in mind while he brawled, and by golly, he knew how to brawl.