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Luther's Augustinian Theology of the Cross: The Augustinianism of Martin Luther's Heidelberg Disputation and the Origins of Modern Philosophy of Religion
"These theological paradoxes ... have been deduced well or poorly from St. Paul, the especially chosen vessel and instrument of Christ, and also from St. Augustine, his most trustworthy interpreter." These are some of Martin Luther's words that introduce his Heidelberg Disputation (1518), a collection of doctrinal theses that serves as a manifesto of Luther's theology. The German Reformer claimed that his theses were a faithful exposition not only of Pauline theology, but also of Augustine's doctrine of salvation. Luther's Augustinian Theology of the Cross is an unprecedented commentary of Luther's Heidelberg Disputation. Through a wide range of Augustinian texts, the author shows the accuracy of Luther's claim. Moreover, the work offers some original considerations that are of interest to both theology and philosophy. In the year of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, this volume is a lively and stimulating addition to the debate about the relationship between Augustine's soteriology and the theology of the Reformation.
- GenresTheologyPhilosophy
162 pages, Paperback
Published June 6, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 18, 2022
Luther’s Augustinian Theology of the Cross by Marco Barone is an illuminating examination of the Protestant Reformer’s view of the gospel. The author seeks to show how Luther’s view coincides with Augustine and ultimately agrees with Scripture.
Barone makes good use of Luther’s Heidelberg Disputation as a means of identifying his theological convictions and concerns. The primary emphasis focuses on free will, the law of God and the works of man, the righteousness of God and the cross work of Jesus Christ. The author boils down Luther’s view:
The most essential feature of the book is understanding the distinction between the theology of the cross (Luther and Augustine) and the theology of glory. The theology of the cross that Luther maintained saw the will as bound in sin. This view holds that sinners are only able to achieve virtue as a result of receiving the gift of regeneration. Righteousness is “alien” to use a a term coined by Luther. The sinner receives Christ’s righteousness by faith alone. And Christ’s redemptive work on the cross is mankind’s only hope for receiving eternal life, which of course is received by grace alone through faith alone.
The so-called theology of glory is diametrically opposed to Luther’s theology of the cross at every juncture. It is man-centered, focused on autonomy and self-effort, and in the end is Pelagian to the core.
Luther’s Augustinian Theology of the Cross is a welcome addition to the growing scholarly works that examine the German Reformer’s life and theological legacy. Barone’s commitment to raise the awareness of Luther’s gospel-centeredness should be celebrated. Additionally, the author should be commended for helping readers detect Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism, which holds millions of people captive in our culture.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
Barone makes good use of Luther’s Heidelberg Disputation as a means of identifying his theological convictions and concerns. The primary emphasis focuses on free will, the law of God and the works of man, the righteousness of God and the cross work of Jesus Christ. The author boils down Luther’s view:
Man is not righteous by himself. He does not become righteous by a life of good works, or by the mere acceptance of and conformity to the moral law. Rather, man is declared righteous by a supernatural and graciously free act of God which he performs according to his eternal decree of predestination. Man’s works do not make him righteous. According to Luther’s Augustinian philosophy of the cross, true righteousness is the necessary prerequisite for producing good works.
The most essential feature of the book is understanding the distinction between the theology of the cross (Luther and Augustine) and the theology of glory. The theology of the cross that Luther maintained saw the will as bound in sin. This view holds that sinners are only able to achieve virtue as a result of receiving the gift of regeneration. Righteousness is “alien” to use a a term coined by Luther. The sinner receives Christ’s righteousness by faith alone. And Christ’s redemptive work on the cross is mankind’s only hope for receiving eternal life, which of course is received by grace alone through faith alone.
The so-called theology of glory is diametrically opposed to Luther’s theology of the cross at every juncture. It is man-centered, focused on autonomy and self-effort, and in the end is Pelagian to the core.
Luther’s Augustinian Theology of the Cross is a welcome addition to the growing scholarly works that examine the German Reformer’s life and theological legacy. Barone’s commitment to raise the awareness of Luther’s gospel-centeredness should be celebrated. Additionally, the author should be commended for helping readers detect Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism, which holds millions of people captive in our culture.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
August 28, 2017
Luther’s Augustinian Theology of the Cross, written by Marco Barone, is published by Wipf and Stock. The subtitle gives a good summary of the contents and theme of the book: “The Augustinianism of Martin Luther’s Heidelberg Disputation and the Origins of the Modern Philosophy of Religion.”
While it is useful for history test purposes to say that the Reformation began on October 31, 1517, that is overly simplistic. A stronger case could be made that it was the Heidelberg Disputation about a year later that more clearly delineated Luther’s deepest concerns. Barone writes, “[T]he Heidelberg Disputation has become the manifesto of Luther’s thinking inasmuch as it contains the hallmarks of his entire theology.”
In his delightful opening paragraphs, Barone relates how he was on a pilgrimage with Martin Luther. The language of pilgrimages, quests, and journeys are apt for the travels of the mind, and Barone is a budding scholar in route to a doctorate. Along the way, he meets Augustine and wonders if Luther would enjoy Augustine’s company. In the “Great Conversation,” to use Mortimer Adler’s delightful term, the German and the North African are old acquaintances.
Luther’s theology borrowed heavily from Augustine. That is not really surprising considering that Luther joined the Augustinian order. What follows then is a study of free will, virtue, righteousness, and the cross with heavy quoting and footnoting showing the ways that Luther built upon Augustine’s thought. As a bonus to this study, Barone then makes connections to two modern philosophers, Emmanuel Kant and Gottfried Leibniz. That connection explains how the book branches from the older theologians to modern philosophy.
As Barone aptly demonstrates, the alternative to a philosophy built upon Christian theology is inevitably Pelagian. We can say more about this after I get to the second reading.
While it is useful for history test purposes to say that the Reformation began on October 31, 1517, that is overly simplistic. A stronger case could be made that it was the Heidelberg Disputation about a year later that more clearly delineated Luther’s deepest concerns. Barone writes, “[T]he Heidelberg Disputation has become the manifesto of Luther’s thinking inasmuch as it contains the hallmarks of his entire theology.”
In his delightful opening paragraphs, Barone relates how he was on a pilgrimage with Martin Luther. The language of pilgrimages, quests, and journeys are apt for the travels of the mind, and Barone is a budding scholar in route to a doctorate. Along the way, he meets Augustine and wonders if Luther would enjoy Augustine’s company. In the “Great Conversation,” to use Mortimer Adler’s delightful term, the German and the North African are old acquaintances.
Luther’s theology borrowed heavily from Augustine. That is not really surprising considering that Luther joined the Augustinian order. What follows then is a study of free will, virtue, righteousness, and the cross with heavy quoting and footnoting showing the ways that Luther built upon Augustine’s thought. As a bonus to this study, Barone then makes connections to two modern philosophers, Emmanuel Kant and Gottfried Leibniz. That connection explains how the book branches from the older theologians to modern philosophy.
As Barone aptly demonstrates, the alternative to a philosophy built upon Christian theology is inevitably Pelagian. We can say more about this after I get to the second reading.
October 1, 2017
The back cover just sows that he is a pd candidate and writes a blog. Someone get this man a teaching position. I read this for support of a paper idea, little did I know i would be reading exactly the book i was hoping to write. So back to the drawing board for me. However, Marco does a great job (probably better than I could) in tying together the Augustinian and Lutheran (Martin Luther not the denomination) theologies of the cross. My only critique is that Luther wrote on so much he could have tied the HD to some of the other writings besides Bondage of the Will, the three treatises perhaps. Perhaps that is where my own paper should focus.
September 7, 2021
3.5 stars. Dense, repetitive, and dry at points but very helpful in connecting the dots between Augustine and Luther’s theology.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews