Luther's Works: Career of the Reformer III

Luther's Works #33

by Martin Luther, Philip S. Watson

On the Bondage of the Will was considered by Luther himself as one of his best writings. This particular treatise is a reply to Erasmus' work On the Freedom of the Will. Students of Luther and the Reformation period will welcome the helpful footnotes and many excerpts from Erasmus' writings that accompany On the Bondage of the Will.

Genres: Reference, Theology

307 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

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

[Matthew Deaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume includes Luther's book, Bondage of the Will. Luther responds to Erasmus’s Diatribe and argues point by point that he has failed to show from Scripture that there is such a thing as free will (libertarian). He further criticizes Erasmus by saying that he fails to argue the very point he set out to do because he is caught up in rhetoric and human reason rather than the plain revelation of Scripture. Overall, this work is very helpful when considering what is at stake in the free will debate. Luther convincingly argues that it is only natural for natural man and natural reason to view God as unjust in His absolute sovereignty because the will of man is in bondage to sin and seeks its own glory. It's only by the work of the Spirit that a person can be liberated from this bondage to see God's justice and goodness in the "light of glory" and embrace them by faith. Luther's colorful and witty writing is both entertaining and enlightening to read.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unvarnished Augustinianism! And this one is the best translation by far.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

LUTHER'S "BONDAGE OF THE WILL”

Martin Luther (1483-1546) had broken from the Roman church by 1526, when he wrote his best-known work, The Bondage of the Will, which is reprinted in this volume. (The preceding volumes in this "Career of the Reformer" series are 'Luther's Works, Volume 31: Career of the Reformer I' and 'Luther's Works, Volume 32: Career of the Reformer II'; the next book is 'Luther's Works, Volume 34: Career of the Reformer IV.') The 'Bondage' was written in response to Erasmus' De Libero Arbitrio, a criticism of Luther which had been published in 1525.

Luther begins by describing himself to Erasmus as an "uncultivated fellow" who has always moved in uncultivated circles. (Pg. 15) He states as the central issue: whether the will does anything or nothing in matters pertaining to eternal salvation. (Pg. 35) He asserts that the will of God is immutable and infallible, and "it governs our mutable will." (Pg. 39)

He argues that when a man has no doubt that everything depends on the will of God, "then he completely despairs of himself and chooses nothing for himself, but waits for God to work; then he has come close to grace, and can be saved." (Pg. 62) Later, he adds that in relation to matters pertaining to salvation or damnation, a man has no free choice, but is a captive, subject and slave either of the will of God or the will of Satan. (Pg. 70)

He summarizes that "Scripture in its entirety stands opposed to (free choice)." (Pg. 138) In Paul's writings, free choice is "refuted in almost every word." (Pg. 273) He asserts that God's foreknowledge and omnipotence are "diametrically opposed to our free choice," because either God can be mistaken in foreknowing and also err in action, or "we must act and be acted upon in accordance with his foreknowledge and activity." (Pg. 189)

He also asserted that he was "quite certain that the kingdom of the pope, with all his followers, is going to collapse." (Pg. 53)

There are many editions available of Luther's 'Bondage,' but this is an excellent, scholarly edition.

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume contains a single writing of Luther's, his "The Bondage of the Will" - which is his reply to Erasmus' work, "On the Freedom of the Will". Whilst Luther refers to this as a "little book", it is quite a decent read - almost 300 pages in the present volume. Whilst I have read the summaries of others, as well as have read various portions of this book, I believe this is the first time I have read it as a whole work, and I am glad that I did.

I will admit that I found some sections a bit repetitious - however that is also normal in this type of work, that can be seen as part of a "debate via writings". I think Luther is actually more gracious towards Erasmus then I've read in other works of his - that being said, it can still make me feel a bit uncomfortable ;-)

Luther argues long and well, that we do not have a Free Will that can lead us to salvation (or earn us salvation, etc) - rather that we cannot save ourselves - and thus our will is not free, it is captive, broken, even deceitful. We need God's Grace through the life, death and resurrection of the incarnate Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We can't move an inch towards God without the Spirit of God moving us.

So for those interested in Luther and those interested in the Reformation, I think this is one of those "most read" books :)

It is nice that this volume does also have an index :)

Now on to volume 34!

[Derek Vickery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luther's essay "Two Kinds of Righteousness" is an excellent answer to the question, "how can a Holy God pardon sinners?" Luther's answer, by an alien righteousness that comes from outside a person; the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate to break it to you, but Martin Luther was a Calvinist on the issue of free will. So many of the same arguments he refuted in dialogue with Erasmus still get thrown around today.

[Paul Willweber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bondage of the Will. A force to be reckoned with.