Theology of Martin Luther Flashcards
Character and Temperament
- Passionate and prolific writer
- Goal: to move people
- Use of the vernacular
- Apocalyptic sense - and of the world, church run by the antichrist
- Professor of sacred scripture - preacher and interpreter - not scholastic theologian
Three key ideas
- Sola fide - justification by faith alone
- Sola scriptura - Bible as sole authority
- Priesthood of all beilevers
All developed gradually between 1513 and 1519 (Leipzig disputation)
Justification by faith alone
- Salvation by trusting Christ’s sacrifice - free gift
- Cannot contribute to our own salvation
- Experience of liberation
- God’s grace comes all at once
- Salvation is no longer in doubt so can focus on good works out of love
Scripture alone
- Disagreed with papal authority
- Bible is sole normative authority
- It is independent of popes and councils
- Nothing should contravene scripture
Priesthood of all believers
- Clergy is not holier
- All legitimate callings are equally good and holy
- Clergy role - preach, teach and spiritual counsel
Luther’s ‘radicalism’
- Radical in terms of justification
- Not radical in social or policital terms
- Romans 13:1 let every person be subject to the governing authorities
- Established governments are legitimate
- Faith and politics are two separate kingdoms
Common misconceptions
Luther WASN’T
1. claiming the subjective right of individual to interpret scripture. “The Truth” is at stake
2. correcting the abuses in the church - abuses were symptoms resulting from the fundamental error that human contribute to theri own salvation
3. Establishing his own church - sought to call the one and only Catholic Church back to true doctrine and practice
Luther’s Challenges to traditional beliefs
- sola scriptura challenges medieval view that bible should be interpreted within authority of church
- Justification by faith alone changes relationship between faith and works - “active faith”
- Rejection of Mass as sacrifice - Jesus death was once and for all - no longer need the sacerdoatl priesthood
Luther’s Challenges to traditional practices
- Down to three sacraments
- No need to pray to saints
- No indulgences
- No pilgrimages
Luther’s Challenges to traditional institutions
- Monasticism - not holier, no point
- Clerical celibacy - not holier - no point
- Authority of a papacy - not
- No need for confraternaties that fostered factions
Luther v Erasmus
Luther
* God’s Grace is free
* pessimistic about human nature
* If we contribute to salvation we are saving ourselves and don’t need God
* “On the Bondage of the Will”
Erasmus
* Christian life of gradual improvement
* Optimistic view of human nature
* Reluctant to debate
* “On the Freedom of the Will”
