Bondage of the Will
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Acknowledged by theologians as one of the great masterpieces of the Reformation, Martin Luther's Bondage of the Will was also Luther's favorite work. Luther responds to Desiderius Erasmus' Diatribe on Free Will with the bluntness, genius, sarcasm, and spirituality that were as much a part of his writing as they were of his colorful personality. Luther writes lucidly on the themes of man's inability and God's ability, man's depravity and God's sovereignty. The crucial issue for Luther concerned what ability free will has, and to what degree it is subject to God's sovereignty. Luther's doctrine of salvation pivoted on this key issue. Is man able to save himself, or is his salvation completely a work of divine grace? This work will long remain among the great theological classics of Christian history. Bondage of the Will was first published in 1525, eight years after Luther penned his Ninety-Five Theses.
Publisher's Preface 1Preface the Translator 91 Introduction 132 Erasmus' Preface Reviewed (Section 1) 173 Erasmus' Skepticism (Sections 2 - 6) 204 The Necessity of Knowing God and His Power (Sections 7 - 8) 295 The Sovereignty of God (Sections 9 - 27) 336 Exordium (Sections 28 - 40) 637 Discussion: First Part (Sections 41 - 75) 918 Discussion: Second Part (Sections 76 - 134) 1469 Discussion: Third Part (Sections 135 - 166) 23110 Conclusion (Sections 167 - 168) 278Appendix 1 Martin Luther's Judgment of Erasmus of Rotterdam 281Appendix 2 Martin Luther to Nicolas Armsdoff Concerning Erasmus of Rotterdam 283
