Bondage of the Will: Willing to Believe with R.C. Sproul

Summary

The script discusses the intellectual duel between Desiderius Erasmus and Martin Luther during the 16th century Reformation. Erasmus, a respected Catholic scholar, initially sided with Luther but later critiqued his teachings, particularly on free will, in 'The Diatribe Concerning Free Will'. Luther responded with 'The Bondage of the Will', arguing that human will is bound without divine grace, a stance rooted in Augustine's theology. The debate underscores the foundational Reformation doctrines of sola fide (by faith alone) and sola gratia (by grace alone), with Luther asserting the necessity of God's grace for salvation, in contrast to Erasmus' view that such teachings could lead to moral complacency.

Takeaways

• 📚 The debate between Erasmus and Luther was a significant theological duel in the 16th century, focusing on the Reformation's core issues.
• 🤔 Erasmus initially sided with Luther but later critiqued his teachings, particularly on free will, in his work 'The Diatribe Concerning Free Will'.
• 📖 Luther's response to Erasmus was 'De servo arbitrio', also known as 'The Bondage of the Will', which he considered his most important work.
• 🔍 The central issue of the Reformation was 'sola fide' or 'by faith alone', but Luther saw this as only the tip of the iceberg, with 'sola gratia' or 'by grace alone' as the foundational doctrine.
• 💡 Erasmus viewed the debate on free will as an academic point of little importance, while Luther believed it was vital for understanding God's grace and human will.
• 🙏 Luther emphasized that the understanding of salvation being solely God's work (Soli Deo Gloria) is crucial for the Christian's spiritual health and worship.
• 🤨 Erasmus was concerned about the practical implications of the Reformation's teachings, fearing they might lead to moral complacency.
• 🗣️ Luther countered that the inability of fallen humans to seek God is the very reason they need God's grace, and that this does not negate striving for righteousness.
• 🧐 Luther critiqued Erasmus' ambiguous stance on free will, arguing that it was essential to define the role of human will and God's grace in salvation.
• 👉 Luther made a clear distinction between God's foreknowledge and coercion, asserting that God's omniscience does not necessitate human actions.
• 🌟 The debate highlights the deep theological differences between humanism and Reformation theology, particularly on the topics of grace, free will, and predestination.

Q & A

What was the theological duel between Desiderius Erasmus and Martin Luther centered on?

The theological duel between Desiderius Erasmus and Martin Luther was centered on the concept of free will and the extent to which human will is free or bound in matters of salvation and divine grace.

What work did Erasmus publish in 1524 that prompted the debate with Luther?

Erasmus published 'The Diatribe Concerning Free Will' in 1524, which provided a comprehensive critique of Luther's theology and the teachings of the Reformers.

How did Martin Luther respond to Erasmus' critique?

In 1525, Martin Luther responded to Erasmus' work with his book 'De servo arbitrio,' also known as 'The Bondage of the Will.'

What was the significance of the book 'The Bondage of the Will' to Martin Luther?

Luther regarded 'The Bondage of the Will' as his most important work, as it delved into the foundational underpinnings of justification and the doctrine of grace, which he believed were central to the Reformation.

What slogan of the Reformation is related to the concept of 'by faith alone'?

The slogan related to the concept of 'by faith alone' is 'sola fide,' which encapsulates Luther's doctrine of justification by faith alone.

What is the relationship between 'sola fide' and 'sola gratia' according to Luther?

For Luther, 'sola fide' (by faith alone) grows out of and depends upon 'sola gratia' (by grace alone), as it is through divine grace that individuals are justified by faith.

What was Erasmus' view on the importance of the free will debate in the Reformation?

Erasmus considered the issue of free will to be of little importance, viewing it as an academic point or technicality that could be left to scholars rather than being a central concern for the general populace.

How did Luther respond to Erasmus' concern about the potential negative consequences of preaching the doctrine of election?

Luther argued that the character of God and the truth of the Bible's teachings on human dependence on divine grace were of utmost importance, even if it meant opening a 'floodgate of iniquity' by acknowledging the reality of human moral inability.

What is the concept of 'Soli Deo Gloria' and how does it relate to the debate on free will and divine grace?

'Soli Deo Gloria' means 'to God alone the glory.' It relates to the debate by emphasizing that salvation is entirely God's work, and believers should not attribute any part of their redemption to their own efforts or merits.

How did Luther address the issue of necessity and free will in his response to Erasmus?

Luther distinguished between the necessity of consequence (God's infallible foreknowledge) and the necessity of the consequent (coercion), arguing that while God knows what will happen, He does not coerce individuals' actions, which are still freely chosen, albeit wickedly.

What was the central issue that Luther believed was more foundational than the doctrine of justification?

Luther believed that the doctrine of 'sola gratia' (by grace alone) was more foundational than justification, as it underpins the understanding of human fallenness, the strength of the human will, and the extent of divine grace in salvation.