Luther Against Erasmus

Authors

James I. Packer, Oxford University, Oxford

Publication Date

4-1-1966

Document Type

Article

Keywords

desiderius erasmus, martin luther, free will, christian doctrine, grace, salvation, reformation

Submission Type

Bible Study; Lecture; Sermon Prep

Abstract

On Sept. 6, 1524, Desiderius Erasmus, the foremost literary man of his day, sat in his study writing a letter to a distinguished friend and patron, Henry VIII, King of England. In the course of his letter came the words: ''The die is cast. The little book on free-will has seen the light of day." He was referring to his Diatribe seu collatio de libero arbitrio ("Discussion or Conference Concerning Free Will"), which had been published at Basel five days earlier. He wrote more truly than he knew. The die was now cast indeed. A Rubicon had been crossed, and one of the great storms of history was about to break.

Disciplines

History of Christianity

Submission Cost

Free

Submission Audience

Laity; Ministers; Scholars

Recommended Citation

Packer, James I. (1966) "Luther Against Erasmus," Concordia Theological Monthly: Vol. 37, Article 16.
Available at: https://scholar.csl.edu/ctm/vol37/iss1/16