Erasmus, Luther, and Aquinas

Authors

Philip Watson, Garrett Theological Seminary, Evanston

Publication Date

12-1-1969

Document Type

Article

Keywords

grace, erasmus, luther, salvation, free will, human bondage, aquinas, catholic, doctrine, mcsorley

Submission Type

Bible Study; Lecture; Sermon Prep

Abstract

One of the most recent additions to the growing Roman Catholic literature on Luther is a study of his doctrine of the bondage of the will in the light-as the subtitle of the German edition says-of the Biblical and ecclesiastical tradition. Its author, Harry J. McSorley, endorses Luther's own view of the outstanding importance of his De servo arbitrio as dealing with the most central issue of his reforming work. He also endorses Luther's claim that his primary concern was a reformation, not simply of practical abuses but of doctrine, and he fully agrees that no area of doctrine in Luther's time was more in need of reform than that of grace and free will. What is more, he argues that Luther's view on this subject is in intention, if not always in his way of expressing it, entirely in harmony with authentic Catholic teaching, of which in his time there was a widespread and disastrous ignorance.

Disciplines

History of Christianity

Submission Cost

Free

Submission Audience

Laity; Ministers; Scholars

Recommended Citation

Watson, Philip (1969) "Erasmus, Luther, and Aquinas," Concordia Theological Monthly: Vol. 40, Article 72.
Available at: https://scholar.csl.edu/ctm/vol40/iss1/72