Discussion Starter- Reformation

The emphasis on faith in the Protestant tradition can be seen within Luther’s writing as he underscores it as the primary way to live out a Christian life and receive salvation. In The Freedom of a Christian he writes that “true faith is a treasure beyond comparison which brings with it complete salvation and saves man from every evil” (37). This focus on faith further marks the progression of the interpretation of the New Testament and the shift from the religious laws of the Hebrew Bible. The writings of Paul strongly resonates with Luther, who goes on to incorporate many of his passages in his writing.

How does Luther’s reference to the Bible compare to some of the other religious scholars we read about? How does Luther build upon the teachings of Paul to create the underpinnings for the Protestant reformation? The way Luther implements the Bible in his writing can be seen as comparable to the likes of Augustine. Both use the Bible as the main source to back their claims, and they even have similar unease with the church. Luther’s letters can be interpreted to take Paul’s glorification of faith and use them as evidence to argue some of the established institutions of the church.

Luther states that “that which is impossible [to be] accomplish[ed] by trying to fulfill all the works of the law- many and useless as they all are- you will accomplish quickly and easily through faith” (38). He uses this as justification for freedom and a less authoritarian understanding of the Bible, allowing that “it will not harm the soul if the body is clothed in secular dress, dwells in unconsecrated places, eats and drinks as others do, [and] does not pray aloud” (34). This can be seen as a disapproval for the institution of the church and its emphasis on good works. It places religious control in the hands of the individual, as it introduces the philosophy that one’s faith and belief in Jesus is all that is necessary for a fulfilling life. This coincides with Luther’s ideology of making the bible more accessible for everyone, by translating it from Latin into the vernacular of the common person.

Does Luther provide a convincing argument to support his claims? What are the limits of this ‘faith’ or ‘belief’? In the Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians, calls the “righteousness of faith” a sort of “passive” righteousness; he states that it is “hidden in a mystery which the world does not understand” (125). In this manner it appears that this belief is something unobservable, compared to a belief in something  like the world being round.

Taken together, Luther uses the significance of faith in Jesus found in Paul’s passages in the New Testament in order to make the claim that institutions like the church are unnecessary for one to live a Christian life.