Study Notes on The Freedom of the Christian by Martin Luther (Luther Study Edition edited by Mark Tranvik, Fortress Press, 2008) Lutheran Theological Seminary Pretoria, South Africa ³ 7 R S L F V L Q / X W K H U ¶ V ( W K L F V ´ $ X J X V W -19, 2011 1. The tract is prefaced with a dedicatory letter to Pope Leo X. The appeal to Leo is E R W K S D V W R U D O D Q G S R O H P L F D O D V / X W K H U V H H N V V K R Z F R Q F H U Q I R U / H R ¶ V S H U V R Q Z K L O H sharply criticizing the false teaching of the papacy. See B H U Q G W + D P P ³ / X W K H U ¶ V ) U H H G R P R I D & K U L V W L D Q D Q G W K H 3 R S H ´ L Q Lutheran Quarterly 21 (Autumn 2007): 249-267. x $ W W K L V S R L Q W / X W K H U F D Q V W L O O U H I H U W R / H R D V ³ P R V W E O H V V H G I D W K H U ´ as he pleads with the Pope to convene a council to address the issues troubling the church. x Luther argues that his enemies have misrepresented him to the Pope. x / X W K H U V D \ V ³ , K D Y H Q R W F U L W L F L ] H G W K H E D G P R U D O V R I P \ R S S R Q H Q W V E X W U D W K H U W K H L U X Q J R G O \ G R F W U L Q H ´ / X W K H U Q R W H V W K D W K L V G H Q R X Q F H P H Q W R I I D O V H W H D F K L Q J K D V been after the example of Christ, the Apostle Paul, and the prophets of the Old Testament. For Further Reading and Study Althaus, Paul. The Ethics of Martin Luther. Fortress, 1972. Bayer, Oswald. 0 D U W L Q / X W K H U ¶ V 7 K H R O R J \ $ & R Q W H P S R U D U \ , Q W H U S U H W D W L R Q Eerdmans, 2008 Ebeling, Gerhard. Luther: An Introduction to His Thought. Fortress, 1977 H V S H F L D O O \ V H H & K D S W H U ³ 3 H U V R Q D Q G : R U N ´ S S -158 and Chapter 10 ³ ) D L W K D Q G / R Y H ´ S S -174) ) R U G H * H U K D U G ³ / X W K H U ¶ V ( W K L F V ´ L Q A More Radical Gospel. Eerdmans, pp. 137- 155) Iwand, Hans Joachim. The Righteousness of Faith According to Luther. Wipf & Stock, 2008) Jüngel, Eberhard. 7 K H ) U H H G R P R I D & K U L V W L D Q / X W K H U ¶ V 6 L J Q L I L F D Q F H I R U Contemporary Theology. Augsburg, 1988. Kolb, Robert. Martin Luther: Confessor of the Faith. Oxford, 2009 (especially & K D S W H U ³ ) D L W K $ F W L Y H L Q / R Y H: Christian Living on the Foundation of Go G ¶ V & D O O L Q J D Q G & R P P D Q G ´ S S -196) x ) O D W W H U L Q J / H R D V ³ ' D Q L H O L Q % D E \ O R Q ´ D ³ O D P E D P R Q J Z R O Y H V ´ D Q G ³ ( ] H N L H O D P R Q J V F R U S L R Q V ´ / X W K H U V X J J H V W V W K D W W K H 3 R S H L V K H O G F D S W L Y H E \ X Q J R G O \ advisors, his curia as he sits on a throne that he would do well to abandon for the sake of his own soul. x - R K Q ( F N L V Q D P H G D V ³ D Q R W H G H Q H P \ R I & K U L V W Z L W K D Q X Q F R Q W U R O O D E O H G H V L U H I R U Z R U O G O \ J O R U \ ´ Z K R Z D V U H V S R Q V L E O H I R U G U D J J L Q J / X W K H U L Q W R D debate over the papacy unwittingly. x Luther appeals to Leo to let him make his case and reveal the true enemies of the church, men like the cardinals Cajetan and St. Sisto (39). x Eck is seen as a man of lies, deceptions and cunning tricks who confused and muddled the situation (40). x Luther sees this letter as reconciliatory, attempting to bring an end to conflict that has come upon the church. He notes that the Pope has the power to bring the controversy to an end. Yet to do so he was not the lead astray that those who claim to be loyal to him. The Pope must act quickly and definitively in this dangerous situation. Those who claim to be his friends are, in fact, his enemies. They are not on the side of truth. The letter concludes with a prayer for Leo. 2. , Q K L V ³ L Q W U R G X F W L R Q ´ W R W K H W U D F W / X W K H U V S H D N V R I I D L W K Q R W D V D W K H R O R J L F D O Y L U W X H along with hope and love but as a trust which is experienced L Q W K H I D F H R I ³ W U L D O V D Q G P L V I R U W X Q H ´ W K D W L V W K H D I I O L F W L R Q Z L W K K H Z L O O O D W H U L G H Q W L I \ D V tentatio. This sets the context for the paradox that Luther wishes to defend: ³ $ & K U L V W L D Q L V O R U G R I D O O F R P S O H W H O \ I U H H R I H Y H U \ W K L Q J $ & K U L V W L D Q L V D V H U Y D Q W F R P S O H W H O \ D W W H Q W L Y H W R W K H Q H H G V R I D O O ´ Luther bases the paradox on several NT passages: I Corinthians 9:19; Romans 13:8; Galatians 4:4; and Philippians 2:6-7. 3. In the first major section of the tract Luther distinguishes between the dual natures R I W K H K X P D Q E H L Q J D V D Q ³ L Q Q H U ´ D Q G ³ R X W H U ´ S H U V R Q x 7 K H ³ L Q Q H U S H U V R Q ´ L V W K H ³ Q H Z P D Q ´ 7 K L V L V W K H V S L U L W X D O Q D W X U H x 7 K H ³ R X W H U S H U V R Q ´ L V W K H ³ R O G P D Q ´ 7 K L V L V W K H I O H V K O \ Q D W X U H x Luther bases this distinction on II Corinthians 4:16 and Galatians 5:17. x 7 K H V R X O ¶ V I U H H G R P L V Q R W D Q H [ W H U Q D O O L E H U W \ O D F N R I S R O L W L F D O F D S W L Y L W \ E Rdily illness, poverty and the like) but an endowment of the Word of God. See John D Q G 0 D W W K H Z 7 K L V L V W K H ³ 2 Q H W K L Q J D Q G W K L Q J D O R Q H W K D W O H D G V W R & K U L V W L D Q O L I H U L J K W H R X V Q H V V D Q G I U H H G R P ´ . 4. 7 K H R Q H W K L Q J Q H H G I X O I R U W K H V R X O ¶ V I U H H G R P Ls the Word of God, that is, the * R V S H O R I - H V X V & K U L V W + H U H Q R W H / X W K H U ¶ V X V H R I 3 V D O P H V S H F L D O O \ $ V Oswald Bayer points how this Psalm was a key text for / X W K H U ³ + L V / X W K H U ¶ V L V neither blind nor empty. It is formed by praying the whole Psalter, which he calls D µ P L Q L- % L E O H ¶ E H F D X V H L W F R Q W D L Q V W K H % L E O H L Q D Q X W V K H O O + R Z H Y H U 3 V D O P L V especially important for him in shaping his experience. Luther repeats this psalm in his suffering and work, and in praying it he lives in the universal church, the F R P P X Q L W \ R I V D L Q W V ´ 2 V Z D O G % D \ H U Theology the Lutheran Way, 39; also see Bayer, 0 D U W L Q / X W K H U ¶ V 7 K H R O R J \ $ F R Q W H P S R U D U \ , Q W H U S U H W D W L R Q 32-37). 5. / X W K H U G H Y H O R S V K L V D U J X P H Q W Z L W K U H I H U H Q F H V W R 3 D X O ¶ V O H W W H U W R W K H 5 R P D Q V 1 R W H particularly his use of Romans 1:1-6; 1:16-17; 10:4; 10:9. One cannot be justified E \ E R W K I D L W K D Q G Z R U N V ³ , W V K R X O G E H X Q G H U O L Q H G W K D W W K L V I D L W K F D Q Q R W H [ L V W L Q connection with works. In other words, if you hold this faith and at the same time claim to be justified by works, whatever their character, you are missing the S R L Q W ´ . Attempting to cling to Christ by faith while also putting your trust in \ R X U R Z Q Z R U N V L V ³ O L N H O L P S L Q J Z L W K W R R G L I I H U H Q W R S L Q L R Q V ´ V D \ V / X W K H U L Q D reference to I Kings 18:21 (54). 6. Luther then takes up Romans 3:10-12; 10:10 along with John 6:27-29. to make W K H S R L Q W W K D W ³ , W L V R Q O \ S R V V L E O H I R U W K L V I D L W K W R U X O H W K H L Q Q H U S H U V R Q ´ 7. / X W K H U W D N H V X S W K H K H U P H Q H X W L F D O T X H V W L R Q + R Z L V W K H % L E O H W R E H U H D G " ³ < R X might wonder how faith alone, without the works of the law, can justify and confer so many great benefits when it appears that the Bible commands that we do D P X O W L W X G H R I Z R U N V O D Z V D Q G F H U H P R Q L H V ´ + H U H / X W K H U L Q W U R G X F H V W K H distinction between command and promise or law and gospel. Of the commands, / X W K H U V D \ V W K H \ I X Q F W L R Q W R ³ W H D F K X V W R N Q R Z R X U V H O Y H V ´ 7 K H \ V K R Z X V what we ought to do but they do not give us the power to do it. The commands of * R G K X P E O H X V E U L Q J L Q J X V W R W K H S R L Q W R I + R V H D ³ ' H V W U X F W L R Q L V \our own, 2 , V U D H O < R X U K H O S L V R Q O \ L Q P H ´ * R G ¶ V F R P P D Q G V D U H R Q O \ I X O I L O O H G through trust in the promise, that is, faith in Christ alone. 8. Faith, according to Luther, has a threefold power: x Faith frees from the law. Faith alone justifies without Z R U N V R I W K H O D Z ³ 7 K L V liberty of the Christian ± L Q H V V H Q F H L W L V R X U I D L W K ´ 6 X F K O L E H U W \ L V R Q O \ in Christ. ³ 7 K L V I U H H G R P G R H V Q R W O H D G X V W R O L Y H O D ] \ D Q G Z L F N H G O L Y H V E X W P D N H V W K H O D Z D Q G Z R U N V X Q Q H F H V V D U \ I R U V D O Y D W L R Q ´ x Faith honors God. Faith honors God by trusting in Him alone, by ascribing to Him W K H K R Q R U R I E H L Q J W U X W K I X O W R + L V S U R P L V H : K H Q W K L V L V G R Q H * R G ¶ V Q D P H L V K D O O R Z H G ³ 6 R Z K H Q W K H V R X O I L U P O \ W U X V W V W K H S U R P L V H V R I * R G L W U H J D U G V * R G D V truthful and righteous. Nothing greater than this can be said of God. It is the highest worship of God o ascribe to him truthfulness, righteousness, and whatever R W K H U T X D O L W L H V R X J K W W R E H S U H G L F D W H G R I D S R Z H U L Q Z K R P R Q H W U X V W V ´ x Faith unites the soul with Christ. Just as a groom is united with his bride by a V R O H P Q Y R Z V R ³ & K U L V W D Q G W K H V R X O E H F R P H R Q H I O H V K ´ 7 K L V L V W K H J U H D W exchange where the property of the groom becomes that of his wife and vice versa. So Christ takes our sin and gives us His righteousness. Luther describes faith as the wedding ring 1 R W H / X W K H U ¶ V X V H R I L P D J H U \ I U R P E R W K W K H 2 O G D Q G New Testaments ± Hosea 2:19, Song of Solomon 2:16, and Ephesians 5:26-27. 9. ) D L W K D O R Q H L V W K H I X O I L O O P H Q W R I W K H I L U V W F R P P D Q G P H Q W ³ ( Y H Q L I \ R X Z H U H nothing but good works from the soles of your shoes to the top of your head, you would not be righteous, worship God, or fulfill the first commandment. For God cannot be worshipped rightly unless you ascribe to God that which is his due: the glory of truthfulness and all goodness; however this cannot be done by works but R Q O \ E \ I D L W K R I W K H K H D U W ´ 10. Faith receives a double honor: priesthood and kingship. x Noting that in the OT, the firstborn son receives the double honor of priesthood and kingship prefiguring Christ who is now both Priest and King forever, Luther says that Christ imparts these honors to all who believe in Him (66). Commenting R Q W K L V V H F W L R Q R I / X W K H U ¶ V W U H D W L V H ( E H U K D U G - Q J H O V D \ V ³ , Q H [ H U F L V L Q J K L V R I I L F H Jesus Christ distinguishes himself from earthly royal and priestly officeholders by the very fact that he does not retain his kingdom and priesthood as reserved for K L P D O R Q H ´ - Q J H O x 7 K L V P H D Q V W K D W ³ H Y H U \ & K U L V W L D Q E \ I D L W K L V H [ D O W H G D E R Y H D O O W K L Q J V % \ Y L U W X H R I the spiritual power provided in faith, a Christian is lord of all things and nothing is D E O H W R G R K L P K D U P ´ / X W K H U U H I H U H Q F H V 5 R P D Q V D Q G , & R U L Q W K L D Q V 3:21- 7 K L V N L Q J V K L S O L N H W K D W R I W K H / R U G ¶ V L V Q R W R I W K L V Z R U O G , W L V Q R W D Q earthly power exempting him or her from suffe U L Q J , W L V D ³ S R Z H U P D G H S H U I H F W L Q Z H D N Q H V V ´ , , & R U L Q W K L D Q V x Christians are also priests made worthy to approach God in prayer and teach * R G ¶ V W U X W K L Q W K H Z R U O G 7 K H ) U H H G R P R I D & K U L V W L D Q / X W K H U ¶ V 6 L J Q L I L F D Q F H I R U Contemporary Theology, 71). x Both kingship and priesthood are acquired by faith not works. 11. Luther then turns to the outer person and takes up the challenge of those who see the Gospel as offensive because it elevates faith over works. Works are not necessary for salvation but they are necessary for the service of the neighbor. + H Q F H / X W K H U U H W X U Q V W R W K H F R Q W U R O O L Q J S D U D G R [ R I W K H W U D F W ³ , Q V R I D U D V D Christian is free, no works are necessary. Insofar as a Christian is a servant, all N L Q G V R I Z R U N V D U H G R Q H ´ 12. The inner person is free but because we also live in this world the outer person must remain under discipline so that the body is conformed to the Spirit and does not undermine the faith of the inner person. These bodily disciplines do not limit I D L W K ¶ V I U H H G R P E X W L Q I D F W V H Uve to guard that freedom so that the Christian does not become a slave to sin and thus forfeit the freedom in Christ. Here Luther cites Romans 7:22-23; I Corinthians 9:27; and Galatians 5:24. It is in the body that the Christian submits to serve the neighbor in love. x ³ : H P X V W D O V R X Q G H U V W D Q G W K D W W K H V H Z R U N V W K D W W K H V H Z R U N V V H U Y H W K H S X U S R V H R I disciplining the body and purifying it of all evil desires. The focus should be on these desires and the best means of purging them. Since by faith the soul is made pure and enabled to love God, it wants all things ± the body in particular ± to join in loving and praising God. Thus we cannot be idle. The needs of the body compel us to do many good works in order to bring it under control. Nevertheless, it must always be kept in mind that these works do not justify a person before God. Rather, by yielding wholly to God, one does these works out of a spirit of spontaneous love, seeking nothing other than to serve God and yield to him in all H D U W K O \ O D E R U V ´ x Luther says we should consider the works of the Christian as we would those of $ G D P L Q S D U D G L V H E H I R U H W K H I D O O L Q W R V L Q $ G D P ¶ V Z R U N Z D V L Q V W L W X W H G E \ * R G (Genesis 2:15) and were done to please God not to obtain righteousness. 13. Good works do not make a good person but a good person does good works. x A good tree produces good fruit (75) x ³ $ & K U L V W L D Q K D V Q R Q H H G R I D Q \ O D Z L Q R U G H U W R E H V D Y H G V L Q F H W K U R X J K I D L W K Z H are free from every law. Thus all the acts of a Christian are done spontaneously, R X W R I D V H Q V H R I S X U H O L E H U W \ ´ x Before God works do not make a person either good or evil x ³ 2 Q H P X V W O R R N D Z D \ I U R P Z R U N V D Q G I R F X V U D W K H U R Q W K H S H U V R Q D Q G D V N K R Z R Q H is justified and saved by faith, not by works or law but by the word of God (that L V W K H S U R P L V H R I J U D F H , Q W K L V Z D \ W K H J O R U \ U H P D L Q V * R G ¶ V D O R Q H Z K R V D Y H V X V not by deeds of righteousness that we have done but according to his mercy, Z K L F K Z D V J L Y H Q W R X V E \ J U D F H Z K H Q Z H K D Y H W U X V W H G * R G ¶ V Z R U G ´ ) x Good works in and of themselves are not condemned only the false teaching that they bestow righteousness before God. 14. Good works are done by the Christian for the sake of the neighbor. x Citing Romans 14:7- / X W K H U V D \ V ³ 7 K H U H D V R Q Z H G L V F L S O L Q H R X U E R G Les is to V H U Y H R X U Q H L J K E R U J H Q X L Q H O \ D Q G I U H H O \ ´ x The Christian works to have something to give to the neighbor (Ephesians 5:28). He looks out for the interest of others (Philippians 2:1-4; Luther mistakenly gives the reference as Ephesians 2:1-4). Ch U L V W ¶ V O L I H R I K X P L O L W \ D Q G V H U Y L F H L V W K H H [ D P S O H R I W K H & K U L V W L D Q ¶ V O L I H R I V H U Y L F H W R W K H Q H L J K E R U x Faith gives the Christian all things that Christ has (Galatians) and now the Christian gives himself to the neighbor just as Christ gave Himself for him. We D U H W R E H & K U L V W W R W K H Q H L J K E R U ³ ( D F K R I X V V K R X O G E H F R P H D & K U L V W W R W K H R W K H U And as we are Christs to one another, the result is that Christ fills us all and we E H F R P H W U X O \ D & K U L V W L D Q F R P P X Q L W \ ´ x Luther gives examples of such good works, citing Mary and the Apostle Paul. 15. - X V W D V & K U L V W ³ S X W R Q ´ R X U V L Q D Q G D F W H G I R U X V V R Z H D U H W R ³ S X W R Q ´ W K H Q H L J K E R U and do good to him. x + H U H / X W K H U L Q H I I H F W L Q Y R N H V W K H ³ * R O G H Q 5 X O H ´ + H V D \ V ³ Z H V K R X O G D F W W R Z D U G him or her as if we were in the neig K E R U ¶ V S O D F H ´ x ³ 7 K H J R R G Z H U H F H L Y H I U R P & K U L V W I O R Z V I U R P X V W R Z D U G W K R V H Z K R K D Y H Q H H G R I L W ´ 16. Luther summarizes his argument in what well might be considered the key to the Z K R O H W U D F W ³ , Q F R Q F O X V L R Q D V & K U L V W L D Q V Z H G R Q R W O L Y H L Q R X U V H O Y Hs but in Christ and the neighbor. Otherwise, we are not Christian. As Christians we live in Christ through faith and in the neighbor through love. Through faith we are caught up beyond ourselves into God, Likewise, through love we descend beneath ourselves W K U R X J K O R Y H W R V H U Y H R X U Q H L J K E R U ´ (88-89) 17. Luther reminds his readers once again that there are two kinds of freedom. One is a worldly freedom, the other a spiritual freedom. These two are as different as heaven and earth 89). 18. , Q ³ $ ) L Q D O & O D U L I L F D W L R Q ´ / X W K H U P D N H V V H Y H U D O V D O L H Q W S R L Q W V O H V W K L V W H D F K L Q J R Q Christian freedom be abused. x Christian freedom is not the license to follow fleshly passions or worldly desires. x / X W K H U R I I H U V Z K D W K H F D O O V D ³ P L G G O H Z D \ ´ E D V H G R Q 5 R P D Q V x Christian freedom recognizes that human ceremonies do not save but despising F H U H P R Q L H V M X V W Q R W M X V W L I \ H L W K H U : K L O H ³ L Q I O H [ L E O H D Q G R E V W L Q D W H F H U H P R Q D O L V W P X V W E H R S S R V H G ´ E X W W K H & K U L V W L D Q Z L O O D O V R K D Y H F D U H I R U W K H ³ V L P S O H- P L Q G H G D Q G L J Q R U D Q W ´ Z K R D U H Z H D N L Q I Dith (Romans 14:1) x Luther is concerned with the instruction of the conscience. 1 R W H % D \ H U ³ & K U L V W L D Q or evangelical freedom is that freedom through which the conscience is free of works ± not in the sense that none take place but in the sense that one does not U H O \ R Q D Q \ R I W K H P ´ 2 V Z D O G % D \ H U 0 D U W L Q / X W K H U ¶ V 7 K H R O R J \ $ & R Q W H P S R U D U \ Interpretation, 289). -Prof. John T. Pless Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne, IN USA Questions for Study and Discussion 1. + R Z G R H V / X W K H U ¶ V G H G L F D W R U \ O H W W H U W R 3 R S H / H R K H O S X V X Q G H U V W D Q G L Q J The Freedom of a Christian? 2. + R Z G R H V / X W K H U G H V F U L E H W K H G X D O L W \ R I W K H & K U L V W L D Q ¶ V H [ L V W H Q F H D V both free and slave? 3. : K D W G R H V / X W K H U P H D Q E \ W K H ³ L Q Q H U S H U V R Q ´ " 4. How does the Word R I * R G H V W D E O L V K W K H ³ L Q Q H U S H U V R Q ´ " 5. : K D W G R H V / X W K H U P H D Q Z K H Q K H V D \ V ³ , W V K R X O G E H X Q G H U O L Q H G W K D W W K L V I D L W K F D Q Q R W H [ L V W L Q F R Q Q H F W L R Q Z L W K Z R U N V ´ " 6. + R Z G R H V / X W K H U G L V W L Q J X L V K E H W Z H H Q ³ F R P P D Q G ´ D Q G ³ S U R P L V H ´ L Q reading the Holy Scriptures? 7. What i V W K H ³ W K H W K U H H I R O G S R Z H U R I I D L W K ´ I I " 8. How does faith honor God? 9. ' H V F U L E H ³ S U L H V W K R R G D Q G N L Q J V K L S ´ D F F R U G L Q J W R / X W K H U + R Z D U H W K H V H exercised by Christians? 10. : K D W G R H V / X W K H U P H D Q E \ W K H ³ R X W H U S H U V R Q ´ " 11. What is the place of discipline in the life of the Christian? 12. + R Z G R H V / X W K H U G L V W L Q J X L V K ³ S H U V R Q ´ I U R P ³ Z R U N V ´ " 13. How does Christian freedom serve the neighbor? 14. What does it mean that the Christian lives outside of self in Christ and the neighbor (88)?