Description
A new translation of De Servo Arbitrio: Martin Luther’s reply to Erasmus of Rotterdam (1525), by J.I. Packer and O.R. Johnston.
The Bondage of the Will is one of the basic documents of the Reformation, and is perhaps Luther’s best known work. Luther himself regarded it as his most important piece of theological writing, one that lay at the heart of the Gospel as he understood it. It was written as a reply to the Diatribe of Erasmus, and addresses a subject that is fundamental to an understanding of all Luther’s teaching – the problem of the Freedom of the Will. Luther affirms man’s total inability to save himself, and the sovereignty of Divine Grace in his salvation. In making this affirmation, he explains and upholds the doctrine of justification by faith, and defends predestination as determined by the foreknowledge of God.
This translation features a new division of Luther’s treatise into eight main parts, and then into further sections according to subject matter. Included is a fifty-page Historical Introduction and an index of biblical references. The translators have provided a text that not only accurately conveys the thought of the original Latin, but also something of the vigour and dialectical skill characteristic of Luther’s style.
About the Author
Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a German priest and theologian whose intellectual revolt against certain practices of the Church led to the Reformation. He is regarded as the primary founder of Protestant Christianity, and as one of the pivotal figures of Western civilisation.
J. I. Packer (1926-2020) was a prominent leader within the Evangelical movement in the Church of England. In 1979 he moved to Vancouver, Canada, where he became Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Regent College. He was one of the most widely-respected systematic theologians of the twentieth century, drawing inspiration from Scripture, but also the works of John Calvin and the English Puritans.
Contents
Translators’ Note
Historical and Theological Introduction
I. Erasmus to 1517
II. Luther to 1517
III. Luther and Erasmus from 1517
IV. Theological Issues
V. Conclusion
The Bondage of the Will
I. Introduction
II. Review of Erasmus’ Preface
III. Review of Erasmus’ Introduction
IV. Review of Erasmus’ Arguments for ‘Free-Will’
V. Review of Erasmus’ Treatment of Texts that Deny ‘Free-Will’ (I)
VI. Review of Erasmus’ Treatment of Texts that Deny ‘Free-Will’ (II)
VII. The Bible Doctrine of the Bondage of the Will
VIII. Conclusion
Index of Scripture References
Endorsements and Reviews
The Bondage of the Will is a theological gold mine that every Christian should read. Packer and Johnston’s meticulous work makes this timeless piece highly accessible to us. This book is an invaluable addition to the libraries of those seeking to have a strong grasp of Reformation theology. Marc Daniel Rivera In Kristiya Know, 2024
