Free Will And Martin Luther's Conversation Against The Church

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During the Reformation, Martin Luther and Desiderius Erasmus both spoke out against the Catholic Church. Many hoped that they would partner together and unite against the church, but they ultimately were too ideologically different. Erasmus wanted a moral reformation within the church, but was still a supporter of the Pope. Luther, however, wanted a major transformation in both doctrine and practice. Pressure mounted on Erasmus to comment on Luther’s growing influence and he attempted to distance himself as well as articulate his opinions in On the Freedom of the Will. Luther responded to this in The Bondage of Will, which held his contradicting ideas, especially about free will and salvation. Erasmus began by stating that he disagrees with Luther, …show more content…

In his publication, he focused heavily on the relationship between God, man, free will and salvation. He first set forth biblical examples from the Book of Ecclesiasticus, that God made man and then “left him in the hand of his own counsel,” and that “Before man is… good and evil; that which he shall choose shall be given him” (Ecclesiasticus 14-15). Erasmus saw this as evidence that God gave man free will, allowing him to choose his own actions, whether it be good and evil. In order to explain his view on free will, he goes into what he believes are the three types of grace. This is because grace is a necessary component of salvation. He disapprovingly says others must believe that even if a man is not given grace, which destroys sin, they can act morally out of their own natural powers. Erasmus arrives at his refutation to this through his exploration of the types of grace, which. First is common grace, one that is given to all men and even though it is spoiled by sin, it still remains as all are free to speak, move and so

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