Against Scholastics.docx

Baylor University George W. Theological Seminary Martin Luther THEO 7364 Elí Gutiérrez Briseño 09/06/2017

“Disputation Against Scholastic Theology (1517)”, on Timothy F. Lull, Martin Luher’s Basic Theological Writings, (Second edition), Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2005, pp. 34-39

Reading this document I was surprised that Luther held some convictions about grace, sin, nature, will and works so early in his life. However, about many of his statements I was a little confused, I think the fact that he wrote this document as brief theses makes it difficult to understand his thought, sometimes it would be necessary more argumentation to make his affirmation convincing. Nevertheless, there are some clear ideas of Luther’s thought that he strongly maintains. The will is captive and is not able to do good in any sense. Without the grace of God, the will is evil. The man is by nature evil and unable to want God. In fact, every act of nature is against God. There is no such thing as preparation for grace, the only preparation is his eternal election and predestination. What precedes grace is only rebellion. Man cannot do righteous deed to become righteous, rather God make him righteous and then is able to do righteous deeds for God’s grace. All these theses were against scholastic theology, Luther strongly affirms that Aristotelian philosophy is enemy of the grace and Catholic theology, which do not need logics. The grace of God, if present, is always active, loving and operating. Any action without his grace is sin and the only to fulfill his law is through God’s grace.