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Luther's Doctrine of Justification

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Luther's Doctrine of Justification EVANGEL, Spring 1989 16 - HISTORICAL THEOLOGY Luther's Doctrine of Justification Dr Alister McGrath, of Wycliffe College, Oxford, continues our studies in historical theol­ ogy with a consideration of this central doctrine of the Reformation. The series is edited by David F. Wright, Dean of the Faculty of Divinity and Senior Lecturer in Ecclesiastical His­ tory, University of Edinburgh Martin Luther (1483-1546) needs no introduction as a reformer. describes in Romans 1: 16-17. How, he asked, could the idea of His contribution to the European Reformatipn of the sixteenth a righteous God be gospel? How could it be good news for century ensures his place in any history of Europe, while his sinners? To understand Luther's difficulty, let us consider how theological and spiritual legacy to the western church continues the theologians of the 'modem way' interpreted this concept. to be remarkably fertile. While Luther may require no introduc­ tion, however, the same cannot be said for his doctrine of For the theologians of the 'modem way', the 'righteousness of justification. The present writer is inclined to suspect that Chris­ God' refers to God's fidelity to his obligations. God is under an tians totally misunderstood his doctrine, mistakenly believing obligation to reward an individual who 'does what lies within his that Luther teaches that we are justified on account of our faith. abilities', and to punish an individual who fails to do this. Luther This article will explain how Luther' s characteristic ideas on jus­ initially accepted this understanding of the 'righteousness of tification developed, and what form they finally took. God', yet by 1514 seems to have serious misgivings concerning it. What, he seems to have been asking, happens if an individual The development of Luther's ideas is so compromised by sin that he is unable to meet the basic Luther began his career as a university theologian, and until the precondition for justification? God in his righteousness is under year 1519 his programme of reform was primarily directed an obligation to punish such an individual. Writing in 1545, towards the way theology was taught at the University of Luther tells his readers of how he was terrified by the idea of the Wittenberg. In 1513, he began a course oflectures forthe faculty 'righteousness of God', which to him spelled one thing and one of theology at Wittenberg, dealing with the exposition of the thing only: condemnation. How could Paul mean such a dreadful Psalms. His early views on justification, which are reflected in thing? his exegesis of the period 1513-14, parallel those of the late medieval school of thought sometimes referred to as 'nominal­ Luther then relates how he meditated upon Romans 1:16-17 ism' but now increasingly referred to as the 'modern way', via night and day, wondering what Paul meant. Then, suddenly, he moderna. had a breakthrough. In what seems to have been a moment of illumination, Luther suddenly realized that he had misunder­ The theologians of the 'modem way' developed a theology of stood the phrase 'the righteousness of God': he had thought that justification which, to many of its critics, seemed to be Pelagian Paul meant 'the righteousness by which God himself is (in that it placed considerable emphasis upon human abilities to righteous', whereas Paul actually meant 'the righteousness by perform morally good actions). which God justifies sinners'. Justification, then, is a gracious gift from God, something which is given and not earned. As Luther According to those theologians, an individual could perform an himself wrote, from that moment onwards, he read Scripture in action which would place God under a obligation to reward him a completely new light. It was as if he had been born all over with justification. This action (usually referred to asfacere quod again, and entered into paradise itself. in se est, 'doing what lies within your ability') was a genuine pos­ sibility for sinners, who were thus able to effect their justification Luther then recounts how he discovered that Augustine worked by doing morally good actions. These actions are, in effect, the with a similar understanding of the 'righteousness ofGod'. There precondition for justification: no morally good actions, no justi­ are, of course, differences between Augustine and Luther: for fication. In his early period, Luther belonged to this school, example, Luther insists (against Augustine) that God's right­ which he encountered initially as a student at the University of eousness is supremely revealed in the cross, and contradicts Erfurt, and subsequently as a seminarian at the Augustinian human understandings of justice. Nevertheless, he feels that he monastery in the same city. has recovered an authentically Augustinian insight into justifica­ tion, which had been totally compromised by the theologians of It is clear, however, that Luther was having his misgivings the 'modem way'. From now onwards, Luther would work concerning this understanding ofjustification, even at this stage. towards recovering the ideas of Augustine, which he felt had These misgivings are echoed in an important text, generally been silenced within the church. referred to as the 'autobiographical fragment of 1545'. In 1545, Luther contributed a preface to an edition of his Latin works, in Luther thus initiated a programme of reform within the Witten­ which he reflected upon his career as a reformer. He recounts the berg theological faculty, in an attempt to reduce the influence of events which led to his break with Rome in 1520, and reflects the 'modem way' at the university. He gained supporters within upon the religious questions which lay at the basis of his revolt. the faculty, notably its dean, Andreas Bodenstein von Karlstadt. It is clear that the most important difficulty concerned the idea of By 1518, Luther was able to write to a colleague with the news 'the righteousness of God'. Luther tells his readers that he was that the Bible and Augustine were now invested with supreme terrified by the very idea of the 'righteousness of God', as Paul authority at Wittenberg. The Ninety-Five Theses on indulgences EV ANGEL, Spring 1989 17 - IDSTORICAL THEOLOGY (October 1517) and the Leipzig Disputation (June-July 1519) For the Protestant, we are justified on the basis of an external, further enhanced Luther's standing as a reformer. By 1520, imputed righteousness; for the Roman Catholic, justification Luther was established as a popular as well as an academic, takes place on the basis of an internal, imparted righteousness. reformer. The doctrine of justification by faith alone was now a The following quotation will make this point clear: central feature of the programme of church reform set forth by Luther. But what does 'justification by faith alone' mean for God does not want to save us by our own personal and private Luther? righteousness and wisdom. He wants to save us by a righteous­ ness and wisdom apart from this, other than this; a righteousness Luther on justification by faith which does not come from ourselves, is not brought to birth by The central feature ofLuther's doctrine of justification by faith ourselves. It is a righteousness which comes to us from some­ is his insistence that justification is a totally unmerited gift of where else. God, bestowed as an act of grace upon sinners. The idea that an individual can, in any sense, be said to merit his justification is What, then, is the current value of this doctrine? Luther affirms unequivocally rejected.Justification is totally a gracious work of that the only secure foundation of the Christian life lies outside God. 'Justification by faith', for Luther, does not mean that a us, in God himself. It prevents us from becoming spiritually sinner is justified on account of his faith, as if faith was a human arrogant, and reminds us of the mercy of the God who calls us into work. It means thatfaith is a gift ofGod.Justification does indeed fellowship with him. The 'theology of the cross' (Luther's come about through faith - but that faith itself is a gracious gift characteristic way of thinking about the cross, based upon his of God, not a human action. If faith is the precondition of doctrine of justification by faith) has greatly stimulated many justification, God himself meets that precondition. To suggest modern theologians, such as Jurgen Moltmann, and brought a that Luther 'put faith in the position of a work' is an absurdity: much-needed realism into the Christian understanding of God in he does nothing of the sort. the modern period. And it allows us to rest secure in the knowledge that all that needed to be done for our salvation has A popular misunderstanding of Luther' s doctrine of justification been done, and done well, through the death and resurrection of runs like this. In the Middle Ages, it is said, you were thought to Jesus Christ. As Luther himself put it be justified by good works. In other words, you earned your way to salvation. Luther, however, replaced this belief in 'justifica­ By the one solid rock we call the doctrine of justification by faith tion by works' with 'justification by faith'. In other words, you alone, we mean that we are redeemed from sin, death and the believed in God, and as a result God justifies you. You are devil, and are partakers of life eternal, not by self-help, but by justified on account of a mental attitude, rather than a moral outside help, namely, by the work of the only begotten Son of action. This view, which is remarkably common, has no relation God, Jesus Christ alone. with reality! Luther teaches no such doctrine of justification, which simply makes faith into a human work.
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