Scan barcode
sofer_mahir's review against another edition
4.0
Luther's sharp mind (and sharp wit) is a delight to read, and his primary conclusions on this subject are (to my mind) impossible to refute. I've certainly come away from this book with a more settled conviction regarding the depravity of natural humanity. That being said, I'd be lying if I said I wholeheartedly agreed with every word.
His position on the relationship between God's "hidden" and "revealed" wills, in my thinking, allow for a conflict within the mind of God that doesn't sit well with me. He appears also not to have affirmed anything like the Calvinistic doctrine of Particular Redemption, which leaves an implied disunity in the actions of the three Persons of the Trinity (Jesus endeavors toward the salvation of some that neither the Father nor the Spirit are). Lastly, certain of his interpretations go beyond what the biblical text itself is saying.
On the whole, however, this book is every bit the masterpiece I was hoping it would be, and entirely worth the time it took me to read it.
His position on the relationship between God's "hidden" and "revealed" wills, in my thinking, allow for a conflict within the mind of God that doesn't sit well with me. He appears also not to have affirmed anything like the Calvinistic doctrine of Particular Redemption, which leaves an implied disunity in the actions of the three Persons of the Trinity (Jesus endeavors toward the salvation of some that neither the Father nor the Spirit are). Lastly, certain of his interpretations go beyond what the biblical text itself is saying.
On the whole, however, this book is every bit the masterpiece I was hoping it would be, and entirely worth the time it took me to read it.
rick_sam's review against another edition
3.0
Luther is writing this as a response to Erasmus, who was a well known humanist scholar. Erasmus decided to stay within the Roman Catholic church. Erasmus wants Luther to see the ramifications of saying, "there is no free will." However, Luther forcefully counters all the polemics made by Erasmus.
He says, everything is by God and if he is omniscient, his immutable will shall prevail no matter what. I could really feel Luther's caustic words. He quotes a lot of scriptures and simply shows that it does not support free will. It only says, "What ought to be done, not what can be done."
Luther is forceful, persuasive and writes in an abrasive tone. He had struggled with sin, even though he knew Christ died for his sins, He kept confessing and confessing. He felt horrible inside as he knew that he was not good enough, he tried everything to get rid of sin. It simply did not work, it won't work. It can be fought by the Spirit of God ––Romans 8:13.
Finally, It was an epiphany when he found his answer in the book of Ephesians, "By Grace you have been saved and not by works, so that no one can boast."
On Sovereignty of God,
Luther says, "That God foreknows nothing by contingency, but that he foresees, purposes and does all things according to his immutable, eternal and infallible will. By this thunderbolt, Free-will is thrown prostrate and utterly dashed to pieces. Those, therefore, who would assert Free will, must either deny this thunderbolt, or pretend not to see it, or push it from them."
In Bondage of the Will, Luther simply settles that Everything is by God and for his Glory.Nothing can be done by Man and if it is from Man, then it will be from the flesh. Whatever your position be in this topic, I would advise to be loving, gentle, warm and friendly. It seems that within the church, there's a lot of animosity, division as a result of this. A good book, I would recommend it to all Christians.
––Deus Vult––
Gottfried
He says, everything is by God and if he is omniscient, his immutable will shall prevail no matter what. I could really feel Luther's caustic words. He quotes a lot of scriptures and simply shows that it does not support free will. It only says, "What ought to be done, not what can be done."
Luther is forceful, persuasive and writes in an abrasive tone. He had struggled with sin, even though he knew Christ died for his sins, He kept confessing and confessing. He felt horrible inside as he knew that he was not good enough, he tried everything to get rid of sin. It simply did not work, it won't work. It can be fought by the Spirit of God ––Romans 8:13.
Finally, It was an epiphany when he found his answer in the book of Ephesians, "By Grace you have been saved and not by works, so that no one can boast."
On Sovereignty of God,
Luther says, "That God foreknows nothing by contingency, but that he foresees, purposes and does all things according to his immutable, eternal and infallible will. By this thunderbolt, Free-will is thrown prostrate and utterly dashed to pieces. Those, therefore, who would assert Free will, must either deny this thunderbolt, or pretend not to see it, or push it from them."
In Bondage of the Will, Luther simply settles that Everything is by God and for his Glory.Nothing can be done by Man and if it is from Man, then it will be from the flesh. Whatever your position be in this topic, I would advise to be loving, gentle, warm and friendly. It seems that within the church, there's a lot of animosity, division as a result of this. A good book, I would recommend it to all Christians.
––Deus Vult––
Gottfried
bibliophage's review against another edition
After reading and discussing. I'm an Erasmus girl all the way.
More...