BONDAGE OF THE WILL

De Servo Arbitrio

BY DR. MARTIN LUTHER

1525

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PREFACES TO THE WORK

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Introduction: Bondage of the Will, originally in Latin, is primarily based upon the historical Councils and Synods of the early Church. As most of the students of Church history know, in the Middle Ages, the Roman Church had accepted doctrines which were not in agreement with the original teachings of the Church proper: specifically, such Councils as The Council of Orange and others. This reached its highest level in the 16th Century.

The Protestant Reformation, begun in 1517 with Luthers' 95 Theses, and then the publication of Bondage of the Will refuted Romes' positions which were not founded on the original Church Councils, and served to correct those doctrinal errors. Many "evangelicals" and others are taught that the Reformation was all about "ridding the Church of the pope" but that was not the main reason for it at all. It was a struggle between two basic interpretations and understandings of Holy Scripture, not solely over just "the popes' authority" although that certainly was a part of it, as the Roman Church opposed and still opposes Luthers' main teachings on Election and Predestination to this very day.

Luthers' teachings here were read by John Calvin, and later became known as "T.U.L.I.P.", beginning with The Doctrine of Total Depravity. These teachings were then Lawfully Ratified by the Canons of The Synod of Dort in 1619.

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Preface to Bondage of the Will: 1931

Thanslators' Preface 1823

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THE BONDAGE OF THE WILL

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Introduction

Erasmus' Preface Reviewed

Erasmus' Scepticism

The Necessity of Knowing God and His Power

The Sovereignty of God

Exordium

Discussion: First Part

Discussion: Second Part

Discussion: Third Part

Conclusion

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APPENDIX

Concerning Erasmus of Rotterdam,[1] the one to whom this work was addressed.

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Martin Luthers' Statement Concerning Erasmus of Rotterdam

Martin Luther to Nicolas Armsdoff Concerning Erasmus of Rotterdam

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MORE FOLLOWING SOON!

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Translations:

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FOOTNOTES

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[1]Erasmus of Rotterdam was no ordinary Bible student. He was the chief resident scholar of the Roman Catholic Church and a Genius of the First Order. He was the first to translate the Greek Textus Receptus.

The Textus Receptus was used for the Geneva Bible (1560-1602) by John Calvin and the other Reformers and also the Authorized King James 1611. King James I sent Delegates to the Synod of Dort, who, along with all the other Delegates from all the Protestant Churches, unanimously Approved the Doctrines of Predestination, Election and Divine Reprobation that Luther had preached.

The pope had directed Erasmus to take on Luther in a debate and publically make a fool of Luther. Martin Luther respected Erasmus, but completely refuted Erasmus' arguments in this work, Bondage of the Will. With the utter rout of their chief genius by Martin Luther, the popes' best-laid plots were foiled, and nothing could stand in the way of the Protestant Reformation led by Luther, whom the pope sought to have burned alive as a "heretic".

Luther was protected by Prince Frederick the Wise the Elector of Saxony. Luther translated the entire Bible into German while kept safe under Fredericks' protection. Since the Protestant Nobility of Germany protected Luther, the armies of the pope were unable to capture him and burn him. The rest is history.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY AND CREDITS

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Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity. Peabody, Massacusetts. Prince Press. 1999.

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