Saints, Sinners and Stupid Asses: The Place of Faith in Luther's Doctrine of Salvation

Abstract

Luther's theology, and his identity as a Christian reformer at the end of the Middle Ages, is predicated upon his understanding of faith. While his concept is rooted in later medieval theological motifs, Luther develops it in a new and revolutionary fashion. The application of Luther's doctrine created a fundamental shift in religious practice. From a history of ideas perspective, a new chapter in the Christian doctrine of salvation emerges. The idea of faith alone (sola fide) represents a radical shift from medieval doctrines and proposes a new approach to religious practice at the dawn of the modern world. In Luther's hands, faith is neither intellectual assent nor adherence to a system of beliefs. Instead, faith is Christ, reality, relation, and dynamic spiritual being. An appreciation of Luther's idea of faith is essential to understanding Luther’s theological and religious motivations.