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Appendix
IV
Comparison
between Erasmus and Luther
Erasmus
- Christianity
is essentially morality with a minimum of doctrinal statement
loosely appended.
- Man can
keep the Law of Christ if educated to do so, he has within himself
the power.
- Christianity
needed a return to "apostolic simplicity" of life and
doctrine, this could be brought about by education and eliminating
superstitions and abuses that had crept into the Church over the
centuries.
- His attitude
was that what one believes about the mysteries of the faith does
not much matter; what the Church lays down may safely be accepted,
whether right or wrong; for the details of a churchman's doctrine
will not affect his living as a Christian in this world, nor his
eventual destiny in the world to come.
- Peace in
the Church was of more value than any doctrine.
Luther
- Christianity
was a matter of doctrine and first and foremost, because true
religion was first and foremost a matter of faith; and faith is
correlative to truth.
- Faith is
trust in God through Jesus Christ as He stands revealed in the
gospels.
- Concerned
foremost with doctrine. He said, "Others who have lived before
me [reformers] have attacked the Pope's life; I am not concerned
with his life, but his doctrine.
- The denial
of free will is the foundation of the Biblical doctrine of grace,
and a hearty endorsement of that denial was the first step for
anyone who would understand the gospel and come to faith in God.
- The person
who has not yet practically and experimentally learned the bondage
of his will in sin has not yet comprehended any part of the gospel;
for this is the "hinge on which all turns."
Next >>
Appendix V The
Council of Trent on Authority >>
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