Bondage of the Will

Luther understood when the Word of God came it did not offer sinners a choice.

For Luther, Erasmus’ Christ-less, Spirit-less theological conclusions demonstrated that behind his supposed humanistic optimism lay a profound despair and pessimism.

For Erasmus, it would be better for people in general to bear the disease of moralism and choice than to be cured of it by the preaching and teaching of God’s unconditional election of sinners in Christ.

When explaining that sinners were saved by grace alone Erasmus would not go so far as to say that the reception of God’s grace erased human responsibility.

Erasmus laid out his argument for a theology of grace and free will in much the same way modern Protestants have done since the Enlightenment.