Augustine versus Luther on Sin, Sexuality, and Salvation

Wendy L. Widder

Lexham Press, 2012

Augustine versus Luther on Sin, Sexuality, and Salvation

Copyright 2012 Wendy Widder. All rights reserved. Published in the United States of America.

Published by Lexham Press, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the Lexham English Bible (leb). Copyright 2013 Lexham Press.

“With this rebellion we are born, just as we are doomed to die and, because of the first sin, to bear, in our members and vitiated nature, either the battle with or defeat by the flesh.”1

—St. Augustine

“Christ marries this poor, wicked harlot, redeems her from all her evil, and adorns her with all his goodness. Her sins cannot now destroy her, since they are laid upon Christ and swallowed up by him.”2

—Martin Luther

Contents

ABBREVIATIONS

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

The Nature of the Problem

Survey of Secondary Scholarship

The Men and Their Contexts

The Method of Analysis

CHAPTER TWO: AUGUSTINE ON SIN

Concupiscence

The Original Sin—Rebellion in Eden

Self-Love—the Source of Pride

An Evil Will—the Partner in Crime

Immediate Consequences—a Quintessential Picture of Sin

The Inheritance of Sin—Living After Eden

Original Sin

Infirmities—a Damaged Will

InfirmitiesConcupiscentia Carnis, the Dis-Order of the Day

Conclusion

CHAPTER THREE: AUGUSTINE ON SALVATION

The First Defense—Baptism

The Second Defense—True Continence

A Hierarchy of Holiness

The Struggle for Those Who Are Unmarried

The Struggle for Those Who Are Married

Procreation

Fidelity

Sacrament

Marital Chastity

Perfection—Augustine’s Impossible Possibility

Conclusion

CHAPTER FOUR: LUTHER ON SIN

The Original Sin—Idolatry in Eden

Unbelief—the Chief Sin

Pride … Plus

The Distinction Between Flesh and Spirit

The Inheritance of the First Sin

The Problem of Idolatry

Robbing God

Robbing Others

Total Depravity

The Mind—Infirmed Knowledge

The Will—Infirmed Choice

The Body—Concupiscence

Necessary Sin

Conclusion

CHAPTER FIVE: LUTHER ON SALVATION

The Word of God

Faith—“The Source and Substance of Salvation”

Two Kinds of Righteousness

Two Reasons for Good Works

Two Dimensions of Relationships

Marriage and Sexuality

A Natural Good

Based on the Humanity of Christ

Based on the Order of Creation

A Remedy for Sin

“An Estate of Faith”

Conclusion

CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSION

A Summary of Sin and Salvation

A Summary of Contextual Issues

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Primary Sources

Secondary Sources

Abbreviations

ACW Ancient Christian Writers

CTJ Calvin Theological Journal

Comm Communio

LQ Lutheran Quarterly

LW American Edition of Luther’s Works (Minneapolis: Fortress Press; Philadelphia: Muhlenburg Press; St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1955–)

NPNF1 Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series (New ...

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About Augustine versus Luther on Sin, Sexuality, and Salvation

Augustine of Hippo and Martin Luther had absolutely foundational influences over the thought, practice, and development of Christian theology. Yet somehow the work of these two theological giants has produced out-of-balance perspectives within Protestantism on marriage, sexuality, and singleness—thanks to Augustine’s view of sexuality as shameful and Luther’s exaltation of marriage as the sure way to holiness.

Augustine versus Luther on Sin, Sexuality, and Salvation analyzes how the theologians’ views on sin and salvation affected their divergent perspectives on marriage and sexuality. Their drastically different conclusions are still evident in Christian attitudes toward marriage and singleness today.

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Table of Contents