Erasmus and Luther

2021 ◽  
pp. 38-46
Author(s):  
Miikka Ruokanen
Keyword(s):  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Fair Play ◽  
Human Being ◽  
New Creation ◽  
Moral Decisions ◽  
Triune God ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Two Kingdoms ◽  
Eternal Salvation ◽  
The Relationship

For Erasmus, the relationship between God and the human being is rationally and morally acceptable fair play in which both parties have their responsibilities. He follows the teaching of Nominalism: God has promised to grant his grace to anyone who does the minimum that he/she naturally can for receiving grace. “Free choice” means that the human being has the capability of applying him/herself to the things which lead to eternal salvation or turning away from them.Impenitence is a sin that can never be forgiven; moral deeds “attract” grace. For Luther, freedom in moral decisions plays a crucial role in the human community “in front of the world and people,” in relation to the “things below oneself.” But the human being is not free in his/her relation to the “things above oneself,” “in front of God,” or facing the power of unfaith, sin, and demonic evil. Should there be any change in the human’s relation to the realities “above oneself,” it is always a work of God’s prevenient grace effected by the Holy Spirit. Faith is a “new creation” infused into human hearts by God’s Spirit; sola fide is fully a Pneumatological reality for Luther—a fact overlooked in Luther research. The Spirit establishes an intimate union between the Triune God and the human being. Luther creates a massive defense of God’s sovereign grace, sola gratia. The doctrine of two “kingdoms” is the backbone of Luther’s thinking. Erasmus did not make such a distinction; consequently, law and gospel get mixed.

scholarly journals The doctrine on God, as demonstrated and confessed in the Heidelberg Catechism

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carel F.C. Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Concept Of God ◽  
Bodily Resurrection ◽  
Triune God ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
African Context ◽  
Many Sources ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Heaven And Earth

Although the Heidelberg Catechism (HC) does not deal with a systematic doctrine on God and although there are not many sources available on the specific subject, it is a most important subject when dealing with the theology of the HC (W. van ’t Spijker). Due to the prescribed length of the article, it only focuses on two aspects of the doctrine on God, namely the Trinity and the relationship between God and the cosmos (reality). Futhermore, today there is an emphasis on a new concept of God, known as Panentheism. In this concept, God and his creation are identified with each other. In the South African context, the article deals very shortly with the viewpoints of Spangenberg, Van Aarde and Müller in this regard. The God confessed in the HC is the triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the closest and most logical coherence with this, the HC confesses the deity of Christ and of the Holy Spirit. The HC also proceeds from the premise of the historical, bodily resurrection of Christ from the dead. As far as the relationship between God and creation is concerned, the HC, in agreement with the church of the first centuries, confesses and teaches a personal God, the Father of Jesus Christ, who for the sake of Christ is the Father of the elect. This God is the almighty creator of heaven and earth. He lives in a covenant relationship with his creation, which he sustains and governs at every moment. He is both transcendent and immanent.Alhoewel die Heidelbergse Kategismus (HK) nie ’n sistematiese Godsleer bevat soos sommige van die ander belydenisskrifte nie en bronne oor die spesifieke onderwerp betreklik skaars is, is dit tog een van die belangrikste onderwerpe wanneer daar oor die teologie van die HK gehandel word (W. van ’t Spijker). Vanweë die voorgeskrewe lengte, word daar in hierdie artikel slegs op twee aspekte van die Godsleer gefokus, naamlik die Drie-eenheid en die verhouding van God tot die kosmos (werklikheid). Hierdie twee aspekte is juis besonder relevant in die lig van standpunte wat die leer van die Drie-eenheid in gedrang bring deur onder andere die Godheid van Christus en sy liggaamlike opstanding te bevraagteken. Verder word daar vandag gepleit vir ’n nuwe Godsbegrip, bekend as Panenteïsme, waardeur die grens tussen God en sy skepping vervaag. In die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks word hier kortliks aandag aan die standpunte van van Spangenberg, Van Aarde en Müller gegee. Die God wat in die HK bely word, is die drie-enige God: Vader, Seun en Heilige Gees. In die nouste en logiese samehang hiermee bely die HK die Godheid van Christus en van die Heilige Gees. Wat die verhouding tussen God en die skepping betref, bely en leer die HK, in ooreenstemming met die kerk van die eerste eeue, ’n persoonlike God − die Vader van Jesus Christus wat ter wille van Christus die Vader is van die uitverkorenes. Hierdie God is die almagtige Skepper van hemel en aarde. Hy leef in ’n verbondsverhouding met sy skepping wat Hy elke oomblik onderhou en regeer. Hy is tegelyk transendent en immanent.

Dua Tangan Allah Merangkul Semesta

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-41
Author(s):  
Joas Adiprasetya
Keyword(s):  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Triune God ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
The Creation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Universe

This article proposes a Trinitarian imagination that demonstrates the embrace of the whole universe by the Son and the Holy Spirit, the two hands of God, through the creation and perfection of the universe. Both divine acts take place in the incarnation of the Son and the inhabitation of the Holy Spirit. The Trinitarian perichoretic principle also applies to the relationship between God and creation in such a way that, not only is the whole universe in the Son (panentheism), but so too the Holy Spirit permeates the whole universe (theenpanism). As a result, Christian theology offers a comforting pastoral message, namely, that the universe is never entirely separable from the loving communion of the Triune God.

Trinitarian Grace in Martin Luther's The Bondage of the Will

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miikka Ruokanen
Keyword(s):  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Divine Grace ◽  
Triune God ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
The Will ◽  
Ex Nihilo ◽  
Core Idea ◽  
Relationship Of

Professor Miikka Ruokanen reveals the powerfully Trinitarian and participatory nature of Martin Luther’s conception of divine grace in his magnum opus The Bondage of the Will, largely ignored in the previous research. The study establishes a genuinely new understanding of Luther’s major treatise opening up its ecumenical potential. Luther’s debate with Erasmus signifies not only a disagreement concerning free will, but the dispute reveals two contrasting understandings of the very core idea of the Christian faith. For Erasmus, the relationship of the human being with God is based on the rationally and morally acceptable principles of fair play. For Luther, the human being is captivated by the overwhelming power of unfaith and transcendental evil, Satan; only the monergistic grace of the Triune God and the power of the Holy Spirit can liberate him/her. Ruokanen verifies the Trinitarian vision of salvation “by grace alone” as the center of Luther’s theology. This doctrine has three dimensions: (1) The conversion of the sinner and the birth of faith in Christ are effected by prevenient divine grace; justification “through faith alone,” is the sole work of God’s Spirit, comparable to creation ex nihilo. (2) Participation in the person, life, and divine properties of Christ, as well as participation in his salvific work, his cross, and resurrection, are possible solely because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer. Justification means simultaneously the forensic declaration of the guilty non-guilty on the basis of the atonement by Jesus’ cross, as well as a union with Christ in the Holy Spirit. (3) Sanctification means the gradual growth of love for God and neighbor enabled by the believer’s participation in divine love in the Holy Spirit. Ruokanen’s work offers a crucial modification and advance to the world-renowned Finnish school of Luther interpretation: Luther’s classic use of Pneumatological language avoids the problems caused by using an ontological language.

Martin Luther’s View of Atonement and Reconciliation

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sibylle Rolf
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Communicative Action ◽  
The World ◽  
Triune God ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Human Aspect ◽  
The Relationship

The inquiry into the nature of atonement (or reconciliation) presupposes a broken relationship. Atonement (or reconciliation) brings about the restoration of the relationship, creating both a change in and renewal of it. Hence, atonement is recognized as a communicative and open-ended process, which needs continual repetition and renewal. Indeed, God reconciled the world with Himself once and for all (2 Cor. 5:19), but this atonement event is reappropriated in faith and put into effect again and again. In Luther’s theology, atonement designates the communicative disclosure of God’s salvation revealed to believers in the person and work of Jesus Christ in two ways: in the proclamation of the gospel and in the existential impartation of the person of Jesus Christ to the believer, who in turn is freed to enter new life, trusting in God, in the process of reconciliation. In this atonement event mediated by the work of the Holy Spirit, sin is overcome; the death and life of Jesus Christ are appropriated by God for the believer, and the person is separated from his or her sin. Therefore, atonement rests completely on the creative, communicative action of the triune God. However, there is also a human aspect involved that anticipates the believer’s death in baptism and transfers the believer into a new life (2 Cor. 5:17–19).

The Trinitarian Nature of the Pneumatological Grace

2021 ◽  
pp. 104-116
Author(s):  
Miikka Ruokanen
Keyword(s):  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Human Person ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
New Creation ◽  
New Birth ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
Triune God ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Ex Nihilo ◽  
The Universe

In his magnum opus Luther follows the Trinitarian logic of John and Paul in the New Testament and the Patristic teaching on the indivisibility of the works of the three persons of the Trinity. When the Holy Spirit of the Father and of the Son makes known Christ, he simultaneously makes known the Father who sent his Son. The mission of the Son depends entirely on his Father who sent him, and the mission of the Son becomes effective only in the power of the Holy Spirit. Only the Spirit makes Christ together with his gifts truly present in the human person, without the Spirit, Christological grace has no impact on the sinner—Christological grace and Pneumatological grace are inseparable and simultaneous. Luther expresses the same truth both in Pneumatological and in Christological terms, the chapter at hand displays extensive evidence on this coincidence. Moreover, Luther creates an explicit analogy between the creation of the universe and of the work of the Holy Spirit enabling the new birth or rebirth of the sinner. The universe was created “from nothing” by the monergistic power of the Triune God, so is the conversion and the faith of the sinner created ex nihilo by God’s Spirit. As human beings “did nothing to create themselves,” likewise they cannot do anything to “newly create” themselves from unbelief to faith; any notion of free choice collapses. The ability of creation and that of new creation are divine properties only: “Let God be God!”

The Relationship between Christ and the Spirit in a Christian Theology of Religions

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-280
Author(s):  
Benno Van Den Toren
Keyword(s):  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Theology Of Religions ◽  
Religious Traditions ◽  
Triune God ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
The One ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church

This article explores the recent turn in the theology of religions, visible in diverse quarters, to pneumatology as a way to foster a greater openness to the work of God the Holy Spirit in non-Christian religions. It gives particular attention to the work of Jacques Dupuis (Roman Catholic), George Khodr (Orthodox) and Clark Pinnock (Evangelical Protestant). It argues that recognition of the work of the Holy Spirit allows for an exploration of a variegated activity of God outside the boundaries of the church that cannot be reduced to his presence as Creator or as non-incarnate Word. It, therefore, also allows for dialogue in which commitment to God's supreme revelation in Christ can be combined with an openness to learn from other religious traditions. It does at the same time point to the need to frame the attention for the wider work of the Spirit in the context of the one plan of salvation of the triune God such as not to separate the “two hands of God.” It argues that the work of the Spirit outside the boundaries of the church remains directed to the eschatological salvation inaugurated by Christ and, therefore, also to the church as the “first fruits” of the eschaton and as the community where this salvation is proclaimed and embraced.

scholarly journals Trinitarian Paradigm for Dialogue

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 125-139
Author(s):  
Andrzej Derdziuk
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Communication ◽  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Social Reality ◽  
Spiritual Experience ◽  
The Other ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Holy Trinity ◽  
Spiritual Nature ◽  
Triune God ◽  
The Holy Spirit

Abstract A dialogue as a social reality consists, first and foremost, in communication between those who realize that they are called to notice and to accept the other and to treat him or her with proper respect. Such a dialogue may be motivated either by the desire to share the good or by the willingness to avoid conflict. The aforementioned approaches are marked by distinctly different attitudes, which are not only rooted in two different methodologies and have two different aims, but they also encompass two diverse procedures. More importantly, engaging in dialogue may also be motivated by realizing one’s own mission in life, i.e. acting in harmony with the spiritual nature of the human being, who is a relational being. Upon realizing his or her likeness to the Triune God, i.e. the inseparable communion of the Divine Persons, a Christian discovers that the Holy Trinity constitutes the model and source for his or her own involvement in maintaining relationships with other people. Chiara Lubich, the founder of the Focolare Movement was a contemporary thinker, who had realized and creatively developed the human vocation for unity in the likeness of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This movement, founded by Lubich, has both lay and consecrated members who are devoted to building the culture of unity based upon promoting dialogue as a tool for interpersonal communication. The aim of this article is to present the spiritual experience of Chiara Lubich, which marks the origin of this new concept of a dialogue rooted in the mystery of Divine unity.

scholarly journals The divine personhood of the Holy Spirit in the teaching of Gregory Nazianzen

Vox Patrum ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 179-192
Author(s):  
Eirini Artemi
Keyword(s):  
Holy Spirit ◽  
New Creation ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Bible ◽  
New Birth ◽  
Triune God ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Third Person ◽  
The One ◽  
The Third Person

Gregory of Nazianzus had to confront with courage the heretical teaching about the divine nature of Holy Spirit. Through his works, he identifies The Holy Spirit as the third Person of the Triune God. One can see that the Bible clearly teaches that the Spirit is God. The Holy Spirit just as the Son, originates from the Father, is coeternal with the Father and illuminates the whole creation. The third Person of Trinity deserves to be worshipped as God and deifies people in their baptism. Gregory wonders: “For if He is not to be worshipped, how can He deify me by Baptism? But if He is to be worshipped, surely He is an Object of adora­tion, and if an Object of adoration He must be God; the one is linked to the other, a truly golden and saving chain. And indeed from the Spirit comes our New Birth, and from the New Birth our new creation, and from the new creation our deeper knowledge of the dignity of Him from Whom it is derived” (Oratio 31, 28). Gre­gory underlined the divinity of Holy Spirit and also explained the soteriological goal of this teaching, because: “If he has the same rank as I have, how can he make me God, or how can he join me with deity” (Oratio 31, 4).

Transformative Christian Education: New Covenant, New Creation. An Essay in Constructive Theology

1998 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Wright
Keyword(s):  
Christian Education ◽  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
New Covenant ◽  
New Creation ◽  
Constructive Theology ◽  
Lutheran Theology ◽  
The Holy Spirit

A TRANSFORMATIVE THEOLOGY of Christian education is defended against reconstructionist alternatives. Any authentic theology of education should be grounded in the ontic reality of the divine economy of salvation. Though important, noetic questions of theological epistemology, together with pragmatic issues of pedagogic strategy, are not to be taken as foundational. Certain traits of Lutheran theology lend superficial support to a reconstructionist theology, but only at the expense of introducing a crippling dualism between faith and creation. The Biblical picture of the completion of the new covenant and new creation through the work of the Holy Spirit lends strong support to a transformative theology.

Providence, Power and the Holy Spirit

Horizons ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-93
Author(s):  
Anne E. Carr
Keyword(s):  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Christian Tradition ◽  
New Synthesis ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACTThis essay envisions the meaning of providence according to recent feminist and process theologies of power and attempts to distinguish the meaning of providence from the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It compares the classical meaning of providence with those elements in modern and contemporary thought that warrant changes in our understanding of these themes, while it maintains the continuity of Christian tradition. In doing so, it offers some reflection on the relationship between theology and spirituality, and suggests a new synthesis between the immanence and transcendence of God in the experience of Christians today. In light of the biblical idea of justice as right relations, the mystical and political are integrated.

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