Luther Insists on Faith

This chapter describes Martin Luther’s critique of late-medieval religiosity, concentrating particularly on his understanding of infant baptism. While a legitimate sacrament in Luther’s eyes, infant baptism appears to coexist uneasily with Luther’s insistence that justification must occur through the instrumentality of faith. Confronted with the writings of the “Enthusiasts,” Luther comes to insist on the sacramental power of the baptismal water.