BOOK OF THE MONTH: ‘The Bondage of the Will’ (500th Anniversary Edition), Martin Luther (Ligonier, 2025)
It is presumptuous to write a review on Martin Luther’s The Bondage of the Will (1525), one of the classic Christian texts and a theological masterwork. The Bondage of the Will is fundamental to an understanding of the primary doctrines of the Reformation. Along with his catechism, it is the only work of Luther’s that he wished to survive him.
Luther wrote this work as a response to Erasmus’ Diatribe on Free Will published the year previously. Often considered the greatest scholar of his day, Erasmus, a leading humanist and Catholic scholar, defended a view of human free will that allowed people some ability to cooperate with God’s grace in attaining salvation. This prompted Luther to reply vigorously, seeing Erasmus’ semi-Pelagian position as a threat to the core gospel of salvation by grace alone (sola gratia). Luther’s treatise is not merely a rebuttal but a passionate, at times almost pugilistic, defence of God’s absolute sovereignty in salvation, arguing that the gospel itself stands or falls on this issue.
In these pages, Luther gives extensive treatment of what he saw as the heart of the gospel. Luther affirms our total inability to save ourselves and the sovereignty of divine grace in our salvation. He upholds the doctrine of justification by faith and defends predestination as determined by the foreknowledge of God. Luther’s thesis fundamentally is that, contrary to Erasmus’ views, sinful, fallen man never can and never will make his own way back to God. Man’s will is irredeemably corrupt and incapable by itself of any choice to believe or follow God. Such understanding and faith, says Luther, are solely the work of God’s grace, as indeed are salvation, forgiveness and eternal life. Any notion of free will in salvation diminishes grace and risks turning the gospel into works-righteousness.
Intensely Scriptural Luther argues that passages commanding obedience reveal what humans ought to do, not what in their fallen state they can do. The law exposes sin but gives no power to overcome it. Luther is not subtle, but he is relentless and right.
The Ligonier 500-year anniversary edition with a valuable Analysis by RC Sproul is worthwhile reading for theologians, ministers, students and anyone with an interest in the development of the Reformation.
This book is available from Revived.com
Campbell Campbell-Jack, Falkirk Free Church
‘We Sing’, Kristyn Getty (Crossway, 2025)
Kristyn Getty is a well-known Christian singer-songwriter, having given us, alongside her husband Keith, many of the hymns and worship songs sung in our churches today. “We Sing” is her second children’s book, written to help parents/church leaders explain to children why sung worship is such a central part of how we praise our Lord.
This is a simple, profound, encouraging and uplifting book. The rhyming words share deep gospel truth, and readers may well hear echoes of many of the songs the Gettys have written over the years. The illustrations by Laura K. Sayers are quirky and delightful, and every child should find something familiar there.
For such a short book, the theology here is real and important. Too often, we perhaps expect our children to sing dutifully in church (and perhaps even enjoy it), without really understanding why we lift our voices together at all. Read this book with the children in your care, and they will absolutely get it! A joy to recommend.
This book is available from The Good Book Company.
Miriam Montgomery, Free Church Books