{"id":91456,"date":"2025-05-08T19:36:09","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T23:36:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/?p=91456"},"modified":"2026-04-07T16:17:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T20:17:26","slug":"was-martin-luther-an-extreme-faith-alone-antinomian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2025\/05\/was-martin-luther-an-extreme-faith-alone-antinomian.html","title":{"rendered":"Luther: Extreme “Faith Alone” Antinomian?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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Photo Credit<\/strong>:\u00a0copyright\u00a0Lux Veritatis<\/em>, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

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This is the transcript of my video, What did Martin Luther REALLY teach about GOOD WORKS?<\/a> [Lux Veritatis<\/em>, 7 minutes, 5-8-25]. Luther\u2019s words will be in blue<\/span>.<\/p>\n

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Antinomianism is the view that Christians are not bound to follow the moral law contained in the Ten Commandments and that faith alone <\/span>guarantees<\/em> eternal security in heaven regardless<\/em> of what one does<\/em>. Critics rightly call this view a license to sin or cheap grace. Is this the outlook of Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism? It is not<\/em><\/strong>. In fact, Luther is said to have coined the term as he opposed the views of Johannes Agricola, the key figure in the revival of this serious heresy in 1525. And in 1539, Luther wrote a treatise called Against the Antinomians<\/em>, found in the 55-volume Luther\u2019s Works<\/em>, Volume 47, on pages 107 to 119. To his credit, Agricola repented of his errors as a result. Luther is often greatly misunderstood on this point and his faith alone<\/em> view is often not properly comprehended in its fine points and nuances.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He believed that works do not save us, and this is perfectly harmonious with Catholic teaching, over against the heresy of Pe<\/span>lagianism or works salvation. It doesn\u2019t follow, however, that he did or ever would deny the necessity of works in the Christian life<\/em>. In fact, he thought that they were an inevitable manifestation of an authentic and genuine faith. This view was also held by John Calvin, and is mainstream Protestant opinion. Catholics and Protestants agree that faith is absolutely necessary for salvation, and that we are clearly commanded by God to do good works. Many on either side think that the other side denies one of these principles. In fact, however, at the level of creeds and doctrinal statements, both sides completely concur.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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We mustn\u2019t minimize theological divisions, but we also ought not exaggerate or mischaracterize them. <\/span>Honesty and charity demand no less. It\u2019s wrong and unethical to unfairly characterize, caricature, or distort the viewpoints of those who differ from us or use cynically selective citations taken out of context, in order to do so, as happens all too often in Catholic circles when dealing with Luther. We must tell the truth. Bearing false witness or lying about others is a serious, grave sin. Luther\u2019s words in particular also need to be very carefully interpreted, and those who want to criticize him must do four things:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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#1: Examine the historical context of his statements if at all possible.<\/div>\n
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#2: Determine the purpose of any given writing.<\/div>\n
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#3: Understand, if <\/span>able to do so through various scholarly resources, his overall teaching on the subject at hand.<\/div>\n
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#4: Realize that Luther often utilized extreme sarcasm and hyperbole and often toyed with adversaries, <\/span>etc.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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People need not rely on my<\/em> word for Luther\u2019s opinion on works in the Christian life. I\u2019ll prove it from ten examples of his own words: all of which can be found with full documentation in two of my articles and one work of Luther\u2019s that I link to below. So I won\u2019t provide full references excepting the work and year of every statement. So everything that follows is from Luther himself.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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#1<\/strong> Large Catechism<\/em> (1529): If we wish to be Christians, we must practice the things that make for Christianity. <\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
#2<\/strong> God . . . teaches fully what we should do if we wish to perform truly good works. And by commanding them, he shows that they please Him. <\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
#3<\/strong> Here we have again the Word of God whereby He would encourage and urge us to true, noble, and sublime works. . . . <\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
#4<\/strong> There are comprehended therefore in this commandment quite a multitude of good works which please God most highly. . . . <\/span><\/div>\n
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#5<\/strong> Disputation Concerning Justification<\/em> (1536): Faith which lacks fruit is not an efficacious but a feigned faith. <\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
#6<\/strong> Smalcald Articles<\/em> (1537): good works follow such faith, renewal and forgiveness. <\/span><\/div>\n
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#7<\/strong> If good works do not follow, faith is false and not true. <\/span><\/div>\n
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#8<\/strong> On the Councils and the Church<\/em> (1539): The Lord Jesus has obtained not only grace for us but also the gift of the Holy Spirit that we may receive not only<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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remission of sins but likewise a renunciation of sins. Whoever therefore does not cease from sin but cleaves to his former evil courses must take up another Christ along with the Antinomians, who is certainly no real savior. . . . The Antinomians do not perceive that they preach the the Savior without and against the Holy Spirit as they allow the people to remain in their old course and yet pronounce them to be saved. For according to the result, a Christian ought to receive the Holy Spirit and lead a new life or to be sure and certain that he possesses no savior. . . .\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
#9<\/strong> Sermon on 1 John 4:16 ff.<\/em> (1545): Faith takes sins away and puts them to death so that you should live not in them but in <\/span>righteousness. Therefore demonstrate by your works and by your fruits that you have faith. . . . Love follows true faith. <\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
#10<\/strong> Preface to Romans<\/em> (1546): It is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, this faith. It is impossible for it not to be doing good works incessantly.<\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
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My Related Articles<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMartin Luther: Good Works Prove Authentic Faith\u201d<\/a>\u00a0(4-16-08)<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
\u201cLuther, James, Faith & Works: Additional Relevant Data\u201d\u00a0<\/a>(3-7-23)<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
Related Luther Treatise<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
\n

Martin Luther,\u00a0On the Councils and the Church<\/a><\/i>\u00a0(1539), translated by C. B. Smith (London: William Edward Painter, 1847), pp. 152-153 cited.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

\n

My Books on Martin Luther<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Martin Luther: Catholic Critical Analysis and Praise\u00a0<\/a><\/i>(my book, April 2008, 264 pages; available in paperback or for only $2.99 as an e-book)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The \u201cCatholic\u201d Luther : An Ecumenical Collection of His \u201cTraditional\u201d Utterances<\/a><\/i>\u00a0(my book, Dec. 2014, 166 pages; available\u00a0only<\/i>\u00a0as an e-book, for $3.99; see details at the link)<\/p>\n

My Web Pages on Martin Luther & Lutheranism<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
Martin Luther: a Catholic Critique & Appraisal<\/a><\/em><\/div>\n
*<\/em><\/div>\n
Lutheranism: Catholic Critique\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
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Videos in The Martin Luther Series on Lux Veritatis<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Martin Luther Support the DEATH PENALTY for Heretics?<\/a>\u00a0[Lux Veritatis<\/em>, 5-1-25]<\/p>\n

13 Reasons Luther Was Excommunicated from the Catholic Church<\/a>\u00a0[Lux Veritatis<\/em>, 5-2-25]<\/p>\n

The MYTH of Luther\u2019s \u201cSnow-Covered Dung Hills\u201d<\/a>\u00a0[Lux Veritatis<\/em>, 5-3-25]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation: Shocking Divisions Revealed!<\/a>\u00a0[Lux Veritatis<\/em>, 5-4-25]<\/p>\n

What Did Martin Luther REALLY BELIEVE About Mary\u2019s Immaculate Conception?<\/a>\u00a0[Lux Veritatis<\/em>, 5-5-25]<\/p>\n

Luther\u2019s Mythical Catholic \u201cBan\u201d of the Bible<\/a>\u00a0[Lux Veritatis<\/em>, 5-6-25]<\/p>\n

What Did Martin Luther REALLY Teach About GOOD WORKS?<\/a> [Lux Veritatis<\/em>, 5-8-25]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Photo Credit<\/strong>:\u00a0copyright\u00a0Lux Veritatis<\/em>, 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Summary<\/em>: While rejecting works-based salvation, Martin Luther passionately affirmed that genuine faith must produce good works, and he fiercely opposed the heresy of antinomianism.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 This is the transcript of my video, What did Martin Luther REALLY teach about GOOD WORKS? [Lux Veritatis, 7 minutes, 5-8-25]. Luther\u2019s words will be in blue. ***** Antinomianism is the view that Christians are not bound to follow the moral law contained in the Ten Commandments and that faith alone guarantees eternal security […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2331,"featured_media":91459,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[1213,2342,2094,2095,1275,19915],"class_list":["post-91456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-martin-luther","tag-faith-works","tag-faith-alone","tag-luther-good-works","tag-luther-justification","tag-luther-sanctification","tag-was-luther-an-antinomian"],"yoast_head":"\nLuther: Extreme "Faith Alone" Antinomian?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"While rejecting works-based salvation, Martin Luther passionately affirmed that genuine faith must produce good works, and he fiercely opposed the heresy of 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Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \"This Rock\" (now called \"Catholic Answers Magazine\"), \"Envoy Magazine\" (Patrick Madrid), \"The Catholic Answer,\" \"The Coming Home Journal,\" \"Gilbert Magazine\" (American Chesterton Society), and \"The Latin Mass.\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \"The Michigan Catholic\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \"Envoy Magazine.\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \"Catholic Answers Live\" (twice), \"Faith and Family Live\" (Steve Wood), \"Kresta in the Afternoon,\" \"Son Rise Morning Show,\" \"Catholic Connection\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \"The Catholics Next Door.\" His large and popular website, \"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \"Envoy Magazine.\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \"index\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \"Surprised by Truth\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \"The Catholic Verses\" (2004), \"The One-Minute Apologist\" (2007), \"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\" (2009), \"The Quotable Newman\" (editor: 2012), and \"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \"The New Catholic Answer Bible\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \"Quotable Wesley\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).","sameAs":["https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91456","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2331"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91456"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91456\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=91456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=91456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}