Salvation and the Will: Human and Divine Cooperation in the Theologies of Martin Luther and Maximus the Confessor

Abstract

The Lutheran tradition is arguably defined by the doctrine of justification by grace through faith, a view of salvation understood primarily—though not exclusively— as extrinsic and forensic in character. In contrast, the Eastern Orthodox tradition has been often characterized by the doctrine of theosis (or deification), understood as a process of ontological transformation culminating in union with God. These distinctive perspectives represent theological developments and divergences between Eastern and Western Christianity over several centuries. Recently, an attempt at rapprochement between the doctrines of justification and theosis was made by Finnish Lutheran theologian Tuomo Mannermaa. The so-called “Finnish School” of Luther research has been criticized for its reading of Luther, and questions have been raised by critics whether or not a concept such as theosis can be truly claimed to be present in Luther and to what extent these two accounts of salvation can be reconciled. This thesis will argue that while distinct, justification and theosis find a point of contact in certain commitments, namely a distinctive attention to the human will and a profoundly Christological account of redemption. To this end, this thesis will bring Luther into a critical conversation with Maximus the Confessor as a significant figure in the development of the Orthodox understanding of theosis and of the will. Comparing Luther and Maximus on the will as central to these two figures’ construal both of the human situation after the fall and of Christ’s work of salvation will allow the identification of common concerns reflected in the two doctrines and will argue for their compatibility.