The Doctrine of Justification

Abstract

MOST IMPORTANT FOR LUTHER’S DOCTRINE of justification is his own study of the Holy Scriptures. In his own well-known testimony concerning his discovery of the true meaning of Romans 1:17 he tells how through long meditation on St. Paul’s texts he attained to the right understanding of the concept of righteousness, of iustitia, as opposed to omnes doctores. In his interpretation of the iustificatio impii, that which was decisive he undoubtedly learned from Paul and the Psalter. In view of this it is at first surprising to note how little he took from contemporary theology, in which he was so thoroughly versed. Every attempt to derive his new discovery—even as his theology in general—in some way from the theological sources used by him is vain if we overlook the decisive thing—namely, Luther’s independent occupation with another source, with the Holy Scriptures, and his striving for the right understanding of the Bible. Only with due consideration of this can Luther’s relation to medieval theology be rightly appraised.