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The Freedom of a Christian: A New Translation
Martin Luther’s Classic Work, Newly Translated by Robert Kolb Originally published in 1520, The Freedom of a Christian is one of Martin Luther’s most well-known and enduring treatises. In it, Luther examines Christian ethics and how justification by faith alone impacts the liberty of believers. He famously writes, “A Christian is a free lord of everything and subject to no one. A Christian is a willing servant of everything and subject to everyone.” Luther also further develops ideas and doctrines that were key to the Reformation, such as the priesthood of all believers and union with Christ. This addition to the Crossway Short Classics series features a new translation from the original German to English by renowned Reformation scholar Robert Kolb. The Freedom of a Christian reminds modern-day readers that it is ultimately grace that transforms God’s people and frees us to love and obey.
80 pages, Paperback
Published December 30, 2022
About the author
Martin Luther
4,616 books754 followersMartin Luther (1483-1546) was a German monk, theologian, university professor and church reformer whose ideas inspired the Protestant Reformation and changed the course of Western civilization.
Luther's theology challenged the authority of the papacy by holding that the Bible is the only infallible source of religious authority and that all baptized Christians under Jesus are a spiritual priesthood. According to Luther, salvation was a free gift of God, received only by true repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, a faith given by God and unmediated by the church.
Luther's confrontation with Charles V at the Diet of Worms over freedom of conscience in 1521 and his refusal to submit to the authority of the Emperor resulted in his being declared an outlaw of the state as he had been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. Because of the perceived unity of the medieval Church with the secular rulers of western Europe, the widespread acceptance of Luther's doctrines and popular vindication of his thinking on individual liberties were both phenomenal and unprecedented.
His translation of the Bible into the vernacular, making it more accessible to ordinary people, had a tremendous political impact on the church and on German culture. It furthered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the translation of the English King James Bible. His hymns inspired the development of congregational singing within Christianity. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage within Protestantism.
Much scholarly debate has concentrated on Luther's writings about the Jews. His statements that Jews' homes should be destroyed, their synagogues burned, money confiscated and liberty curtailed were revived and used in propaganda by the Nazis in 1933–45. As a result of this and his revolutionary theological views, his legacy remains controversial.
Luther's theology challenged the authority of the papacy by holding that the Bible is the only infallible source of religious authority and that all baptized Christians under Jesus are a spiritual priesthood. According to Luther, salvation was a free gift of God, received only by true repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, a faith given by God and unmediated by the church.
Luther's confrontation with Charles V at the Diet of Worms over freedom of conscience in 1521 and his refusal to submit to the authority of the Emperor resulted in his being declared an outlaw of the state as he had been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. Because of the perceived unity of the medieval Church with the secular rulers of western Europe, the widespread acceptance of Luther's doctrines and popular vindication of his thinking on individual liberties were both phenomenal and unprecedented.
His translation of the Bible into the vernacular, making it more accessible to ordinary people, had a tremendous political impact on the church and on German culture. It furthered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the translation of the English King James Bible. His hymns inspired the development of congregational singing within Christianity. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage within Protestantism.
Much scholarly debate has concentrated on Luther's writings about the Jews. His statements that Jews' homes should be destroyed, their synagogues burned, money confiscated and liberty curtailed were revived and used in propaganda by the Nazis in 1933–45. As a result of this and his revolutionary theological views, his legacy remains controversial.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 11, 2025
5+ ⭐️ This is an astonishing treatise that I will need to read and meditate on for years to come.
“But just as faith makes a person upright, so it also produces good works. Thus, works do not make a person upright, and the person must be upright before he does the work. Thus, it is clear that only faith, on the basis of pure grace through Christ and his word, makes a person completely upright and saves him. No work, no command is necessary for a Christian for salvation, but the Christian is free from all commands. On the basis of pure freedom, without any thought of gain, he does everything that he does, seeking neither benefit nor salvation. For he already has everything that he needs, and is saved through his faith and God‘s grace. No, indeed he wants only to do what is pleasing to God.”
“But just as faith makes a person upright, so it also produces good works. Thus, works do not make a person upright, and the person must be upright before he does the work. Thus, it is clear that only faith, on the basis of pure grace through Christ and his word, makes a person completely upright and saves him. No work, no command is necessary for a Christian for salvation, but the Christian is free from all commands. On the basis of pure freedom, without any thought of gain, he does everything that he does, seeking neither benefit nor salvation. For he already has everything that he needs, and is saved through his faith and God‘s grace. No, indeed he wants only to do what is pleasing to God.”
October 6, 2024
I’m freeeeeeeee
August 3, 2023
“A Christian is a free Lord of everything and subject to no one.
A Christian is a willing servant of everything and subject to everyone.”
What a gem this little book is.
A Christian is a willing servant of everything and subject to everyone.”
What a gem this little book is.
October 12, 2023
A fine new edition of this classic text.
February 23, 2023
This is a great little book. One of the true classics of Christian literature, and certainly for a reason. The entire book feels like Luther’s version of the Sermon on the Mount. It offers foundational wisdom and reminders for living the Christian life. The translation in this new edition is outstanding. It is very comprehensible yet still feels to be very accurate to the original text. Very well done!
November 12, 2023
Carl Trueman does well summarizing this work in the foreword:
“As soon as Christians start to rely on their good works for their standing before God, as soon as they start to do them in order to be right with God, then the character of the Christian life starts to denigrate from that of sons and daughters pleasing their Father to that of servants or employees earning a wage from their boss.”
“As soon as Christians start to rely on their good works for their standing before God, as soon as they start to do them in order to be right with God, then the character of the Christian life starts to denigrate from that of sons and daughters pleasing their Father to that of servants or employees earning a wage from their boss.”
October 21, 2024
I didn’t read this exact translation, but it was worth the hour and a half. This little tract was one of the books Luther was called on to recant at the Deit of Worms a year later. His articulation of justification by faith alone, and the place of good works in the Christian life is beautiful. I can’t recommend this classic more! Wow.
June 30, 2024
These crossway short classics are incredible! Luther speaks some incredible insight into the life of a Christian.
”This, it is clear that only faith, on the basis of pure grace through Christ in his word, makes a person completely upright and saves him. No work, no command is necessary for a Christian for salvation, but the Christian is free from all commands”
“I want to be a Christ for my neighbor, as Christ has been for me. I want to do nothing other than that which I see my neighbor needs, what is useful for him and is a blessing for him, because I have in Christ all that is sufficient for me through faith. Thus you see how love and enthusiasm flow from faith in God, and out of this love flows a free, willing, joyous life in serving the neighbor without thought of reward. For just as our neighbor suffers with privation and needs whatever we can give him, so we are suffering great need in relationship to God and required his grace. Therefore, as God has helped us through Christ unconditionally, so we should do nothing else with our bodies and it’s actions than help our neighbors. Thus, we see that what an exalted and noble life it is to live as a Christian. Unfortunately, that is not only to be found in the whole world,but it is no longer confessed or proclaimed.”
”This, it is clear that only faith, on the basis of pure grace through Christ in his word, makes a person completely upright and saves him. No work, no command is necessary for a Christian for salvation, but the Christian is free from all commands”
“I want to be a Christ for my neighbor, as Christ has been for me. I want to do nothing other than that which I see my neighbor needs, what is useful for him and is a blessing for him, because I have in Christ all that is sufficient for me through faith. Thus you see how love and enthusiasm flow from faith in God, and out of this love flows a free, willing, joyous life in serving the neighbor without thought of reward. For just as our neighbor suffers with privation and needs whatever we can give him, so we are suffering great need in relationship to God and required his grace. Therefore, as God has helped us through Christ unconditionally, so we should do nothing else with our bodies and it’s actions than help our neighbors. Thus, we see that what an exalted and noble life it is to live as a Christian. Unfortunately, that is not only to be found in the whole world,but it is no longer confessed or proclaimed.”
May 22, 2023
You will see heaven standing open and the angels ascending and descending over the Son of Man. John 1:51. Behold, that is the proper, spiritual Christian freedom which liberates the heart from all sins, laws and commands.
A short study on the Freedom of a Christian written by Martin Luther. Most Christians know the history of Martin Luther. A man that stood against the Catholic church during the late 1400. Knowing Luther's background during this time makes this study more significant to the life of a Christian. It has by grace we have been saved is probably the most freeing statement of the bible that Luther's premise is based on. This book takes 30 points that is foundational in living in freedom as a Christian. It does not do away with the law of God but understanding that freedom comes living in the boundaries of God's law and grace. All 30 points "beholds" the person of Christ. Christ is the truth and the way. Those words have more meaning going thru these points. Highly recommend.
A special thank you to Crossway Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
A short study on the Freedom of a Christian written by Martin Luther. Most Christians know the history of Martin Luther. A man that stood against the Catholic church during the late 1400. Knowing Luther's background during this time makes this study more significant to the life of a Christian. It has by grace we have been saved is probably the most freeing statement of the bible that Luther's premise is based on. This book takes 30 points that is foundational in living in freedom as a Christian. It does not do away with the law of God but understanding that freedom comes living in the boundaries of God's law and grace. All 30 points "beholds" the person of Christ. Christ is the truth and the way. Those words have more meaning going thru these points. Highly recommend.
A special thank you to Crossway Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
December 15, 2024
Martin Luther begins the book with this quote:
“ A Christian is a free lord of everything and subject to no one. A Christian is a willing servant of everything and subject to everyone.”
He probably could have just ended there, but glad he didn’t. This book is a must read for anyone following Jesus that, at times, has fallen into the “beginning in the Spirit, yet now being perfected by the flesh” trap [Galatians 3]. There is abundant freedom in Jesus - a freedom that liberates the heart from all sins, laws, and commands and to a self-sacrificing love in aim to please God!!
Free of Everything:
* “And so it is that a Christian is raised high above all things so that he is a lord of all things spiritually, for nothing can harm him in regard to salvation”.
* “But precisely these works dare not be performed with the idea that through them a human being becomes upright in God's sight, for faith cannot abide this false idea faith us and must be our uprightness in God's sight, but that includes recognizing that the body becomes obedient and purified from its evil desires and that the eye looks at these evil desires only to drive them out. For because the soul is pure through faith and loves God, it ardently desires that everything be pure, above all its own body, and everyone loves and praises God with the soul”.
* “Thus, we see that in faith a Christian has enough, needs no works to be upright. If he cannot rely on works any longer, he is released from commandments and laws. If he is released, he is certainly free. Such is Christian freedom. It is not that faith alone creates a situation in which we may plunge into idleness or may do evil works but that we do not need works to attain uprightness and salvation”.
Servant to Everyone:
* “Thus you see how love and enthusiasm flow from faith in God, and out this love flows a free, willing, joyous life in serving the neighbor without thought of reward. A Christian lives not in himself but in Christ and in his neighbor, in Christ through faith, in the neighbor through love. Through faith he rises above himself in God, from God he descends under himself through love, and remains always in God and in divine love”.
* “On the basis of pure freedom, without any thought of gain, he does everything that he does, seeking neither benefit not salvation. For he already has everything that he neods and is saved through his faith and God's grace. No, indeed, he wants only to do what is pleasing to God”.
“ A Christian is a free lord of everything and subject to no one. A Christian is a willing servant of everything and subject to everyone.”
He probably could have just ended there, but glad he didn’t. This book is a must read for anyone following Jesus that, at times, has fallen into the “beginning in the Spirit, yet now being perfected by the flesh” trap [Galatians 3]. There is abundant freedom in Jesus - a freedom that liberates the heart from all sins, laws, and commands and to a self-sacrificing love in aim to please God!!
Free of Everything:
* “And so it is that a Christian is raised high above all things so that he is a lord of all things spiritually, for nothing can harm him in regard to salvation”.
* “But precisely these works dare not be performed with the idea that through them a human being becomes upright in God's sight, for faith cannot abide this false idea faith us and must be our uprightness in God's sight, but that includes recognizing that the body becomes obedient and purified from its evil desires and that the eye looks at these evil desires only to drive them out. For because the soul is pure through faith and loves God, it ardently desires that everything be pure, above all its own body, and everyone loves and praises God with the soul”.
* “Thus, we see that in faith a Christian has enough, needs no works to be upright. If he cannot rely on works any longer, he is released from commandments and laws. If he is released, he is certainly free. Such is Christian freedom. It is not that faith alone creates a situation in which we may plunge into idleness or may do evil works but that we do not need works to attain uprightness and salvation”.
Servant to Everyone:
* “Thus you see how love and enthusiasm flow from faith in God, and out this love flows a free, willing, joyous life in serving the neighbor without thought of reward. A Christian lives not in himself but in Christ and in his neighbor, in Christ through faith, in the neighbor through love. Through faith he rises above himself in God, from God he descends under himself through love, and remains always in God and in divine love”.
* “On the basis of pure freedom, without any thought of gain, he does everything that he does, seeking neither benefit not salvation. For he already has everything that he neods and is saved through his faith and God's grace. No, indeed, he wants only to do what is pleasing to God”.
December 30, 2024
Started this and finished it on the plane so it’s a quick read! Very very good!!!! I really liked this and would recommend it to anyone! Not gonna lie, I was intimidated by Luther because he’s pretty old and old English (well technically Latin lol) is so hard for me to read, but this was not hard to read at all!! Get a copy of this book (or borrow mine!) because everyone should read this!
August 27, 2023
This is my first read of this series and I enjoyed it. This is a great edition with helpful background in the introduction, and short footnotes for clarity throughout.
A Christian is a free, yet willing, servant of all.
A Christian is a free, yet willing, servant of all.
May 29, 2024
An early, pastoral, introduction to the concept of justification through faith alone and good works as fruit of regeneration (without using those technical terms). As typical of Luther, there are some statements that had me thinking, "Well, I don't know if you should say it like THAT..." Still, it's a great little book.
May 10, 2023
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
SOME THOUGHTS ON THE SERIES AS A WHOLE
The point of this series is to take classic short works—sermons, tracts, articles—package them attractively, edit a bit (modernize language, eliminate footnotes, tweak grammar, etc.), and make them widely available. Each is given a short introduction to help the reader get the context and a bit of information about the author.
They published seven books in this series last year, and I discussed them here. Two have come out this year (so far), but I'm hoping for more.
WHAT'S THE FREEDOM OF A CHRISTIAN ABOUT?
This is Luther (early in the Reformation) laying out his vision for good works for the believer--how they are to be performed, why they are to be performed, and their place in the life of the believer. I'm sure there's more to say, but that's basically it.
That quotation gives his two theses--the rest of the book is his working out the thinking behind them. It's penetrating, it's convicting, and it's inspiring to watch him work. Whoops, I seem to have stumbled into the next section.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE FREEDOM OF A CHRISTIAN?
I wasn't sure about reading this--it's one of those works I've read so much about. I've seen it cited, heard descriptions of it in lectures, and read about it, but I haven't gotten around to reading it. A lot of the times I read something that I know about like this, it doesn't work out (I've never been able to get past page 40 of Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death, for example). But this is exactly what it should've been.
Martin Luther being pastoral is just great. Luther coming alongside those believers so often neglected in the Church and saying, here's what to do--free of burden, free of guilt, free to live and love as they ought, as they've been called to.
This little read is a gem. I'm glad I took the chance on it and so glad that Crossway's series brought it to us.
---
SOME THOUGHTS ON THE SERIES AS A WHOLE
The point of this series is to take classic short works—sermons, tracts, articles—package them attractively, edit a bit (modernize language, eliminate footnotes, tweak grammar, etc.), and make them widely available. Each is given a short introduction to help the reader get the context and a bit of information about the author.
They published seven books in this series last year, and I discussed them here. Two have come out this year (so far), but I'm hoping for more.
WHAT'S THE FREEDOM OF A CHRISTIAN ABOUT?
A Christian is a free lord of everything and subject to no one.
A Christian is a willing servant of everything and subject to everyone.
This is Luther (early in the Reformation) laying out his vision for good works for the believer--how they are to be performed, why they are to be performed, and their place in the life of the believer. I'm sure there's more to say, but that's basically it.
That quotation gives his two theses--the rest of the book is his working out the thinking behind them. It's penetrating, it's convicting, and it's inspiring to watch him work. Whoops, I seem to have stumbled into the next section.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE FREEDOM OF A CHRISTIAN?
From all of this comes the conclusion that a Christian lives not in himself but in Christ and in his neighbor, in Christ through faith, in the neighbor through love. Through faith he rises above himself in God, from God he descends under himself through love, and remains always in God and in divine love. It is as Christ said in John 1[:51]: “You will see heaven standing open and the angels ascending and descending over the Son of Man.” Behold, that is the proper, spiritual Christian freedom, which liberates the heart from all sins, laws, and commands. This freedom exceeds all other freedoms, as high as heaven is over the earth. May God grant us that we truly understand that and retain it.
I wasn't sure about reading this--it's one of those works I've read so much about. I've seen it cited, heard descriptions of it in lectures, and read about it, but I haven't gotten around to reading it. A lot of the times I read something that I know about like this, it doesn't work out (I've never been able to get past page 40 of Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death, for example). But this is exactly what it should've been.
Martin Luther being pastoral is just great. Luther coming alongside those believers so often neglected in the Church and saying, here's what to do--free of burden, free of guilt, free to live and love as they ought, as they've been called to.
This little read is a gem. I'm glad I took the chance on it and so glad that Crossway's series brought it to us.
April 15, 2023
This addition to the Crossway Short Classics series begins with a preferace from Carl R. Trueman that provides historic context for when Luther wrote this treatise. A brief biography of Luther follows, and the rest of the book reproduces a current translation of The Freedom of a Christian, Luther's approach to Christian ethics based on his realization that our faith is based on Christ's righteousness, not our own works. He further refined his thoughts later as he saw people abuse this concept to make excuses for sin, but this treatise shares a foundational understanding of how we can experience freedom in Christ through total forgiveness and do good works out of love for God and others.
The Freedom of a Christian is great for people who want to explore some of Luther's shorter, more accessible theological works. The eloquent, old-fashioned writing style can be difficult for some modern readers to follow, but the book's brevity will make it easier for them to understand, and this translation from the original German reads smoothly. The necessary changes in grammar and sentence structure between the languages are invisible to the reader, and this translation does not involve archaic phrases from outdated English. There are also helpful footnotes to clarify things.
One reflection Luther shares near the end is that in an ideology of works-based righteousness, good works become self-serving because the person doing them is striving for acceptance from God. He argues that a more biblical understanding of faith and works frees us to truly do good, since our good works flow from love instead of being a means to an end. I would recommend this to people who are interested in Luther's writings and this point of theology, and to pastors who are preparing to preach on passages that bring up complex questions about the relationship between faith and works when following Jesus.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Freedom of a Christian is great for people who want to explore some of Luther's shorter, more accessible theological works. The eloquent, old-fashioned writing style can be difficult for some modern readers to follow, but the book's brevity will make it easier for them to understand, and this translation from the original German reads smoothly. The necessary changes in grammar and sentence structure between the languages are invisible to the reader, and this translation does not involve archaic phrases from outdated English. There are also helpful footnotes to clarify things.
One reflection Luther shares near the end is that in an ideology of works-based righteousness, good works become self-serving because the person doing them is striving for acceptance from God. He argues that a more biblical understanding of faith and works frees us to truly do good, since our good works flow from love instead of being a means to an end. I would recommend this to people who are interested in Luther's writings and this point of theology, and to pastors who are preparing to preach on passages that bring up complex questions about the relationship between faith and works when following Jesus.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2024
Beckwith said this is Luther's best. If you want Luther in 40 pages this is it. It surpasses any longer doctrinal section of a biography you will read. This version formats it to 80 for easy readability.
What should a Christian think to himself?
“Although I am an unworthy and condemned man, my God has given me in Christ all the riches of righteousness and salvation without any merit on my part, out of pure, free mercy, so that from now on I need nothing except faith which believes that this is true. Why should I not therefore freely, joyfully, with all my heart, and with an eager will do all things which I know are pleasing and acceptable to such a Father who has overwhelmed me with his inestimable riches? I will therefore give myself as a Christ to my neighbor, just as Christ offered himself to me; I will do nothing in this life except what I see is necessary, profitable, and salutary to my neighbor, since through faith I have an abundance of all good things in Christ.”
I mean come on. Maybe his commentary on Galatians is up to par, but this is gold.
What should a Christian think to himself?
“Although I am an unworthy and condemned man, my God has given me in Christ all the riches of righteousness and salvation without any merit on my part, out of pure, free mercy, so that from now on I need nothing except faith which believes that this is true. Why should I not therefore freely, joyfully, with all my heart, and with an eager will do all things which I know are pleasing and acceptable to such a Father who has overwhelmed me with his inestimable riches? I will therefore give myself as a Christ to my neighbor, just as Christ offered himself to me; I will do nothing in this life except what I see is necessary, profitable, and salutary to my neighbor, since through faith I have an abundance of all good things in Christ.”
I mean come on. Maybe his commentary on Galatians is up to par, but this is gold.
August 25, 2023
Luther very clearly and logically makes the case that works do not save. Our salvation cannot be earned by good works, but rather our salvation is through faith in Christ’s finished work alone. If indeed we have all we need in Christ, then our works are to focus solely on meeting the needs of others. The only reason our works would be focused on us is if we thought we might obtain something…which works are incapable of doing.
If that didn’t make sense, then my reflection upon reading this book is that I still let selfish gain drive my motivation for good works more than my faith.
If that didn’t make sense, then my reflection upon reading this book is that I still let selfish gain drive my motivation for good works more than my faith.
May 26, 2023
“A Christian lives not in himself but in Christ and in his neighbor, in Christ through faith, in the neighbor through love.” In this short book, Luther showcases how a Christian can be freed to live in the power of Christ through faith, captive to nothing but the words of Scripture, yet also willingly live sacrificially and in subjection to the needs of others in love. It is a beautiful work, well worth any believer’s time to read (and it’s not that long).
August 14, 2024
My first attempt at reading Martin Luther and I see why he left such an impact on the world, he communicates complex ideas very logically and persuasively. His take on freedom in Christ is one that I have not seen before, he struck a remarkable balance to the two truths that Christians are both free from everyone and everything and in service to everyone and everything. While they seem contradictory he did an excellent job of showing how they work together.
April 12, 2023
Excellent treatise on the doctrine of faith and salvation by faith alone. This translation is very readable and really makes Luther's passion for Christ shine through. Very spiritually uplifting and a great work over all, I just wish it was structured differently but that's no fault of Luther or the publisher.
July 4, 2023
A really accessible edition of the German version of this text. Will probably use in classes.
August 6, 2023
Excellent!
September 17, 2024
A short little book on the basics of the faith. I believe it is simple enough that this would be helpful for new believers.
June 17, 2024
Luther takes on one of the most striking motifs/reversals in Scripture in the excellent work: Man’s journey from enslaved freedom to a free enslavement in salvation.
Luther’s use of freedom from and freedom for as a defining paradigm for Christian obedience caused me to consider more seriously the necessity of justification to enable obedience. Additionally, his emphasis on obedience as a means for pleasing God only (against earning anything from Him) was a breath of fresh air.
I did find his exegesis of a few passages to be lacking, but these did not compromise the theological integrity of his arguments. Overall, I highly recommend this short, salient work.
Luther’s use of freedom from and freedom for as a defining paradigm for Christian obedience caused me to consider more seriously the necessity of justification to enable obedience. Additionally, his emphasis on obedience as a means for pleasing God only (against earning anything from Him) was a breath of fresh air.
I did find his exegesis of a few passages to be lacking, but these did not compromise the theological integrity of his arguments. Overall, I highly recommend this short, salient work.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews