In 1525, Martin Luther faced one of the greatest intellectual challenges of his life: a defense of human free will by the renowned scholar Erasmus of Rotterdam. Luther's reply, The Bondage of the Will, is a passionate and rigorous exploration of how God's sovereignty and human responsibility meet. Written for the common reader, this modern-English edition preserves the fire and clarity of Luther's argument while making it accessible to today's audience. You will encounter Luther's conviction that Scripture alone reveals a God who works all things for the salvation of his people, and that true freedom is found not in our choices but in Christ's redeeming work. This is a classic that has shaped centuries of Christian thought—now in language that speaks directly to the present. Part of The Founding Texts Library.