| Abbreviations | xv |
| Introduction | |
| The Erasmian Enigma | 1 |
| The Lutheran Riposte | 12 |
| The Language of the Debate | 28 |
| Erasmus: On the Freedom of the Will | |
| Prefatory Observations | |
| Erasmus Acknowledges His Limitations and States His Point of View | 35 |
| His Dislike of Assertions | 37 |
| The Obscurity of Scripture | 38 |
| Some Truths Are Not for Common Ears | 40 |
| The Dangers Inherent in Luther's Teachings | 41 |
| Introduction to the Disputation | |
| Luther Is Opposed Not Only by Scripture but Also by Weighty Authority of the Church Fathers | 42 |
| How Can Inspiration and Authority Be Tested? | 44 |
Part I. | Scripture Passages That Support Free Choice | |
| Definition of Free Choice and Discussion of Ecclesiasticus 15:14-17 | 47 |
| Man Before and After the Fall: The Forgiveness of Sins Restores Freedom of Choice Through Grace | 48 |
| The Work of the Will, and the Threefold Law of Nature, Works, and Faith | 49 |
| Different Kinds of Grace, and Three Views of Its Relation to Free Choice | 51 |
| Further Old Testament Passages Implying Free Choice | 54 |
| New Testament Texts Examined. Matthew 23:37 and Other Words of Christ | 59 |
| St. Paul Also Is a Champion of Free Choice | 61 |
Part II. | Scripture Passages That Seem to Oppose Free Choice | |
| Exodus 9:12; Romans 9:17: The Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart | 64 |
| The Problem of the Will and Foreknowledge of God | 66 |
| Two Kinds of Necessity: The Case of Judas | 68 |
| Jacob and Esau | 69 |
| The Potter and the Clay | 70 |
Part III. | Examination of Luther's Arguments in His Assertio | |
| Genesis 6:3: The Meaning of "Flesh" and "Spirit" | 74 |
| The Will Is Not Powerless Though It Cannot Attain Its End Without Grace | 79 |
| Man's Cooperation with God | 81 |
| What Merit Is There Without Free Choice? | 84 |
| Epilogue | |
| A Reasonable Approach to the Problem | 85 |
| A Mediating View, and a Parable of Grace and Free Choice | 89 |
| The Extravagances of Those Who Totally Deny Free Choice | 91 |
| The Dire Results of Exaggerated Views | 95 |
| As to Which Side Is Right, Let the Reader Be Judge | 97 |
| Luther: on the Bondage of the Will | |
| Introduction | |
| Luther Explains His Delay in Replying and Admits Erasmus' Superior Talent | 101 |
Part I. | Review of Erasmus' Preface | |
| Christianity Involves Assertions; Christians Are No Skeptics | 105 |
| The Clarity of Scripture | 109 |
| It is Vital to Know the Truth About Free Choice | 113 |
| God's Foreknowledge; Contingence and Necessity | 117 |
| Should Divine Truth Be Kept from Common Ears? | 124 |
| Should the Truth of God's Necessitating Will Be Suppressed? | 134 |
| Divine Necessity and the Human Will | 139 |
Part II. | Comments on Erasmus' Introduction | |
| The Evidence of Tradition on Behalf of Free Choice | 144 |
| The True Church, Which Does Not Err, Is Hidden from Men's Sight | 154 |
| Scripture, with its "Internal" and "External" Clarity, as the Test of Truth | 158 |
Part III. | Refutation of Arguments in Support of Free Choice | |
| Erasmus' Definition of Free Choice | 169 |
| Three Views of Grace and Free Choice--or Three Statements of One View? | 177 |
| Ecclesiasticus 15:14-17. The Foolishness of Reason | 182 |
| Other Old Testament Passages, and the Imperative and Indicative Moods | 188 |
| Erasmus' Failure to Distinguish Between Law and Gospel | 194 |
| God Preached, God Hidden; God's Will Revealed, God's Will Secret | 200 |
| New Testament Passages: Matthew 23:37--Man Must Not Pry Into the Secret Will of God | 205 |
| Precepts and Rewards in the New Testament: The Question of Merit | 208 |
| Erasmus' Arguments Undermine His Own Case | 215 |
Part IV. | Defense of Arguments Against Free Choice | |
| Erasmus' Use of Tropes in Interpreting Scripture | 220 |
| Exodus 4:21--The Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart | 223 |
| How God's Omnipotence Can Be Said to Work Evil | 232 |
| How God's Foreknowledge Imposes Necessity | 239 |
| Two Kinds of Necessity: The Case of Judas | 246 |
| Jacob and Esau | 249 |
| The Potter and the Clay | 255 |
| Erasmus' Way of Reasoning Does Not Let God Be God | 258 |
Part V. | Rebuttal of Erasmus' Critique of the Assertio | |
| Genesis 6:3 and the Biblical Meaning of "Flesh" | 263 |
| Other Old Testament Passages--The Universal Sinfulness and Impotence of Man Under the Law | 266 |
| The Whole Man--Body, Soul, and "Spirit"--Is "Flesh" | 271 |
| How Erasmus Persistently Evades the Issue | 278 |
| John 15:5, etc.: Free Choice Is "Nothing"--Coram Deo | 281 |
| Divine Grace and Human Cooperation | 288 |
Part VI. | A Display of the Forces on Luther's Side | |
| St. Paul: Universal Sinfulness Nullifies Free Choice | 293 |
| Free Choice May Do the Works of the Law but Not Fulfill the Law | 302 |
| "Congruous" and "Condign" Merit | 309 |
| The Righteousness of Works and of Faith; and a Summary of St. Paul's Testimony Against Free Choice | 312 |
| St. John: Free Choice is of "the World," "the Flesh"; Grace is of Christ, by Faith. The Two Are Opposites | 319 |
| The Two Kingdoms, of Christ and of Satan. The Assurance of Faith | 327 |
| The Mercy and Justice of God in the Light of Nature, Grace, and Glory | 329 |
| Conclusion | |
| That the Case Against Free Choice is Unanswerable Let Erasmus Be Willing to Admit | 332 |
Appendix | On the Adagia of Erasmus | 335 |
| Indexes | 341 |