Protestant Moral Theology

Jan 9 – March 18, 2023
Davenant Hall

Course Description

Protestant moral theology is memorably summed up by Martin Luther’s dictum, “The Christian is the most free lord of all, subject to none. The Christian is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to everyone.” In this course, we will unpack this profound dialectic, explaining the true shape of Christian liberty that flows from justification by faith but that is ordered to love of neighbor in the life of sanctification.

Beginning with a careful consideration of Luther’s often-misunderstood doctrine of Christian freedom, we will then outline what it means to use this freedom well, guided by the conscience and the law, and taking shape in the virtues. These last, although often neglected in Protestant theological ethics, were emphasized by many key thinkers and offer an essential framework for thinking about the way that sanctification takes hold in the whole person.

Finally, we will seek to apply these building blocks to four main aspects of the Christian’s life in society, as understood by magisterial Protestant thinkers: the three estates of State, Church, and Family, and the doctrine of work and vocation. The course will be based chiefly on primary-source readings and will consist of roughly equal parts lecture and discussion.