Martin Luther's Discovery and Theology

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on Martin Luther's theological views and reflections, focusing on concepts of righteousness, faith, sin, and justification.

Righteousness of God

The quality that Martin Luther initially associated with condemnation of sinners, but later understood as God's mercy and justification through faith.

Justifying Faith

A faith that unites the believer with Christ, creating a personal relationship where the believer shares in Christ's riches and righteousness.

Passive Righteousness

The understanding of righteousness as a gift from God, by which believers are justified by faith rather than by their own merit.

Sinners and Righteous

The coexistence of sin and righteousness in believers, where they are viewed as sinners by their own standards but righteous through God's mercy.

Happy Exchange

The theological concept where Christ takes on the sin of the believer while the believer receives Christ's righteousness through faith.

Council of Trent

The assembly that affirmed the Roman Catholic Church's doctrine of justification as both an event and a process, emphasizing the necessity of grace.

Justification

The act of declaring a sinner to be righteous in the sight of God, understood by reformers as a one-time event rather than a continuous process.

Imputation of Righteousness

The transfer of Christ's righteousness to the believer, so that they are regarded as justified by God.

Simul iustus et peccator

The theological statement meaning 'simultaneously justified and a sinner', indicating the believer's complex status before God.

Augustinian Concept of Free Will

The idea that human will is enslaved by sin, requiring divine intervention for liberation and restoration to a relationship with God.