Theology as Freedom: On Martin Luther’s De servo arbitrio

Andrea Vestrucci presents a pioneering perspective on Luther and Erasmus’s theological dispute on freedom. He argues that Luther’s De servo arbitrio does not simply negate Erasmus’s concept of freedom; rather, and more profoundly, Luther’s work questions and modifies the logical foundations of Erasmus’s position. As a result, theology is the freedom to challenge the formal conditions of meaning. In accordance with this new perspective, the author introduces groundbreaking analyses of central theological issues, such as God’s hiddenness ( Deus absconditus), justification, predestination, and theodicy. Moreover, he addresses topics of current debate, from the relationship between Luther and Kant to the ontological interpretation of Luther, to the existentialist approach in theology.