40 thesis on Faith

Martin Luther’s Theses Concerning Faith (1535), prepared for the doctoral disputations of Hieronymus Weller and Nikolaus Medler (September 11–14, 1535), consist of 40 propositions articulating his doctrine of justification by faith alone (sola fide), emphasizing God’s grace and Christ’s imputed righteousness, rejecting human merit. These are found in Luther’s Works (American Edition, vol. 34, pp. 153–158) and Weimarer Ausgabe (WA 39.1:44–48). The Theses Concerning Faith and Law total 79 theses (40 faith, 39 law)

1. Faith is a gift of God, not a human achievement or work.

• Bible Text: Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

• Note: Luther emphasizes faith as divine, not human, aligning with sola gratia.

2. Faith is not a human habit or quality but a divine creation.

• Bible Text: 2 Corinthians 4:6 – “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.”

• Note: Faith is God’s creative act, per Luther’s rejection of human merit.

3. Faith is not acquired by human effort but given by God’s grace.

• Bible Text: Romans 12:3 – “God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

• Note: Reinforces divine initiative in faith’s origin.

4. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

• Bible Text: Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

• Note: Luther directly cites this verse in the Theses (WA 39.1:44).

5. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, not a mere opinion or imagination.

• Bible Text: Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for…” (KJV rendering).

• Note: Emphasizes faith’s certainty, echoing Hebrews 11:1.

6. Faith is not a human thought but a divine certainty.

• Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 2:12 – “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God.”

• Note: Faith’s divine origin contrasts human speculation.

7. Faith rests on the promises of God, not on human reasoning.

• Bible Text: Romans 4:20–21 – “No unbelief made [Abraham] waver concerning the promise of God… fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”

• Note: Luther ties faith to God’s promises, as in Abraham’s example.

8. Faith is not a work of the law but a gift of the gospel.

• Bible Text: Galatians 3:2 – “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?”

• Note: Reflects Luther’s Galatians (1535) emphasis on gospel over law.

9. Faith alone justifies, not works, merits, or human righteousness.

• Bible Text: Romans 3:28 – “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”

• Note: Core sola fide principle, central to Luther’s theology.

10. Faith justifies because it apprehends Christ, our righteousness.

• Bible Text: Galatians 2:16 – “We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.”

• Note: Faith’s role is to receive Christ, per Galatians (1535).

11. Faith unites the believer with Christ, as a bride with her bridegroom.

• Bible Text: Ephesians 5:31–32 – “The two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”

• Note: Luther uses bridal imagery, as in On the Freedom of a Christian (1520).

12. Faith does not rely on human worthiness but on Christ’s merit.

• Bible Text: Romans 5:1–2 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

• Note: Christ’s merit is the basis for justification.

13. Faith is not diminished by human unworthiness, for it trusts in God’s mercy.

• Bible Text: Romans 3:23–24 – “All have sinned… and are justified by his grace as a gift.”

• Note: God’s mercy overrides human sinfulness.

14 Faith is the only means by which we receive God’s righteousness.

• Bible Text: Romans 1:17 – “The righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith.”

• Note: Luther’s “tower experience” text underpins this thesis.

15. Faith is the righteousness by which we are justified before God.

• Bible Text: Romans 4:5 – “To the one who believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.”

• Note: Faith itself is the righteousness imputed by God.

16. Faith does not justify by its own merit but by Christ’s righteousness.

• Bible Text: Philippians 3:9 – “Not having a righteousness of my own… but that which comes through faith in Christ.”

• Note: Christ’s righteousness, not faith’s quality, justifies.

17. Faith is active through love, but love does not justify.

• Bible Text: Galatians 5:6 – “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”

• Note: Luther cites this to show love as faith’s fruit, not cause.

18. Faith produces good works, but works do not produce faith.

• Bible Text: Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.”

• Note: Works follow faith, per Luther’s sola fide.

19. Faith is the root of all good works, yet only faith justifies.

• Bible Text: James 2:17 – “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

• Note: Luther accepts works as evidence of faith, not justification.

20.  Faith alone apprehends the promise of God, which is Christ.

• Bible Text: Romans 4:16 – “That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace.”

• Note: Faith receives Christ as God’s promise.

21. Faith alone justifies without works.

• Bible Text: Romans 3:28 – “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”

• Note: Restates sola fide, Luther’s core doctrine.

22. Faith is the assurance of salvation, not the performance of deeds.

• Bible Text: Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.”

• Note: Repeats Hebrews 11:1, emphasizing certainty.

23. Justification is the work of God alone, not of human merit.

• Bible Text: Titus 3:5 – “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.”

• Note: Divine monergism, rejecting human contribution.

24. Justification is received by faith, not earned by works.

• Bible Text: Romans 5:1 – “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God.”

• Note: Faith as the means of receiving justification.

25. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to us by faith.

• Bible Text: Romans 4:22–24 – “That is why [Abraham’s] faith was ‘counted to him as righteousness.’”

• Note: Imputation is central to Luther’s doctrine.

26. Justification is in reality a kind of rebirth in newness, as John says: “Who believe on His name and were born of God.”

• Bible Text: John 1:12–13 – “To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born… of God.”

• Note: Luther explicitly cites this verse (WA 39.1:46).

27. This rebirth is not a work of our will but of God’s grace and Spirit.

• Bible Text: John 3:5 – “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

• Note: Rebirth is God’s work, linked to sanctification.

28. Faith is the beginning of salvation, not its completion by works.

• Bible Text: Philippians 1:6 – “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.”

• Note: Faith initiates salvation, works follow.

29. Faith is the certainty of God’s promise, not human achievement.

• Bible Text: Romans 4:21 – “[Abraham was] fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”

• Note: Faith trusts God’s promise, not human effort.

30. Faith does not depend on human preparation but on God’s election.

• Bible Text: Romans 9:16 – “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”

• Note: Reflects Luther’s view of divine election.

31. Faith is not a condition we fulfill but a gift we receive.

• Bible Text: Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God.”

• Note: Reaffirms faith as divine gift.

32. Faith justifies because it clings to Christ, not because of its strength.

• Bible Text: Galatians 2:20 – “The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God.”

• Note: Faith’s object (Christ), not its intensity, justifies.

33. Faith is not a work we perform but a trust in God’s work.

• Bible Text: John 6:29 – “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

• Note: Faith itself is God’s work in us.

34. Faith is the means by which God’s righteousness becomes ours.

• Bible Text: Romans 1:17 – “The righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith.”

• Note: Righteousness is imputed through faith.

35. Faith is not a merit but a receiving of God’s mercy.

• Bible Text: Romans 3:24 – “Justified by his grace as a gift.”

• Note: Faith receives, does not earn, mercy.

36. Faith is the only way to please God.

• Bible Text: Hebrews 11:6 – “Without faith it is impossible to please him.”

• Note: Luther cites this verse to emphasize faith’s necessity.

37. Faith is not a human virtue but a divine work in us.

• Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 12:3 – “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.”

• Note: Faith is Spirit-given, not human.

38. Faith is the assurance of God’s favor, not our own righteousness.

• Bible Text: Romans 5:1 – “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God.”

• Note: Faith secures God’s favor, not human merit.

39. Faith is the instrument of justification, not its cause.

• Bible Text: Romans 4:16 – “It depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace.”

• Note: Faith is the means, grace the cause.

40. Faith alone is sufficient for salvation, for it rests on Christ alone.

• Bible Text: Acts 4:12 – “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven… by which we must be saved.”

• Note: Christ alone (solus Christus) is salvation’s basis.