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A Dispatch From The Comments

"Luther was moved to imputed righteousness by his reading (and teaching) of Romans, not an attempt to prove the church wrong. The church then declared him a heretic for it. At first, it appears, Luther expected the church to agree with him."

It is not reasonable to assume the Church would agree with imputed righteousness, because it cannot. A view of soteriological participation had always been taught. The reading and teaching of the Sacred Scriptures always takes place fruitfully within Sacred Tradition, and thus, all interpretations are subject to revision and correction by it.

To prefer one's own interpretation, especially when it obviously conflicts with the deposit of faith, is heretical, and is justly judged so.
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Timothy R. Butler said…
Well, we could obviously have a good debate on that, but my point was directed at this statement you made: "The Reformers had a conflicted relationship with this bilateral relationship at best, so the position hardened to 'faith alone' and imputed righteousness, because it had to." The Reformers "position" didn't harden as a result of the fight with the Catholics -- it was already at inputed righteousness before there were clear sides.
4:31 PM
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