Ceangal na Toile

The Bondage of the Will

Section 2: Erasmus Revealed as a Skeptic

By Martin Luther

This article is based on the translation made in 1823 by Edward Thomas Vaughan. The language has been modernized with the assistance of CoPilot AI, with further alterations and final approval by Thirdmill’s editorial staff.

Tha sinn a’ dol a dh’fhaighinn air a’ aithris agad—chan e a-mhàin mu dheidhinn saorsa a’ toil, ach mu dheidhinn teagasg creideimh mar a h-uile—far a bheil thu ag ràdh gum biodh tu toilichte a dhol còmhla ris na Skeptics mura biodh ùghdarras iomlan a’ Bhìoball agus deicheadan na h-Eaglais a’ seasamh air a’ chontràth, oir tha thu cho duilich le aithrisean.

Tha am briathrachas sin—“ùghdarras iomlan agus deicheadan na h-Eaglais”—cadalach. Tha thu a’ faireachdainn a dh’ionnsaigh a’ Bhìoball agus na h-Eaglais, ach tha thu a’ ciallachadh gum biodh tu ag iarraidh a bhith saor a dhol a dh’fhàgadh amharclach. Dè an seòrsa Crìosdaidh a bhruidhinn mar sin? Ma tha thu a’ toirt iomradh air teagasg beag, an uairsin gu dearbh, tha mòran dhaoine ag iarraidh gum biodh saorsa aca ceasnachadh orra. Chan eil sin ùr.

Gu dearbh, tha a’ mhòr-chuid de Chriostaidhean mar-thà a’ cleachdadh a’ saorsa sin nuair a dhiùlaidh iad dogmatism cruaidh. Mura h-eil, mar a tha do bhriathran a’ moladh, tha thu a’ smaoineachadh gu bheil Crìosdaidhean sa chumantas a’ cumail ri teagasg gun luach agus a’ argamaid gu amaideach air an son. Ach ma tha thu a’ bruidhinn air creideasan riatanach, an uairsin ag ràdh gum biodh tu ag iarraidh nach fheumadh tu aithris a dhèanamh air rud sam bith tha e gu math troimh-chèile. Bhiodh Crìosdaidh fìor ag ràdh, “Air falbh bho bhith a’ dol còmhla ris na Skeptics, tha mi a’ strì a bhith a’ seasamh daingean ann am facal Dhè, ag aithris na tha e a’ teagasg—agus eadhon ann an cùisean neo-riatanach, tha mi a’ feuchainn a bhith misneachail. Dè tha nas miosa na mì-chinnt?”

An uairsin tha thu ag ràdh, “Tha mi a’ toirt seachad mo bhreith air a h-uile, ge bith a thuig mi e no nach eil.” Really, Erasmus? Nach eil e gu leòr a’ Bhìoball a thoirt seachad? Am feum thu cuideachd a’ gèilleadh do dheicheadan na h-Eaglais? A bheil thu ag ràdh gum faod an Eaglais àithreachadh dè nach eil a’ Bhìoball a’ dèanamh? Mura h-eil, càit a bheil saorsa a’ bhreith a dhèanamh air teagasg, mar a tha Paul a’ teagasg ann an 1 Corinthians 14:29? Tha thu coltach a’ cur an aghaidh a’ bheachd air breith a dhèanamh air deicheadan na h-Eaglais, ach tha Paul a’ seasamh air.

This new humility of yours—blindly submitting to human authority—strips us of the right to evaluate doctrine. Where does Scripture demand that? And what Christian would say, “I submit, even if I don’t understand”? You’re professing beliefs without grasping them. But Scripture curses those who don’t understand what they claim to believe. How can someone truly believe without understanding?

You seem to suggest that belief doesn’t require certainty. But if “apprehending” means fully grasping something, then partial understanding isn’t enough. You can’t claim to understand one part of God without understanding all of Him. We must first apprehend God before we can understand anything else in creation.

Ultimately, your words imply that belief doesn’t matter—as long as peace is maintained. When reputation, safety, or wealth are at risk, you seem to endorse the idea of echoing whatever others say: “They affirm, I affirm; they deny, I deny.” You reduce Christian doctrine to mere philosophical opinion, not worth defending because it only causes conflict. You present yourself as a peacemaker who wants to silence both sides, suggesting we’re fighting over nonsense. That’s the real message behind your words, Erasmus—and I suspect you know what I’m leaving unsaid.

Still, I’ll let those words slide for now, provided you don’t repeat them. But beware the Spirit of God, who sees through polished language and examines the heart. I’ve said this to discourage you from accusing us of being rigid or overly assertive. Your approach suggests you harbor the spirit of Lucian or some Epicurean who doesn’t believe in God and mocks those who do. Let us be assertive, passionate about truth, and unashamed of it. You can keep favoring your Skeptics and Academics—until Christ calls you to something greater.

The Holy Spirit is no Skeptic. He hasn’t written vague opinions on our hearts, but firm, life-rooted truths—truths more certain than anything we’ve experienced.

A-nis, gu puing eile. Tha thu ag ràdh gu bheil cuid de dh'òrdughan Crìosdaidheachd riatanach agus cuid eile nach eil; cuid falaichte, cuid eile air fhoillseachadh. A bheil thu dìreach ag ath-aithris feadhainn eile, no a' feuchainn ri geur-leanmhainn rhetorical? Tha thu ag ainmeachadh faclan Phòil —Romans 11:33) — agus Isaiah —Isaiah 40:13).

Tha e furasta na rudan seo a ràdh nuair a tha thu a' sgrìobhadh airson a' phoblaich ghinearal, chan ann gu dìreach ri Luther. Ach tha mi an dòchas gum bi thu fhathast a' toirt creideas do Luther le tuigse air leth de'n Sgriobtur. Mura h-eil, nì mi cinnteach gum bi thu.

Leigidh mi leat eadar-dhealachadh a dhèanamh: Chan eil Dia agus facal sgrìobhte Dhia mar an ceudna — dìreach mar a tha an Cruthaiche agus a chruthachadh air leth. Gu dearbh, tha mòran rudan falaichte ann an Dia. Tha e ag ràdh fhèin: Matthew 24:36), Acts 1:7), John 13:18), agus 2 Timothy 2:19).

Ach tha cuid de fheallsanachdan — agus tha thu ag ath-aithris an seo — ag ràdh gu bheil Sgriobtur fhèin a' cumail òrdughan falaichte. Cha do dhearbh iad seo a-riamh. Cha do sheall iad aon eisimpleir a-riamh gus taic a thoirt don tagradh aca. Ach tha na smuaintean seo air daoine a dhiscouragachadh bho Sgriobtur a leughadh agus air a dhèanamh a' coimhead neo-iomchaidh — gus am faodadh heresies feallsanachdan Satan fhèin freumh a ghabhail anns an Eaglais.