The Bondage of the Will

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.

Let me start by quickly touching on a few things you said in your Preface—because honestly, you seem to downplay our side while boosting your own. You've criticized me before for being too firm in my beliefs, and now you're saying you're so uncomfortable with strong assertions that you'd rather side with the Sceptics—at least when Scripture and Church teachings allow it. You’re clearly someone who prefers to defer to the Church’s authority, even when you don’t fully understand what she teaches. And that’s the kind of mindset you seem to admire.

Now, I respect your peaceful intentions. You’re clearly trying to be kind and avoid conflict. But if someone else had said what you did, I might’ve responded more sharply—just being honest. Even so, I can’t let this idea slide, no matter how well-meaning it is.

Here’s the thing: being a Christian means standing firm in what you believe. If you’re not okay with making assertions—bold, unwavering statements of faith—then you’re missing something essential. Let’s be clear about what I mean by “assertion”: it’s sticking to your beliefs, affirming them, defending them, and not backing down. That’s how the word has always been used, and I’m talking specifically about truths revealed by God in Scripture.

We don’t need scholars like Erasmus to guide us through vague or trivial debates. What we do need is clarity and conviction about the things that matter—things that aren’t just foolish or irrelevant, but central to our faith. I’m assuming you’re not talking about those trivial debates here—unless you’ve accidentally mixed up your topics, or worse, you’re suggesting that the doctrine of Free Will isn’t important. That would be a serious misstep.

As Christians, we don’t dabble in skepticism. We’re assertive—more so than even the Stoics. Paul constantly urges us to be confident and unwavering in what we believe. In Romans, he talks about confession leading to salvation. Jesus says that if we confess Him before others, He’ll do the same for us before the Father. Peter tells us to be ready to explain the hope we have. Assertion is at the heart of Christianity. Take it away, and you take away the faith itself.

The Holy Spirit was given to us to glorify Christ—even to the point of death. That’s the ultimate assertion. The Spirit doesn’t just sit back; He confronts the world and calls out sin. Paul tells Timothy to speak boldly, even when it’s inconvenient. But how can someone rebuke others if they don’t truly believe or assert the truth themselves? That kind of person shouldn’t be preaching—they should be sent off for a reality check. And honestly, I’m wasting time explaining something that should be obvious. What Christian would tolerate the idea that assertions don’t matter? That’s like saying religion and faith don’t matter either.

And yet, you say, “I’m not a fan of assertions; I prefer a more moderate approach.” You clarify that you’re not talking about confessing Christ or His teachings, and I appreciate that. Out of respect, I won’t judge your intentions right now. But I do think you should be more careful with your words. No matter how sincere your heart is, your language doesn’t reflect that clarity.

If you think Free Will isn’t essential to Christianity, then your words make sense—but your judgment is off. If you do think it’s essential, then your words are misleading, even if your judgment is sound. Either way, your complaints about “useless assertions” don’t really apply here. They’re beside the point.