Theology of the Cross

The theology of the Cross (Latin: Theologia Crucis, Kreuzestheologie) or staurology (from Greek stauros: cross, and -logy: "the study of") is a term coined by the German theologian Martin Luther to refer to theology that posits “the cross” (that is, divine self-revelation) as the only source of knowledge concerning who God is and how God saves. It is contrasted with the Theology of Glory (theologia gloriae), which places greater emphasis on human abilities and human reason. Paragraph 2015 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the way of perfection as passing by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle. Spiritual progress entails the ascesis and mortification that gradually leads to living in the peace and joy of the beatitudes. The term theologia crucis was used very rarely by Luther. He first used the term, and explicitly defined it in contrast to the theology of glory, in the Heidelberg Disputation of 1518. During this debate, he represented the Augustinians and presented his theses that later came to define the Reformation movement. The pertinent theological theses of the debate are: The law of God, the most salutary doctrine of life, cannot advance man on his way to righteousness, but rather hinders him. Much less can human works, which are done over and over again with the aid of natural precepts, so to speak, lead to that end. Although the works of man always appear attractive and good, they are nevertheless likely to be mortal sins. Although the works of God always seem unattractive and appear evil, they are nevertheless really eternal merits. The works of men are thus not mortal sins (we speak of works that apparently are good), as though they were crimes. The works of God (those he does through man) are thus not merits, as though they were sinless. The works of the righteous would be mortal sins if they would not be feared as mortal sins by the righteous themselves out of pious fear of God. By so much more are the works of man mortal sins when they are done without fear and in unadulterated, evil self-security.