A Conscience Held Captive by the Word of God

When asked to recant of his writings, Luther replied, “Unless I am convinced by sacred Scripture or by evident reason, I cannot recant. For my conscience is held captive by the word of God and to act against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, God help me.”

Notice that Luther said “unless I am convinced . . .” In earlier debates, Luther had dared to presume to interpret Scripture contrary to interpretations rendered both by popes and by church councils. That he would be so presumptuous led to the repeated charge of arrogance by church officials. Luther did not take those charges lightly but agonized over them.

Luther agreed that if his teachings could be shown to be in error by the Prophets and the Gospels, he would “recant any error, and . . . be the first in casting my writings into the fire.” He believed that he could be wrong but maintained that the pope and councils could also err. For him only one source of truth was free from error.

He said, “The Scriptures never err.” Thus unless the leaders of the church could convince him of his error, he felt duty-bound to follow what his own conscience was convinced Scripture taught. With this controversy the principle of private interpretation was born and baptized with fire.