What was the primary difference between Luther's and Augustine's?

Answer 1

I assume this question means to ask, what is the difference between Augustine's and Luther's theology? The primary difference between the two was their understainding of justification. Augustine did not know Greek, and so read The Bible in Latin. As such, he took justification to mean "to make righteous." Augustine believed that God enacted salvation inside of man. That when a man is converted, their will is changed so that they lvove God and man, and they are only patially righteous. By doing good works in faith the Christian becomes more righteous. Unfortunately this is a very dangerous understanding of justification. Augustine mixed justification and sanctification. This view of justification unfortunately allows room for the Christian to doubt his salvation and undermines the Gospel. Luther believed in forensic justification, that is, that justification takes place outside of man. He understood that the Greek word for "justify" meant "to declare righteous." He believed that immediately upon conversion the Christian was fully righteous in God's sight. He believed that God the Father declares the believer righteous, just, pure, and holy, for the sake of His Son, Jesus Christ. So, for Luther (and according to the Scriptures), the Christian is simultaniously fully sinner, but also fully righteous through faith. Luther did not deny sanctification. He believed sanctification, also called "renewal" occured at the same time as justification. You could not have one without the other. However, he kept them distinguished and emphasized the difference between the two. Justification is the sinner being declared righteous for Christ's sake, and is what saves him alone. Sanctification is the "fruit" of justification and the result of having faith. The Christian does good works because he has faith, but these works do not in any way make the Christian more righteous in God's sight.

Answer 2

Luther emphasized salvation through faith alone, while Augustine emphasized the role of both faith and good works in salvation. Luther also rejected the authority of the papacy and emphasized the primacy of scripture, while Augustine supported the authority of the Church hierarchy and tradition.