The Bondage of the Will
The Bondage of the Will (De servo arbitrio) is Martin Luther's Latin treatise of December 1525, written in reply to Erasmus's On Free Will. It argues that salvation comes only through God, not human choice. Henry Cole's 1823 London translation was the first English version.
- Editions tracked
- 1
- First UK edition
- Printed by T. Bensley for W. Simpkin and R. Marshall, 1823
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Editions
- Printed by T. Bensley for W. Simpkin and R. Marshall and sold by J. Eedes1823 Hardback I own Martin Luther on the Bondage of the Will, Printed by T. Bensley for W. Simpkin and R. Marshall and sold by J. Eedes 1823 Log in to want this
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Awards, adaptations and setting
Read next
- Comes after
- De libero arbitrio diatribe sive collatio
In print
- Editions recorded
- 20 on Open Library, 15 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 14 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
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Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of The Bondage of the Will are there?
We track 1 edition of The Bondage of the Will. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
When was The Bondage of the Will first published?
The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther was first published in 1525.
What should I read after The Bondage of the Will?
In order, it follows De libero arbitrio diatribe sive collatio, according to Wikidata.
Where these facts come from
- On the Bondage of the Will, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Martin Luther on the Bondage of the Will, Open Library (openlibrary.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 28 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.