In his The Disputation Concerning Man (1536), Luther posits a profitable anthropology, one that does not begin with Cartesian assumptions cobbled together with Scripture passages to prove a middle-of-the-road point. No, rather the Blessed Martin begins his teaching in the company of classical, Christian theologians who found that the first thing about man we discuss is his creation by God as both body and soul, created in God’s image. Luther and the classic, Christian faith does not begin to discuss man vis-a-vis human reason, as do the philosophers, nor do they begin with man’s sensate experience. Rather Luther suggests,
Theology to be sure from the fullness of its wisdom defines man as whole and perfect:
Namely, that man is a creature of God consisting of body and a living soul, made in the beginning after the image of God, without sin, so that he should procreate and rule over the created things, and never die,
But after the fall of Adam, certainly, he was subject to the power of the devil, sin and death, a twofold evil for his powers, unconquerable and eternal.
He can be freed and given eternal life only through the Son of God, Jesus Christ (if he believes in him). (LW 34:138)
