Theology of the Cross

The theology of the Cross (Latin: Theologia Crucis, German: Kreuzestheologie) or staurology (from Greek stauros: cross, and -logy: 'the study of') is a term coined by the theologian Martin Luther to refer to theology that posits the cross 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. The theology of the Cross (Latin: Theologia Crucis, German: Kreuzestheologie) or staurology (from Greek stauros: cross, and -logy: 'the study of') is a term coined by the theologian Martin Luther to refer to theology that posits the cross 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 CCC 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: