Martin Luther and Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus ("outside of the church there is no salvation"): Did Luther Really Abandon Cyprian?

Abstract

This paper argues that despite initiating the Reformation of the 16th century and boldly proclaiming sola gratia et fides—the very purpose of which was to theologically disentangle soteriology and ecclesiology—Luther ended up endorsing the traditional Catholic position extra ecclesiam nulla salus, i.e., that there is no salvation outside the church. This “church” was now, of course, Luther’s own denomination. Luther’s embrace of this traditional Catholic catchphrase should not be surprising, as it was the logical outgrowth of problematic assumptions that influenced his understanding of justification by faith. Before these assumptions can be explored, however, the ecclesiological framework that led to his embrace of the “there is no salvation outside of the church” doctrine must first be laid down.