He was known around campus as Doctor Profundis (the Profound Doctor). Little wonder. He was one of the ablest theologians of his day, along with being a skilled mathematician and brilliant physicist. Thomas Bradwardine (1300-1349) came to saving faith in Christ in the 1320’s. He said of sermons of his day, “I seldom heard a reference to grace. What I heard day in and day out was that we are makers of our own free acts, that ours is a choice to act well or badly.” The doctrine of merit was deeply ingrained in the fourteenth century church. It was believed that people could earn favor with God. Clergy urged parishioners to do whatever good they could, so that God could reward them. God rewarded people, commiserate with their good works.
Thomas heard a different message in Scripture, “Every time I listened to the epistle [of Romans] read in church, I heard the message of grace.” Romans 9.16 became a signature verse for him, “So then it depends not on human will or exertion but on God’s mercy.” He wrote, “This verse came to me as a beacon of grace and captured me by a vision of the truth; I saw how the grace of God precedes all good works. That is why I express my gratitude to Him who has given me this grace as a free gift.” Thomas’s teachings on grace later influenced John Wycliffe, whose writings played a seminal role in the life and theology of the reformer Martin Luther.
I can appreciate why the medieval church was attracted to the doctrine of merit. We want to be able to point to something we can do to contribute to our salvation. When Martin Luther was asked what we contribute to our salvation, he responded, “Sin and resistance.” Precisely! Thomas Bradwardine leads us to pray: