Theology of the Cross

Definition and Meaning

The theology of the cross (Latin theologia crucis) is the view that the way to know God lies not in human reason, achievements, or visible success but in the cross of Jesus Christ. Luther called the opposing approach the theology of glory, by which he meant the belief that one can ascend to God through the order of creation, human good works, or outward prosperity. The theology of the cross holds that God is hidden in weakness, suffering, and shame, yet at the same time reveals himself in them.

Biblical and Historical Background

Frequently cited biblical foundations include 1 Corinthians 1:18–25, which teaches that "the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God"; 1 Corinthians 2:2, where Paul writes, "I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified"; and Galatians 6:14, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The term originated in the theses that Martin Luther presented at a meeting of the Augustinian order in Heidelberg in April 1518. In these theses Luther contrasted the two theologies, stating in effect that "a theologian of glory calls evil good and good evil, but a theologian of the cross calls the thing what it actually is." Together with the doctrine of justification by grace alone, this idea became a foundation of Reformation theology. In the twentieth century, Jürgen Moltmann extended the theme in The Crucified God (1972), developing an understanding of God as one who stands in solidarity with those who suffer.

Practice in the Korean Church

In Korea, the Lutheran Church in Korea and Luther University, both of which stand in the Lutheran tradition, treat this concept as a central theological theme. Seminaries of other denominations, including Presbyterian and Methodist institutions, also teach it widely in courses on Reformation theology and systematic theology.

In pastoral ministry, the concept is frequently invoked in Holy Week preaching and in teaching that emphasizes discipleship. It also serves as a framework for criticizing the growth-centered mindset and the prosperity theology that emerged during the period of Korean church growth. Those who use it in this way regard the tendency to treat a church's size or material blessings as evidence of God's presence as a form of the theology of glory.

By contrast, some Pentecostal groups hold that the atonement accomplished on the cross encompasses not only the salvation of the soul but also healing and the restoration of life. They counter that the cross and the resurrection must be emphasized together, and that placing suffering alone in the foreground may diminish the power of the resurrection and the work of the Holy Spirit. Denominations and theologians thus differ in emphasis on how to understand the relationship between suffering and blessing.