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The Theology of the CrossLuther’s theology of the cross teaches that the only true knowledge of God comes from His self‑revelation in Scripture, which exposes human inability and reveals salvation solely through the cross of Christ. In contrast, the theology of glory begins with human reason and always concludes that man can save himself by his own will and works—a Pelagian impulse found in medieval scholasticism, modern philosophy, and much of contemporary Protestantism. Augustine and Luther stand together in insisting that the law cannot save but only exposes sin and drives sinners to grace, while human reason—when made the standard—inevitably turns the gospel into moralism. Barone’s study shows that this ancient conflict between cross and glory shapes not only theology but also Western philosophy, culture, and everyday thinking, leaving the modern world largely Pelagian and Christ‑less; the only true alternative remains the Reformation’s theology of the cross.