Pelagius

The heresy of Pelagianism received it 's name from a man named Pelagius. Pelagius was a well known monk and theologian who also gained recognition from his work as an educator in Rome. Despite residing in Rome, Pelagius was of British decent. The heresy of Pelgianism is a heresy that deals with human nature. Pelagius taught that humans could fulfill the commands and wishes of God by exercising the freedom of human will that is not in contact with the grace of God. This statement essentially explains that a persons free will is able to choose to do good or bad without the presence of divine intervention. Pelagianism focuses on the point that human nature is inherently good with or without the presence of some type of divine power, or God himself.…

Two interesting figures that I have come across during my readings were the reformer Luther and the monk Pelagius. Each one held their own opinion in regard to the Christian faith, and they would not yield easily to the beliefs of others. What struck me most about Luther was his extreme focus on having faith in God, and his lack of concern for people performing good deeds. As for Pelagius, he has an intriguing take on original sin and on the choices that humans make through the power of free…

understanding of the rationality of evil, original sin, grace, human freedom, predestination and the sacraments. Initially intrigued by the dualistic themes of dark and light, and flesh and spirit, Augustine’s theological journey saw him trying to set his life in order by testing a variety of belief structures. Much of the focus of Augustine’s writing was in response to the Manicheans regarding the origin of evil, to Pelagius’ position on grace and separately the response to Donatus and the…

His father often wanted to tell his son to gloss over any troubles he had when writing to his mother as she worried deeply for his health and wellbeing. Instead, his father stayed silent and allowed his son to write what his heart desired. Soon, though, there would be good changes, at least as far as his parents were concerned. The year was 579 and Pope Pelagius II announced he had named Gregory as a deacon. This was an honorable advance, though it meant Gregory would have to abandon his simpler…

Pelagianism. As Peter says in his second letter, “there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who brought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.” Pelagius, who was a Christian monk born in Britain at around c. 354, and spiritual adviser to Christian aristocrats in Rome around the end of the 4th century, happened to be spreading questionable teachings to his followers. Some sources refer to him as a monk, while others…

There does not seem to be any record of a major controversy concerning man’s freedom in the decision-making process prior to the Pelagian controversy of the 5th century. To be sure, there were debates concerning “free will” prior to the Pelagian controversy (Chrysostom, Origen, Jerome, and others opposed determinism), but none that took center stage the way the Pelagian controversy did. Pelagius, a British-born monk who resided in Rome before it fell in 410, was “roused to anger by an inert…

saves individuals he thinks to deserve a place in his kingdom and perish people who do not deserve a place in heaven. This passage is also important because it teaches Christians about divine election, how individuals are predestined to salvation and God’s sovereignty. Also, God creates some people for eradication to show his fury and power and creates others for grace to show his mercy. This decision is not based on that person; it is solely based on God’s decision and will. There is a wide…

Pelagius agreed wholly with the second part of Augustine’s prayer “command what Thou dost desire,” because He, being God, created humanity, and thus deserves and requires humanity to be obedient to Him. However, Pelagius reacted against the first part of the prayer by saying that; whatever God commands implies the ability of the one who receives the command to obey it. Man should not have to ask for grace in order to be obedient. The argument between Augustine and Pelagius would continue onto…

It was Augustine’s belief that the original sin of Adam and Eve thoroughly damaged human nature. Even the newborn baby is not innocent of the tendency toward greed and envy. Additionally he thought that God’s grace, the gift of charity bestowed by the Holy Spirit, is absolutely necessary to change the orientation of the human will and to direct the human heart toward God. Pelagius, a monk from Britain, had a different view from Augustine on sin. He taught and gave spiritual advice to Christians…

called traitors. Donatist refused to recognize a traitor had authority in the church. 7. What were Augustine's primary theological arguments against the Donatists? The holiness that Donatists have possessed was now destroyed by their schism. Unity is a primary characteristic of the church, and to violate that unity, is to violate the essentials of Christian charity. Augustine argued that the Donatist notion that the sacraments administered by a sinful priest or bishop were invalid. He said…