The Pelagian controversy is one of the most significant theological debates in the early centuries of Christianity. It emerged in the 5th century AD, revolving around different views on key aspects of Christian doctrine, particularly human nature, sin, and salvation. At its core, the controversy centered on the teachings of Pelagius, a British monk, and his followers, who challenged previous understandings of original sin and the necessity of divine grace for salvation. This theological dispute ignited divisive debates, causing even the famous Augustine of Hippo to refine his theology and address the teachings of Pelagius. Consequently, the church gained a better understanding of the doctrine of grace and salvation. Pelagius and his views were condemned by ecumenical councils at Ephesus. This paper aims to explore the Pelagian controversy in-depth, examining the crucial theological issues it raised, analyzing the positions of key figures involved, and evaluating its ongoing relevance for the evangelical church today.
Wisse, Maarten, and Anthony Dupont summarize this controversy in “Nostis Qui in Schola Christi Eruditi Estis, Iacob Ipsum Esse Israel. “Augustine developed his doctrine of grace especially in the Pelagian controversy, a theological debate from 411 onwards in which he advocated the utter dependence of humanity on God’s always preceding grace, because all humans share Adam’s sin. Schematically speaking, one might argue that Augustine considers human- kind after Adam’s fall to be a helpless child in need of an all-inclusive grace on account of the universal human sinfulness. According to Augustine’s interpreta- tion of their thinking, Caelestius, Pelagius,” and later Julian of Aeclanum consider humanity to be free, independent, and mature adults in its relationship with God and only in need of initial grace, namely being created with a good nature and with rational and moral capacities. Grace is a condition—and nothing more-for righteous actions, at least according to Augustine’s reading of their writings.”
The Pelagian controversy had far-reaching implications for Christian theology and orthodoxy. It forced the early church fathers to grapple with profound questions regarding the nature of humanity and the relationship between divine grace and human will. Moreover, the controversy stresses the importance of theological precision and reliance on Scripture in the face of doctrinal challenges. O who were the key players in this controversy?
Pelagius was a British monk who emerged as the central figure advocating for a more optimistic view of human nature and the capacity for moral self-improvement apart from divine grace. He advocated that humans can make good and make moral choices on their own accord. His teachings challenged prevailing understandings of original sin and emphasized the role of human effort in achieving moral perfection. He found Augustine’s confessions unconvincing regarding Augustine’s inability to change and saw it as responsibility avoidance. Pelagius’ emphasis on human autonomy and moral agency significantly influenced his theological debates. However, his ideas veered into salvation by works of soteriology, which sparked controversy and conflict within the church.
On the other hand, Augustine was one of the most influential theologians of the early church, vigorously opposed Pelagius’ teachings, affirming the biblical doctrine of original sin and the absolute necessity of divine grace for salvation. Augustine’s writings, in particular, the Confessions, detailed his utter depravity and reliance on God’s grace for his salvation and sanctification. Given his reputation as a great theologian and philosopher, he had a tremendous amount of influence. Yet, this debate caused him to refine his theology and address the arising heresies of palaginianism. He provided a robust theological response to Pelagianism, highlighting the profound implications of human sinfulness and the sovereignty of God in the economy of salvation. Augustine’s theological legacy continues to shape evangelical thought and doctrine, emphasizing the centrality of divine grace in the Christian understanding of salvation.
Central to the Pelagian debate was the question of the relationship between divine grace and human free will in the process of salvation. Specifically, what is God’s part in human salvation, and what is the human part in their own salvation? Pelagius argued that human beings possess the ability to choose good or evil independently of divine assistance, thereby downplaying the necessity of divine grace for salvation. He pushed against the idea that people are born inherently unable to change. One specific problem he saw with Augustine’s theology is the theology of original sin. How is somebody born automatically responsible for the previous generation’s sins? Augustine explained that everyone is under the headship of Adam, and because Adam has sinned, everyone shares in that sin; hence, a newborn baby should be baptized for the cleansing of sins, followed by entrance to the church. Pelagius, on the other hand, advocated that while a person might be born in sin and shaped iniquity, as written in Psalms, they are not guilty, and more importantly, they can exercise free will to choose between serving God or not, without specifically needing God’s grace for this. In contrast, Augustine maintained that divine grace is indispensable for overcoming the effects of sin and enabling human beings to respond positively to God’s call to repentance. He especially emphasizes the fallenness of human beings and original sin.
Mann, Jeffrey in “Original Sin in Augustine: An Analysis of Ricoeur’s Essential Three Traits.” Writes: “Original sin, in Augustine’s view, is more than the behavior through which we offend our Creator. The baptism of infants, at least in the West, teaches that, prior to any act on our part, we are guilty of sin. The infant is “not without sin, either that which they have derived from their birth or that which they have added from their own misconduct.” Sin exists beyond the works of the flesh, being inherent in the soul. Augustine conceived of this internal corruption as concupiscence and the root sin of pride.”
While this is easy to agree with because we see the selfishness in toddlers and wonder where they learned how to behave that way, it does raise a whole bunch of other questions. If a baby were to pass away in the first, second, or even third year of their life without fully understanding right from wrong, how does such a baby get saved? If we were to follow Augustine’s belief that the baby was born in sin and automatically guilty of the exact same sin, then one would conclude that this person would not be able to enter heaven. This is unless we believe the baby was baptized, and even then, we would have to believe that baptism has the ability to erase sins. However, we know that baptism is not about cleansing a person from sin but rather a commitment to follow Jesus. It would be true that the baby, until they are able to respond and repent for their sins, is condemned from birth until the age of accountability.
The idea of Original Sin refers to the sinful condition that humans inherit as descendants of Adam and Eve, as described in the biblical book of Genesis. While there are many ways Christians have defined the theology of original sin, one of the definitions we find in the Calvin Institutes where Calvin explains that “Original sin…may be defined as the hereditary corruption and depravity of our nature. This reaches every part of the soul, makes us abhorrent to God’s wrath and produces in us what Scripture calls works of the flesh…Our nature is not only completely empty of goodness, but so full of every kind of wrong that it is always active. Those who call it lust use an apt word, provided it is also stated…that everything which is in man, from the intellect to the will, from the soul to the body, is defiled and imbued with this lust. To put it briefly, the whole man is in himself nothing but lust.”
The controversy over original sin and free will between Pelagius and Augustine is portrayed as a significant win for Augustine and a loss for Pelagius, the debate is still ongoing. There are many denominations that are Pelagian or Semi-Pelagian. Even their contemporaries struggled with whom to believe, particularly in the trials that Pelagius was subjected to. The reason this is controversial and not outright a heretical event in the history of the Christian church is mostly because Pelagius was influential in convincing others of his theology. Caradine, Bill C. In “Sin and Grace in A Response to the Pelagian Controversy.” write regarding one of the trials where Pelagius was accused of heresy: “ The judges were in all cases satisfied with Pelagius’ answers. They ruled in his favor, while condemning those things attributed to Celcstius, or the statements attributed to Pelagius without his explanations. Augustine said the Bishops acted in good faith, but that because of Pelagius’ shrewdness, because of the language barrier, because Pelagius״ accusers were not present, and because the judges were not familiar with the context of Pelagius’ work, he, Pelagius, was able to pull off a big hoax. In the broadest sense, it can be said that the controversy between Pelagius and Augustine was over the nature of sin and the nature of grace.”
This debate has massive implications for the modern church at large. First, this is a core doctrine of the faith with significant implications for one’s salvation. While we trust God and not our attempt at perfect theology, this is a debate that, by now, one would think would be settled. While some will claim that this debate is settled, some churches and movements are not convinced, just as they were not convinced in the time of Pelagius and Augustine’s time. Geest, Paul van. “Gratia et Certamen in The Relationship between Grace and Free Will in the Discussion of Augustine with the so-Called Semipelagians. Writes:
“Augustine s opinion concerning the all-comprehensiveness of the grace of God prevailed in the Western Church after the condemnation of Pelagius in 418. However, the domination of the ‘Gnadenmonergismus’ of Augustine did not mean that his ideas were generally accepted. His doctrine stating that humankind needs the grace of God in order to strive for the good, and that therefore God predestinates the person who shall do the good and thus be saved, was already questioned during his lifetime.”
While this debate shows no signs of slowing down, one must wonder why God would make matters of such importance in soteriology straightforward and easy to understand. The discussion itself may be by design. God intends for us to wrestle with this type of theology and, in humility, resolve to trust Him regarding this mystery of salvation. The question of how God is fully sovereign, and man is fully responsible will still be debated for years. But there are things we can all learn from this.
The Pelagian Controversy is a pivotal moment in the history of Christian theology. It remains vitally important for the evangelical church today for several reasons. Firstly, it serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding biblical orthodoxy and defending essential doctrines such as original sin and divine grace against any deviations from true theology. Secondly, the controversy provides valuable insights into the inner workings of grace and human responsibility in salvation. Thirdly, the theological debates surrounding Pelagianism offer timeless lessons for navigating contemporary theological challenges.
Finally, we must approach our gospel preaching with scripture as the center of our message. It is easy to deviate from truth and theology into distortions and heresies. At the same time, whenever we encounter someone with an issue that involves false belief, we should not shy away. Just like Augustine, we should be able to confront that head-on because, in doing so, we might be able to actually refine and clarify the view of theology. This controversy allowed Augustine to refine his theology on original sin, free will, and salvation through grace alone in Christ alone.