What on earth is Pelagianism?

Discussion

Pelagius was a monk from Britain, whose reputation and theology came into prominence after he went to Rome sometime in the 380’s A.D. The historic Pelagian theological controversy involved the nature of man and the doctrine of original sin.

Pelagius believed that the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin (the Fall) were restricted to themselves only; and thereby denied the belief that original sin was passed on (or transferred) to the children of Adam and thus to the human race. Adam’s sin merely “set a bad example” for his progeny and Jesus “set a good example” for mankind (thus counteracting Adam’s bad example). Pelagianism teaches that human beings are born in a state of innocence with a nature that is as pure as that which Adam was given at his creation.

As a result of his basic assumption, Pelagius taught that man has an unimpaired moral ability to choose that which is spiritually good and possesses the free will, ability, and capacity to do that which is spiritually good. This resulted in a gospel of salvation based on human works. Man could choose to follow the precepts of God and then follow those precepts because he had the power within himself to do so.

The controversy came to a head when Pelagian teaching came into contact with Augustine. Augustine did not deny that man had a will and that he could make choices. But, Augustine recognized that man did not have a free will in moral issues related to God, asserting that the effects original sin were passed to the children of Adam and Eve and that mankind’s nature was thereby corrupted. Man could choose what he desired, but those desires were influenced by his sinful nature and he was unable to refrain from sinning.

Pelagius cleared himself of charges, primarily by hiding his real beliefs; however, at the Council of Carthage in 418 A.D., his teachings were branded as heresy. The Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D., again condemned Pelagian doctrine and it was banished in the Greek portion of the church. However, in the West, the teachings held on, primarily in Britain and Gaul.

Pelagian teaching was replaced with Semi-Pelagianism which sought a middle ground between Pelagianism and Augustinianism, but it too was condemned at the Second Synod of Orange in 529 A.D. However, elements of Semi-Pelagianism continued in the Western (Roman) church. It emerged again after the Reformation in modified form in Arminianism which was rejected by the Reformed churches at the Synod of Dort in 1618-1619 A.D.  —

[DTW note:  I do not agree with Augustine (he was a Calvinist/Roman Catholic) –  I just used the above to illustrate the theology and history of Pelagianism]

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Calvinists (who willingly take their name after the murderer John Calvin) seem to think that everyone who is not a Calvinist must also take their name from someone (bizarre, I know), so they classify non-Calvinists as Arminians after Jacob Arminius, (note, I am not an Arminian).  Now the new buzz word in the Calvinist camp is ‘Pelagian’.  Soon you will find all non-Calvinists labelled Pelanians a cross between an Arminian and a Pelagian, lol – what a joke.

Now I have been labelled a Pelagian, by a certain individual who has not bothered to study my blog properly.  In fact he is Calvinist cross Charismatic and doesn’t even understand his own false doctrine, so we will have to forgive him for his error.

Never the less I will clarify why I am not a Pelagian

My notes in blue.

• Pelagianism views humanity as basically good and morally unaffected by the Fall.     DTW note: I do not, I view humanity as depraved and morally affected by the Fall.
• Pelagius believed that the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin (the Fall) were restricted to themselves only; and thereby denied the belief that original sin was passed on (or transferred) to the children of Adam and thus to the human race.    DTW note: No not true, Adam and Eves sin was passed onto the rest of mankind.
• Pelagianism simultaneously views man as fundamentally good and in possession of libertarian free will.    DTW note:  I view man as fundamentally evil and in possession of free will, which God sovereignty gave to mankind.
• Pelagianism teaches that man has the ability in and of himself (apart from divine aid) to obey God and earn eternal salvation.    DTW note:  No, everyone is called by God through the work of the Holy Spirit to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour, however mankind can turn his back on God’s calling, because we have free will.
• Adam’s sin merely “set a bad example” for his progeny and Jesus “set a good example” for mankind (thus counteracting Adam’s bad example).    DTW note:  Absolutely false, Adam’s sinned and was passed onto mankind.  Jesus does not set a good example for mankind to follow, thereby counteracting anything of Adams.  Jesus Christ is the Messiah.
• Pelagianism teaches that human beings are born in a state of innocence with a nature that is as pure as that which Adam was given at his creation.    DTW note:  True, until such an age that you know good from evil. This age is dependent upon the child, some children learn the difference between good and evil earlier than others. Calvinists believe that a new born baby is evil.
• Pelagius taught that man has an unimpaired moral ability to choose that which is spiritually good and possesses the free will, ability, and capacity to do that which is spiritually good.    DTW note:  False, man will choose do that which is evil because of his sinful nature, but he does have the capacity to do good (God gave man a conscience), this ‘good that man does’ however is still filthy in the eyes of the Lord.
• This resulted in a gospel of salvation based on human works. Man could choose to follow the precepts of God and then follow those precepts because he had the power within himself to do so.    DTW note:  False, good works are as filthy rags to the Lord. Good works do not save.  
• Pelagianism says that human beings are not born with a natural inclination towards sin.     DTW note:  False, the Bible teaches that all human beings die as a result of sin – Adam’s sin is the reason sin infects the rest of humanity.
• Semi-Pelagianism teaches that humanity is only tainted by sin, but not to the extent that we cannot cooperate with God’s grace on our own.   DTW note:  This is again false, the bible clearly teaches that everyone is called by God through the work of the Holy Spirit to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:44) – There is none other than the Father who can draw sinners to Jesus Christ because there is no other way than through His cross that He can do it.