The Pelagian Controversy

The Pelagian Controversy

 

            At the beginning of the fifth century one of the greatest heretics of the church emerged – Pelagius.  Pelagius is known on the historical scene as a blue-eyed British monk, with the surname of Morgan, who’s fame emerged from Rome in the beginning of the fifth century.  He studied the Greek theology, especially that of the Antiochian school, and early showed great zeal for the improvement of himself and of the world.  However, he taught deviant doctrinal points on the freedom of the will, the understanding of sin, of grace, and of the grounds for justification. 

            Augustine taught that the will was active under the umbrella of the sovereignty of God.  It is active in its own desires, which, before the fall was disposed to either holiness or evil, though it had not been corrupted yet, and after the fall as wholly corrupted and evil in every desire.  Pelagius taught that men were not affected by the fall of Adam, but only become sinners after they sin.  Pelagius also taught that there was no need for divine grace (in the way Augustine taught) for every command given in the Bible was something that God wanted me to obey, and that demonstrated they could obey it apart form any divine help.  It is always possible for human beings to discharge their obligations before both man and God.  Humanity, then, is born sinless, and only becomes corrupted by choosing to sin over choosing to do good – two equally possible choices. 

            Grace, for Augustine, was the sovereign mercy of God given to wicked men through the mediation of Jesus Christ and the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.  For Pelagius it was simply the human ability of reason.  Pelagius also said that grace can be seen in the moral commands of God and the moral example of Jesus Christ.  Grace simply informs us of what must be done.  Humanity, then, is justified on the basis or merit.  Augustine taught that justification was based on divine grace that must be placed in us by the power of God.  Pelagius rejected this and saw that men must do good before God because the commands of God argue that men have the ability to do what God commands.  Augustine, however, as his prayer indicates, did not believe this at all: “God, command what Thou wilt, but grant to us what Thou commandest.”  The council of Ephesus condemned Pelagius as a heretic in 431 A.D. for non-Christian views of sin, grace, justification and the freedom of the will.