Answer to the Pelagians
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
What we call the Pelagian heresy actually took many forms, and had multiple proponents at different stages before it was officially condemned. Augustine, as bishop of Hippo, saw that these teachings were dangerous and set out to address them by explaining the true Church doctrine on these subjects. He first denounced the heresies verbally, in sermons and conferences. When a friend asked him to clarify the Christian doctrines contradicted by certain heresies, Augustine wrote down his rebuttal at length. Over time he wrote nearly a dozen distinct texts in direct answer to the various Pelagian heresies.
Top Highlights
“By grace they are, of course, justified gratuitously, that is, without any preceding merits from their own works. Otherwise, grace is no longer grace (Rom 11:6). It is given, not because we have done good works, but so that we might be able to do them, that is, not because we have fulfilled the law, but in order that we might be able to fulfill the law. After all, he said, I have come not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it (Mt 5:17).” (Page 153)
“You see what a great thing it is that he says is achieved simply by the freedom of choice. And for this reason, he thinks that we cling to God without God’s help. After all, the words, ‘simply by the freedom of choice,’ mean that, after we cling to him without his help, we then also merit to be helped because we have clung to him.” (Page 403)
“Nor does it follow that we should rely on prayers alone in this matter and not bring to bear the strength of our will upon living a good life. After all, God is said to be our helper,14 and we cannot be helped unless we try to do something ourselves, because God does not produce our salvation in us as if we were mindless rocks or beings in whose nature he did not create reason and will. But why he helps one and not another, helps one to this extent and another to that, and helps one in this way and another in that, lies with him in the decision of his hidden justice and in his surpassing power.” (Page 82)
“In them the discussion focused principally on the baptism of little ones on account of original sin and on the grace of God by which we are justified, that is, become righteous, even though in this life none so observe the commandments enjoining righteousness that they have no need to say in prayer for their own sins, Forgive us our debts (Mt 7:12).” (Page 19)