...Augustine’s Theology against Pelagianism by Mark S. Castlebury HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY I CHHI 520 Professor John M. Landers 09 May 2014 ABSTRACT This paper will examine Augustine’s response to the doctrinal challenges presented in the heresy of Pelagianism concerning grace and original sin. Augustine’s writings against Pelagius serve as our primary source for understanding his response. It is expected to find that Augustine responded in a biblically orthodox manner showing the true nature of man while defending the doctrines of grace and original sin. CONTENTS ABSTRACT ii Pelagianism 1 THE BACKGROUND OF PELAGIUS 2 THE WRITINGS OF PELAGIUS 3 THE TEACHINGS OF PELAGIUS 6 AUGUSTINE 7 AUGUSTINE’S BACKGROUND 7 ORIGINAL SIN 8 TRANSMISSION OF SIN 9 THE GRACE OF GOD 10 CONCLUSION 10 BIBLIOGRAPHY 11 Pelagianism The Heresy of Pelagianism began in the fifth-century and was named after the British monk Pelagius. He is well known even today for his views on original sin and freedom of the will. A definition provided by William Shed in his work Dogmatic Theology states that, “Pelagius affirmed the freedom of the will, which for him meant that a person always has the ability to choose good as well as evil. That is, for Pelagius the power of contrary choice is essential to free moral agency. According to Pelagius, a person is always ‘able to sin and able not to sin’ (posse peccare et posse non peccare). Naturally, such a view of freedom carries implications for the...
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...God’s control, bringing His sovereignty into question. If man does not have free will his significance as the height of the created order is lessened. The question is further clouded by the fact that the Bible seems to support both ideas; that man is free and wholly responsible for his actions and that God is sovereign over every action within his creation. Paul Tillich describes the issue writing, “The question is whether the moral imperative is dependent on the divine grace for its actualization, or whether divine grace is dependent on the fulfillment of the moral imperative.”[1] This debate has been the cause of much disagreement throughout the history of the church. Brought to the forefront of debate by Augustine, arguing for the sovereignty of God, and Pelagius, arguing for the free will of man, the discussion over the relationship between God’s control and man’s ability has continued to this day. Later, during the reformation, Calvinists and Arminians continued the debate over the role man plays in the salvation process. This disagreement has caused Roger E. Olson to write, “We need to shoulder the responsibility of choosing between Calvinism and Arminianism. That does not mean choosing between Christianity and something else. It means choosing between two respectable interpretations of Scripture that have both existed within evangelical Christianity for centuries.”[2] While it seems apparent to some that the positions held by Calvinists and Arminians are impossible...
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...THE EARLIEST CHRISTIAN WRITINGS LESSON 1 Question 1: (1 Points) | What is the most widespread method of Biblical interpretation used by scholars today?<!--[if !supportLists]--> a. Mystical b. Allegorical c. Historical critical d. Literal | | | | | Question 2: (1 Points) | What was the message of early Christianity?<!--[if !supportLists]--> a. Salvation comes through fast b. Salvation comes through circumcision c. Salvation is by faith d. Salvation is by self punishment | | | | | Question 3: (1 Points) | The New Testament consists of: <!--[if !supportLists]--> a. 4 Gospels, 21 letters, 1 Apocalypse b. 3 Gospels, 1 Acts, 22 Letters, 1 Apocalypse c. 4 Gospels, 1 Acts, 21 Letters, 1 Apocalypse d. 3 Gospels, 2 Acts, 21 Letters | | | | | Question 4: (1 Points) | Which one of these are seen in the Bible as signs of the presence of the Kingdom of God?<!--[if !supportLists]--> a. Gospels b. Parables c. Miracles d. Teachings | | | | | Question 5: (1 Points) | Matthew, Mark and Luke are based on what writing?<!--[if !supportLists]--> a. Pseudepigrapha b. Quelle c. Apocrypha d. John | | | | | | CHRISTIANITY IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE LESSON 2 Question 1: (1 Points) | Christianity was born in what Empire?<!--[if !supportLists]--> a. Babylonian b. Assyrian c. Hellenistic d. Roman | | | | | Question 2: (1 Points)...
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...Statement It is the intent of this paper to show that children who die in infancy, regardless of the beliefs of their parents, are given salvation and therefore spend eternity in heaven. Original sin is still present, but God, being free and independent of us, freely chooses to save infants who are not capable of making a choice to commit their lives to Christ. Introduction Infant salvation is a complex issue, sometimes controversial and a topic of much debate within Christendom. The issue of infant salvation first arose with the institution of infant baptism, done so that infants who died would be baptized, and thus saved in case of death. Though that debate has subsided in recent years, it is not due to a consensus conclusion of the arguments among theologians and denominational leaders, but instead, it has subsided due to more pressing issues facing Christianity and theology. As infant salvation is explored, it must be done through a historical viewing of the topic as well as an emphasis on scripture. It is simply not enough to look at opinions of historical theologians. We must look at...
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...THE COUNCIL OF EPHESUS [431], THE THEOLOGICAL ISSUES ADDRESSED, AND THE KEY FIGURES INVOLVED. Student’s Name Registration Course Date CONTENTS Topic 4 The Introduction…..4 ThesisStatement 5 Nestorius: Author of Heresy………………………………………………………………………6 The Theology of the Council…………………………………………………………………..…12 Findings…………………………………………………....15 Bibliography 16 THE COUNCIL OF EPHESUS [431], THE THEOLOGICAL ISSUES ADDRESSED, AND THE KEY FIGURES INVOLVED. INTRODUCTION This paper presents an inspiring story that focuses on the Christian enthusiasm concerning the faithful during the period of the fifth century. The faithful Christians staged war where they opposed the heresy that could have been the cause of degrading the faith through the incarnation and finally leading to the derogation of the Mother of God's dignity. Following this instance, it is very much possible to imagine that the good reaction or even its absence in the present times ecumenical Liberals leads to the emergence of Nestorius during our time1. However, the Catholics who lived in the fifth century, glory to God, had a close relationship with Martyrs Age. In this regard, it then becomes necessary to find out how these Catholics defended their faith, taking into consideration that for each and every moment that a Catholic follower prays these days, conducts such prayers through the enthusiasm of Ephesus in 431. Indeed, an Ecumenical or the General Council of the Church refers to the sole...
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...A618C90F-C2C6-4FD6-BDDB-9D35FE504CB3 First American paperback edition published in 2006 by Enchanted Lion Books, 45 Main Street, Suite 519, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Copyright © 2002 Philip Stokes/Arcturus Publishing Limted 26/27 Bickels Yard, 151-153 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3HA Glossary © 2003 Enchanted Lion Books All Rights Reserved. The Library of Congress has cataloged an earlier hardcover edtion of this title for which a CIP record is on file. ISBN-13: 978-1-59270-046-2 ISBN-10: 1-59270-046-2 Printed in China Edited by Paul Whittle Cover and book design by Alex Ingr A618C90F-C2C6-4FD6-BDDB-9D35FE504CB3 Philip Stokes A618C90F-C2C6-4FD6-BDDB-9D35FE504CB3 ENCHANTED LION BOOKS New York Contents The Presocratics Thales of Miletus . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Pythagoras of Samos . . . . . 10 Xenophanes of Colophon 12 Heraclitus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 The Scholastics St Anselm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 St Thomas Aquinas . . . . . . . 50 John Duns Scotus . . . . . . . . . 52 William of Occam . . . . . . . . . 54 The Liberals Adam Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Mary Wollstonecraft . . . . 108 Thomas Paine . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Jeremy Bentham . . . . . . . . . 112 John Stuart Mill . . . . . . . . . . 114 Auguste Comte . . . . . . . . . . . 116 The Eleatics Parmenides of Elea . . . . . . . 16 Zeno of Elea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 The Age of Science Nicolaus Copernicus . . . . . . 56 Niccolò Machiavelli...
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...R outledge Revision: Questions & Answers Jurisprudence 2011–2012 Each Routledge Q&A contains approximately 50 questions on topics commonly found on exam papers, with answer plans and comprehensive suggested answers. Each book also offers valuable advice as to how to approach and tackle exam questions and how to focus your revision effectively. New Aim Higher and Common Pitfalls boxes will also help you to identify how to go that little bit further in order to get the very best marks and highlight areas of confusion. And now there are further opportunities to hone and perfect your exam technique online. New editions publishing in 2011: Civil Liberties & Human Rights Commercial Law Company Law Constitutional & Administrative Law Contract Law Criminal Law Employment Law English Legal System Routledge Q&A series Equity & Trusts European Union Law Evidence Family Law Jurisprudence Land Law Medical Law Torts For a full listing, visit http://www.routledge.com/textbooks/revision R outledge Revision: Questions & Answers Jurisprudence 2011–2012 David Brooke Senior Lecturer in Law and Module Leader in Jurisprudence at Leeds Metropolitan University Fifth edition published 2011 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the U S A and Canada by Routledge 270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2011...
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...CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Table of Contents PROLOGUE I. The life of man - to know and love God nn. 1-3 II. Handing on the Faith: Catechesis nn. 4-10 III. The Aim and Intended Readership of the Catechism nn. 11-12 IV. Structure of this Catechism nn. 13-17 V. Practical Directions for Using this Catechism nn. 18-22 VI. Necessary Adaptations nn. 23-25 PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH SECTION ONE "I BELIEVE" - "WE BELIEVE" n. 26 CHAPTER ONE MAN'S CAPACITY FOR GOD nn. 27-49 I. The Desire for God nn. 27-30 II. Ways of Coming to Know God nn. 31-35 III. The Knowledge of God According to the Church nn. 36-38 IV. How Can We Speak about God? nn.39-43 IN BRIEF nn. 44-49 CHAPTER TWO GOD COMES TO MEET MAN n. 50 Article 1 THE REVELATION OF GOD I. God Reveals His "Plan of Loving Goodness" nn. 51-53 II. The Stages of Revelation nn. 54-64 III. Christ Jesus -- "Mediator and Fullness of All Revelation" nn. 6567 IN BRIEF nn. 68-73 Article 2 THE TRANSMISSION OF DIVINE REVELATION n. 74 I. The Apostolic Tradition nn.75-79 II. The Relationship Between Tradition and Sacred Scripture nn. 80-83 III. The Interpretation of the Heritage of Faith nn. 84-95 IN BRIEF nn. 96-100 Article 3 SACRED SCRIPTURE I. Christ - The Unique Word of Sacred Scripture nn. 101-104 II. Inspiration and Truth of Sacred Scripture nn. 105-108 III. The Holy Spirit, Interpreter of Scripture nn. 109-119 IV. The Canon of Scripture nn. 120-130 V. Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church nn. 131-133 IN BRIEF nn...
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...A, THE BRITISH ACADEMY SOMERSET HISTORICAL ESSAYS SOMERSET HISTORICAL ESSAYS By J. Armitage Robinson, D.D, Fellow of the British Academy Dean of Wells 1921 London: Published for the British Academy By Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press Amen Corner, E.C. PRINTED IN ENGLAND AT THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS BY FREDERICK HALI, 76$ J 9 2/ PREFACE The writer of these pages makes no claim to be a historian, but he is concerned with the materials which go to the construction of true history. Occasionally he is led to revise the verdicts of historians on the ground of a renewed investigation of some isolated problem, or in the light of fuller information which has but lately become available. He hopes that he has done this with sufficient modesty. As a rule he has avoided direct controversy and has preferred a positive presentation of the revised position. He is well aware that when offered thus silently the corrections he desires to make are less likely to attract immediate attention than if he directly challenged fallacies which shelter under honoured names. But he writes from mere love of the subjects to which he has been drawn by the circumstances of his position and by local patriotism ; and he has experienced more than once the temporary blindness pro- duced by the dust of conflict. On the other hand he asks for criticism, ...
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