Laying Pelagianism to Rest

Church History
10/14/25

Schaff, Philip. (2014). "Chapter IX. Theological Controversies, and Development of the Ecumenical Orthodoxy." In  History of the Christian Church. (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Volume 3, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-600, from Constantine the Great to Gregory the Great. (pp. 2327-2561). (Original work published 1889).  Amazon Kindle Edition. (Personal Library). (sections 117-160).

"§159. Semi-Pelagianism." (pp. 2550-2557).
    Schaff identifies semi-Pelagian thought as attempting to mediate between Pelagius and Augustine (Schaff 2014, p. 2551). This system takes a synergistic and somewhat legalistic approach to conversion and sanctification, normally requiring man to make the first step. Semi-Pelagian thought never coalesced into its own sect during our period.
    After Pelagianism was condemned as heresy, those who objected to an Augustinian view of predestination wrote about their understanding of security in Christ (Schaff 2014, p. 2652). Followers of Augustine responded with writings of their own. The writings of Prosper and of Haliarius particularly rejected the growing semi-Pelagian views (Schaff 2014, p. 2653). The semi-Pelagians held that while man was sick with sin he was not dead, and that he was able to cry out for divine assistance, with which he needed to cooperate (Schaff 2014, p. 2654). Among the semi-Pelagians Schaff considers John Cassian to be pre-eminent. Prosper of Aquitane emerged as the chief Augustinian to write against Cassian (Schaff 2014, p. 2585). Schaff describes a number of their writings in brief.

"§160. Victory of Semi-Augustinianism. Council of Orange, A.D. 529." (pp. 2557-2561).
    In the previous segment, Schaff made brief mention of synods in 472 and 475 in which an Augustinian predestination was condemned (Schaff 2014, p. 2557). These were provincial synods which resulted in a schism. Augustinian doctrine was by and large upheld. By the middle of the sixth century, semi-Pelagianism was not widely accepted (Schaff 2014, p. 2558). The Synod of Orange, in 529, approved an Augustinian outlook, articulating doctrines in some detail. Schaff provides numerous extracts (Schaff 2014, pp. 2558-2560). The Acts of the council were endorsed by numerous dignitaries and were forwarded to Rome, where pope Boniface II confirmed them in 530 (Schaff 2014, p. 2560). The controversy between Augustinian and Pelagian thought has resurfaced now and then, though not with as great an overall impact on doctrinal articulation as clear in the Middle Ages.

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